Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-08-22
HOW IFOUND|
MY WIFE. |
ey PETER OUNCE.

lawyers office is or ought to bt
adorned, l told my old friend, Harvey
burt, how l found my wife.
you know, Harvey, that l was, as
you say, a confirmed cynic, sneerins
at all womankind, loving to flirt witt
them, 1t Is true, but only to kill time, OIL
for a little amusement. When the ho
weather came on, did not care a fia
for Long Branch or Saratoga; 1 had
been to Newport and the Springs, and
by the way, they bore you horribly
and so began to look about for some
quiet spot where l could have q
months fishing and shooting. The vii
lage Of N attracted my attention
and l went at once, rejoiced to think
that l might have quiet and peace, nc
matchmaking mammals, with marri
ageable daughters, no extra toilets fol
a dinner; but quiet home, where ]
could do as pleased.
IN, you know, Is on Long Island
Sound, and rejoiced in the prospect OF
boating and bathing, without the nui
sances that infest a fashionable water
ing place. But as the numbering Old
stage drove up to the door OF the Aker.
man House, the only hotel in the place
saw at glance that my dream of
peace was dispelled. Young women!
Bah! Harvey-and such young women.
l assure you that l was eyed and com,
mented on for at least an hour by three
or four amiable damsels, who We're on
the lookout for something new l
went to my room and made ready for
supper, as they styled it, and had the
honor of an introduction to several of
them at the table. One attrac ted more
than passing notice, and in the even
ing l found myself flirting with Miss
Hall, after the most approved fashion.
Such girl, Harvey! You never saw
the mate for her"
WAS she your divinity"
mo, my boy. Don't interrupt me.
No. she was not; but she was the most
self-satisied young woman | ever saw
rather gOod-looking, gifted with n
tongue, and correct knowledge of its
use-beiievins firmly III what Tia elk cray
says Of Becky Sharpe, THAT any
woman with knowledge of herself,
and little common sense, and per-
sistence, may marry whom she likes
This was Miss Halls creed. To make
n long story short-we firted all the
time. and until we were the talk of the
house. But began to tire of the game,
and to wish for something new.
"One night, as l rowed Miss Hall to
the village, We met party of three
coming up with Tim, our porter-two
ladies and gentleman-one was an
invalid. Harvey, that face, with it's
lool. of utter WEAKNESS, haunted me.
There's no use to describe it. 1t
wouldn't bear it, but l thought it the
sweetest face ever saw. 1t was more
than week before l saw it again,
though l had been dreaming of it con-
tinually.
"One night, as came in from bath,
on entering the hall, saw a pair of lit
tie feet, in red slippers. Laugh If You
will, you rascal, but those slippers, or
rather, their contents, finished me. AS
I advanced l saw the same face-thc
invalid was at last able to be down.
stars-and l was introduced to Ella
Benton. OF course dropped Miss
Hall, thereby causing much scandal.
l had thought to win an easy victory
with the newcomer, but the cool way
in which she repealed my attentions
put me at my wits ends. and I made a
mental vow to drop flirting. BY what
particular process came to that con-
clusiOn it would be difficult to explain
I tried everything. felt myself falling
in love, and suppose that showed it.
l proposed on a weeks acquaintance,
and was quickly refused. Nothing
daunted, / determined on q change of
base. l asked her TO consider ME her
friend-and only that, for life-a true
friend. got that foothold, trusting to
kindness and little attentions to win,
but all failed.
II saved her life, Harvey, taking a
cold bath, and spelling n suit of clothes
in her behalf, and got cOldly thanked
in return. Then | tried the letting
alone process, and that was the most
complete failure of all. l announced
my departure. She was sorry-valued
me as a friend. and all that sort of
thing, but nothing more. Pique was
mingled with despair in my mind;
did not want TO give her up. had said
was going, and l must go. proposed
again and got mo- for an answer. l
vowed that l would set out at once for
Alaska. She told me that it really did
not concern her in the least. / get an
cry and left N. But l could not
drive her face out of my memory.
"Three weeks ago while on trip to
Montreal I stopped all night at Rut-
land, and the first name on the register
at least the first that l saw-wns Ella
Benton. l sent up my card, but she
would not receive me. I came down in
the morning, and turning to the clerk S
desk put my hand in my pocket for my
wallet; l went back to my room-no
wallst. l was stranger in the place
witEsut money. The clerk openly eX-
pressed his belief that l was a fraud.
Quite crowd gathered around me as
! endeavored to explain the matter.
Just at this moment a lady passed
through the hall and bowed to me,
though very distantly. 1t was Miss
Benton.
"In few moments she sent for me
went up wonderingly, and as l en-.
tered she arose and said:
"'Mr. Hirst, heard accidentally. of
of your misfortune. VIII you oblige
me by using this check. winch you can
replace at your convenience
II tried to stammer out refusal, but
she would not hear to 1t.
swell said |, Miss Benton, | will
occapt ynur kinlunva Inf I hayo No O.,