Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-11-14

Perhaps"
But" she exclaimed. throwing out
her hands with the white gloves in the
right. they are nothing. They do moi
count at ALL"
It was impossible to resist glance
around the gallery with its collection
Of treasures from all parts of the
world.
you say they are nothingw
~ asked whether you thought I had
changed" she insisted. "I-myself--'
How can judge you in that init.
mate way?"
"You have surely known me init
mately-you have known me fol
years"
81 will take your word for 1t that
you haven't" answered.; but still
Elsa's face looked grave.
But, them" she suggested, "if you
didn't take the trouble to find Out
what I really was before"
"Oh. never doubted what you
were!'
"WhatT she demanded. with q
quick. upward glance. But before
could have explained, even IL would
she added, imperiously: "Tell me
about your friend"
"You would have liked old Howard "
I said.
"Was he Ill very long" she asked
"He broke down soon after We land
ed"
But didn't he get any better?"
mot much. 1t was n tedious bust
ness for the fellow"
"And for your =.
ooh, we'll" tr -"
"p,an,t his III rather handicap
you" Elsa suggested.
II daresay 1t did-a little" ~
"Who nursed him?"
"YOu must understand We were
miles away from everywhere and
every one"
"Then it was you"
"There was no one else"
"Still," she cried, 81 suppose he
wasn't i'll the whole timer"
mo, but he was never quite well,
/ explained. "Of course, he had his
better periods"
"You might have taken him to some
town-have got him off your hands,?
II might"
"Why didn't your" she demanded
severely.
""YOu see, we had pooled our funds
and taken a cattle run and stocked It,
and. besides, Harold was everlasting
ly hoping for better times"
| "Then," said Elsa, ut was really his
illness which prevented your sue
cess"
Anyhow" returned, 1--WE had
agreed to chum."
But" asked Elsa, do you-do you
think it was quite fair?"
"Old Howard would have done the
same by me"
II wasn't thinking of Mr.. Howard!'
"Of whom. then?"
you" said Elsa.
II don't think ever passed day
without thinking Of her." protested.
"Was It quite fair to her"
"Fair-"
"You had left her waiting for your
cried Elsa.
But, then. you see, she didn't
know" reminded her.
"Of course" answered Elsa. with q
smile. GLOW stupid of mel"
"You-you were forgetting" I sug
| gested.
| Eyes, IL was forgetting" and her
face grew grave again.
"In any case," I said, ut would
have been impossible to leave Howard
in the lurch"
$50 you stayed"
"Why. yes"
"And did the most Of the work?"
"TheSe was no one else to do IT"
"And when he was Ill, you nursed
him."
'I'm afraid the poor chap had rather
a rough time of it." said.
"Well, you know" cried Elsa, 81
think you always were little rough!
mot like the johnnies in the pic
ture over there?" I suggested, as We
reached the end Of the gallery ant
turned, retracing our steps along the
other side.
"How do you like this one" she
asked 1.-THE picture on the right
isn't it supposed to be tourna
ment" 1 inquired.
"You see the woman with the fail
hairw cried Elsa, In curiously nerv
Gus voice.
at is something like your owl
color" remarked, as we stood yart
apart gazing at the large painting.
ooh, but her hair is fairer thar
minev' said Elsa. looking fire at tn
canvas, then turning her blue eye
quite anxiously to mine.
81 don't see much difference" as
sured her.
"She appears to have chosen the tai
knight for her champion" she suggest
ed.
"Lucky beggarw I answered.
do you think he is luckyT" aske'
Elsa; and she held her white glove
by the wrists in her right hand ant
struck the palm Of her left with thei
fingers.
Immensely"
"Why"
'In some way she suggests your
self" l answered.
"Do you notice anything inapproprl
atew she demanded.
"Inappropriate?"
"In--in the picture?"
Nothing whatever"
Don't you think" she exclaimed, a
she turned her eyes toward 1t, "that
would have been preferable II tn
knight had chosen the lady"
"After ALL" said, at wouldn't hav
made much difference"
"You-you really think 1t wouldn't?
cried Elsa, Frightening In the mos
extraordinary fashion.
ut seems to amount to very muc
| kho On mo fh}nOv