Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1904-10-15
4
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
"A GOOD STRATEGIST <
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Isles, leaned back in his
chair and bit the top Of his thumb in
doubt. On principle and by long habit
stealing march on each busy, we'll
filled day by good hours work at his
office table before breakfast.
But this morning, for once, his appe-
tite for work had failed him. The
sight Of tbs &aropS heay sortep Pasekt
letters which stared him in the face
and lay within touch of his fingers
filled him with ill-concealed aversion.
He sighed impatiently, hesltated.
pushed back his chair and sighed
again.
The unfortunate Sir Sampson was
thankful when the sound Of the break
fast CONSEQUENTIAL in his wellordered
household to the half Of minute
brought him n temporary relief from
his perplexlties.
Notwithstanding his age and senior
tty in the service he was young in the
character of Benedick, and, as Is
not infreQuent in such cases. the lady
Of his choice was more than a little
his junior.
With ready-recurring admiration the
general took in at glance her grace
full pOise Of head and shoulders, her
farltless shell-pink complexion, and
the exquisite garment-he could no
more have named it than he could
have fiown-of muslin and lace that
EMBODIED he: 1t still thrilled him
sfresh to think that this beautiful peer
less creature, so young and tender 20
blooming. should be his and his alone
What the fond. adOring glance did
not see was n creaSe-it could hardly
be called frOwn-that married the
white smOOthness of her forehead as
she heard his step, and the quick, fur
live movement that hid the letter she
had been reading. Like the moment
ary ripple of the zephyr on the surface
Of lake they swept by, leaving no
sign to mark the place where they had
been.
The letter could hardly have been
sailed very short one, hut every word
was indelibly printed on Lady Doom's
memory, and to her. who could inter
pref its meaning by the light of other
days, it was forcible and to the point.
The bold familiar writing with its
strong black lines large capitals. and
thick upward crossed its" gave her,
as in a crystal. n vision of herself as
she was before her marriage-a pre- tty
penniless girl with heart full of
vanity and head full Of ambition,
cOurted. flattered, sought after, with
train of admirers. hut none wealthy or
important enough to satisfy her mer-
:enary aspirations until the Com.
mander in Chief himself fell a victim
70 her youthful charms. To girl of
her character, and bred in garrison
town, the bait was irresistible. She
jettsOned her fragments Of heart, and
became Lady Doom.
The wording of the letter ran thus:
Dearest Connie:-The last time, l
suppose l shall call you so. After this
| shall have a wife who will probably
know more about my doings than the
Chief does of yours. mean no re-
proach. You know your sex and their
little ways-chnrming and otherwise
better than do. You will have heard
that | have taken your advice and am
about to follow your example. Under
the circumstances and the adverse star
which ruled orr fate. we have both
probably done the best possible for our
selves; though sometimes, even at this
eleventh hour, conld find it in my
heart to wish it different. But regrets
are useless. What isis. Let the dead
past bury its dead. for one, won't
dig 1t up. But for our old friendships
sake, when the Belsetta command falls
vacant, which 1t may do any day now,
remember me. know You can man.
age it If YOU will. I leave the details
Of the management to you with perfect
confidence.
shall never write to You in this strain
again, so, would like to recall to your
remembrance that the breaking off OF
our engagement was your doing. not
mine. If ever you regret it do not
blame me. With you l could Tor think
could have faced poverty and shelly
Ing. Without you l don't mean to put
ap with either If can help it-Yours.
as In the past.
MAX MELTON.
BY one Of the unwritten and incom-
prehensible mandates of fashion that |
live for season and vanish into space,
the pocket Of Lady Doom's ethereal
CONNECTION was on tho left side, and
her diSengaged hand clutched the letter
that lay in 1t as she poured out her
husbands tea. The paper crinkled and
cracked ominously. But her gentle
tanguid movements We're as composed,
her sweet, musical voice as low GDd
delicately modulated as ever as she
asked:
Have YOU thought over what we
were talking about last night. SAM"
II have thought Of little else dar-
ling" he answered uneasiIy. You
know how much would do to please
you. and what a pleasure it would be
for me to do it, but you see. dear. this
is-er-an official matter. If l have
to say no to YOU it will be from sense
OF duty. You see how I am placed"
With great care and deliberation
Lady Doom selected lump of sugar
and held it aloft in the longs Her ell
bow rested on the table, shaming the
cloth by its. wilderness, and the lace
sleeve falling back displayed her pc.
fpctly formed wrist. with its network
of blue veins on the warm surface.
From tngertip to shoulder the arm
was perfect. and she knew il.
'One or two:" she asked, smilingly.
81 can never remember"
"Oh. either thanks: it doesn't mat
ter" answered the general absently.
The effort he was making to say what
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