Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-05-16

pany that no power OF hers was falling
| Occasionally she would drive the bah
so near the edge of the table thar It's
reaching NJ all was n stroke worthy of
| applause, and moment by momcu
every one in the room realized thar In.
tentlonally she was throwing away the
game which had almost been placed in
her hand Only twice during the three
sets that were played, Tor she lost the
first two and WOE the secopd, did she
| look up, and each time the same eyes
were silently regarding her, now with
| admiration, and now, MS she played u
brilliant stroke, with fear.
Her mother, though she scarcely I'M.
| derstood the game AT all. and thought
that deuce was an improper word 10
use before ladies, was almost crying
with vcXation In the corner where she
was sitting. for they reported to hHr
That her daughter Yves losing.
Geladne played the last SHit bettm
though she never forgot, when, having
won stroke 10 ler her opponent wiz
the following on" ara accordingly the
sets stood ut one all, ana the gllEe:
four-tive; the next would grant her an.
other chance, or los' her everything
One incident entirely decided her.
Mr., Napoleon brought ont the dia>lonl
ring and placed 1t on the mantelpircc
in the room where every ones eyes.
Geraldine's includcd-cOuld see 1t The
action Disguised her. rs it was so OBJ
viously Il species of bribery that she
threw away every stroke, and lost the
last game Of alto love!
1t was soothing to her vanity that
the unintcreSting girl thought she was
the better player. With the best grace
that he could muster, and it was but
poor, Mr.. Maplcton handed the little
velvet case to her, as Geraldine retired
to II vacant seat.
1t was n few days after the evening
of the tournament, when Fenchcstor
was beginning to rest from the brca,,-
lcssneSs of its surprise. that Geraldine
encountered Wifrid Lawion as she
was returning from making poor cal
in the parish.
The long and narrow little lane that
led to her garden gate was dark AMI
damp with the foggy mist of evening
that was rising from the earth, and
she could barely see her way. and so
she started when Il footstep came h..
hind her ana Il voice pronounced heI
name.
Mr.. Lawton" she exclaimed. "Why
L.. t,,I a.
He apologized. I'm very sorry" he
said, "but wanted to speak to YOU
She stopped. what is it, she sail.
and it was with difficulty that she
could keep the tremor from her voice.
Every one in FcncheStcr is curious"
he began, land l am anxious to know
why you threw away all your chances
of winning that tournament. Believe
me it is not an idle curiosity that
prompts mo to ashland will you tell
me-"
She hcsitatcd for n moment. "Rc-
cause" she said ut length, because l
did not wish to be under any ob!iga
ton to Mr. Mapleton.'
"There Were many girls there that
night who would nave slvrn wO.l.ls 10
have been in your ilositiGn.'
"rrohably. she replied, "hut .hcla
are higher things llal mere position.
Mr.. Lawton."
They were still standing in the grow.
ing darkness of the little lane. Ill the
cleaning gave him confidence. for his
hand reached Tor her shoulder aud
rested there.
"And do you seek III, higher things"
he asked quietly.
Yes" she whispered in answer. 81
have sought thcm.''
"And where have you loo!icd:' h
asked, lallying with the pure delight ~
the moment.
I'm your eyes" she said. whispering
again.
"And could you ,in,l thrm:"
Even in the dark she replied, as
her head sought his shoullcr.-rhlla-
dclphia Telegraph.