Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1902-08-02

1t was a hot afternoon-a very hot
August afternoon. The passersby
walked with great elaboration. Some
of them carried umbrellas. Others car
ried their coats or hats, There were
not many of them altogether.
Randall Clark, in his cool gray serge
his canvas shoes and his light straw
hat, passed his fellow pedestrians with
n somewhat jaunty stride. He didn't
carry an umbrella and he didn't carry
his coat. In fact he felt the heat but
little. He had experienced some rough
service under a much more ardent sun
and, in marked contrast to the people
sweltering about him, he kept his mind
Off the temperature and permitted no
thermometer reading to increase his
personal warmth.
He walked along idly, and yet with a
certain briskness of gait that seemed
to indicate an object in view. But he
had no object beyond the desire to Sc
cure a chance to exercise his thoughts
without fear of distractions. This was
a favorite occupation Of Randalrs. He
found he could think to much better
advantage when strolling along. Just
now he was thinking hard on the ma
trimonial problem. For seven-and.
twenty years he had escaped this wor,
riment. Now he was its victim.
That he was in love admitted of little
question; but he felt he had himself
we'll in hand and with power to with
draw from temptation il need be. The
question was, should he withdraw, OF
should he continue to bask in the SINCE
ing flame of Miss Emily TabOr's eyes,
and presently, when opportunity came,
put his fate to the momentOus test?
He told himself that Emily TabOl
was Il beautiful girl, refined and
highly intelligent girl a girl Of charm
ing tastes and many accomplishments.
But did she have IL heart, and was IL
the sort of heart that is quick in SYM
pathy and faithful in love? Was it,
in fact, Il pulsing, human heart, OF was
it merely an anatomical necessity
Randall feared it was of the latter
genus. She was so cold, so statuesque
so perfect-such u calm and almost i'm
periOus product of the school Of finish
ing which her social class so greatly
admired.
Randall doubted IL he could be happy
with her. She was his ideal in every
thing save human sympathies. These
he feared she was quite lacking.
He took coin from his pocket and
held it between his thumb and fore
finger as he strobe along.
Heads, go; tails, l stay" he said
and tipped the coin into the air. He
caught OF in his open palm.
Heads" he murmured, and slipped
1t back into his pocket.
He was striding up the avenue now
and there We're very few pedestrians
in sight. He would go on and stop at
Jack Manning's home and leave note
saying he had decided to go with him
ON that long trip among the Florida
lakes.
Then he stopped. There was baby
carriage, dainty affair Of wicker,
curves and open work, standing close
to the fence. 1t was the face of the
baby that stopped him. The hot sun
was shining directly upon it. 1t was
red, very red, and the eyelids We're
half closed, with strip Of white eye
ball showing beneath. Randall caught
the handle Of the carriage and quickly
turned it into the limited strip Of shade
beneath the trees. He saw that the
child was overcome by the heat and
that something must be done for 1t
Immediately. He looked up and down
the street. Nobody was in sight. He
glanced along the row Of houses.
There was no sign of life about them.
What should he do? Go to one Of the
big, front doors and ask for assistance,
or hustle the child to the nearest drug
store? He pushed the carriage along
tried to think what 1t was best to do.
Then light step sounded behind
him. He turned quickly. 1t was
Emily Tabor-Emily Tabor in all Ger
snowy summer tineries. She did not
smile at what might have seemed to
some girls his ridiculous position. Her
face was as grave as his own.
"What is 1t, Mr.. Clark" she quickly
asked.
Somebody left this baby to broil in
the sum-" he answered, land I'm afraid
it's ILL.,"
"The poor little dear" murmured
Emily Tabor, as she gave the child a
hurried glance. Then she strengthened
up and added: Bring 1t right to my
aunt's house. Mr.. Clark, I'll hurry
ahead and open the door,"
She ran back to the second gate and
then up the walk to the great entrance
way. Randall turned the carriage
and followed her as fast as he could.
When he reached the porch he lifted
the baby on its pillow in careful
though somewhat clumsy. fashion and
walked up the steps. Emily met him
at the doorway with outstretched arms.
He put the child in them.
Come in this way" she said, and
led him back to the library. 1.-The
maids are all out and so is auntie. But
I've got piece of ice here and some
wet cloths" She gently laid the baby
on the couch and knelt beside it
Break up the ice," she said. Crush
it as small as possible and make a
compress out of it." He did as she
told him and she put the ice to the
child's head and pressed wet cloths to
Its face and tiny wrists.
wouldn't it be well to run for a
doctor?" asked Randall.
And lie wondered at himself for de,
fcrring to her opinion.
NO" she answered, without looking
around. IL want you here. l think
I'm quite competent to handle the ease
I've had some experience in practical
I1..A 81.