Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1902-06-14

sons face took tinge Of pink, an,
she gave hasty touch to her smootl
hair as she heard his voice In TIN
porch. She was a prim, precise younl
woman with fixed ideas. and Rober
Jardine was easy-going and genial; SO
by law of contrasts, they We're mad
for one another. He was man Of few
words, and 1t was enough for him t,
tand with his back to the fire, strOk
ing his brown beard, and watching Els
Their. No one would have taken hin
for a wooer, and yet. in his slow fash
ion. he was bearing down steadily OF
the port of matrimOny.
now" he said THE svle-thorn's a il
bloom In the lane, an the brides ar,
singin' and the lambs skippin' ia TIT
neadow--it's real heartsome at III
Willows" A.-.
1t was not the first time Esther hac
heard the charms of The Willows
varied only by the season.
II wouldn't wonder" she assented
'The country's aye nice in the spring
time. Is it good season for tn,
lambs, Roberto"
well, haze seen better. There's :
good few O. them dousy enough like
I'm no SO rich the year as l though
to be. Ye see, was reckOnin' on get
tin the house new papered an painted
this spring. but" with wistful glanc,
at her, I'm waitin'."
Esther smiled. ~ E..
John Robinson was askin' me il
you'd mind to sell the Black Bull
He'd give We a good price fort" HI
did not look at her again. for he knew
by heart the obstinate upcast of hel
chin when he mooted this topic.
IAN what for would | sell the Blacl
Bull. Robert Jardine? Folk shouldn;
be in haste to make changes. They'll
be the longer O ruein' them"
He sighed. 70
"Well, must be movin' horne
though there's nobody carin' muc,
what road l go. I'm missin' the ole
mother more every day"
The words touched her. She helt
cut her hand, and it was lost in his.
"Some day. Robert. maybe there viii
oe one to watch for your hame comm. ;
His face flushed. and he laid hi.
bands on her shoulder, but she drew
back.
"Oh, I'm no sayin' who 1t will be,
she added.
There's hut one woman in the worlt
for me, an well We ken that. Esther,
be said sternly, and strobe away.
The little town among the hills wa.
an uneventful spot, and sensations
were rare and precious. One Of these
was the yearly visit of Signor Jacob
with his circus and menagerie. 1t wa.
the market day. and crowds stood
gaping at the gay procession. In start
ling contrast with the ladies In velve
and spangles was a monster ape in :
cage bringing up the rear. His crafty
old bewrinkled face looked out from
between the bars, and he put fortl
4 stealthy hand to seize an inquisitivt
old farmers spectacles or snatch :
swain's gay necktie. Suddenly, no on,
could tell how or why, hubbub aros,
-shrieks and jOstling and scrimmagc
The fastenings Of the apes cage ha(
given way, and, with a wild dash fO1
freedom, he bounded, jabbering ant
chattering, over the heads of the ter
rifed crowd. Signor jacob smoked
his pipe that afternoon in the porch OF
the Black Bull. The performance wal
postponed, while his troupe scattered
In quest Of the missing member.
He has the cunning of fifty foxes
has old largo" he said. HE ha.
doubled on me more than once; but h,
turns up when he gets hungry. He'
crafty old boy"
You'll come with me to the show
Esther" asked Jardine. who loved
variety entertainment.
mo, no, Robert. cannot leave tn,
house. l promised the maids to lie
them go; besides, 1 have my account
to make up. l must be bankin' IN,
money"
You are gettin' to be rich woman
Esther. ! wish The Willows was doin
as we'll as the Black Bull; sheep farm
In is risky business"
She looked at him anxiously. Sh
knew that his father had been
"waster," and 1t was uphill work t,
restore the farm to prosperity; but
was not her way to express sympathy
The town was very quiet next even
ing: every one who could afford 1t wa
at the circus. The side windows of til
best kitchen were wide open, and tn
spring breeze waited the muslin cur
tains Inward. Esther sat at a tabl
with the contents Of leather ba,
spread before her-a heap Of sovereign
glittered In the light from the pin
logs. She lifted the gold in her fingers
counting 1t with a pleased expression
She had self-satistied conviction tina
SUCCESS like hers must be- the rewar,
Of q good church goer and an uprigh
woman. She had no fear to be alOn
In the house with so much money
for thieves were rare In Annandale
There was rustling sound among tn
shrubs at the window, but she did no
hear It. The bell Of the outer doc
jinsled, and. gathering the coins int
the bag, she set It on shelf and wen
out. 1t was old Mr.. Medium, a fire
quenter Of the inn; he was an elder o
the kirk. and he gave her his opinion
at length on "playactin' an a. sic dc
vices o Sawtan." As he was leavia
her she heard hasty footsteps run dow
the passage to the, kitchen, and at tn
door she met Robert Jardine. He wa