Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1904-08-27

we dO?'
My face, I presume. presented n
blank, for my wife jumped up and
went out OF the room laughing. 49,
| Maureen wasn't my only care, either.
| had son called Tom, and he was as
| wild as n hawk. and so l need hardly
say that he and my ward hunted in
couples. He was year or two younger
than she was, but he would have fol-
lowed her to the moon willingly, had
there been path there, and there had
never been an escapade of hers in
which Tom had not had his full share.
I had had tutors for him, but one
after another these gentlemen had in
| formed me that-well. one of them had
nsinuated that l had better engage
one of the wild beast tanners from n
travelling menaregie, as such a person
might succeed in instructing Tom.
| For an ordinary man it was hopeless
task, he said, to attempt to teach him
| anything.
My wife had warned me not to en-
gage any young man as tutor this time.
Now Maureen is grown up" she said.
| "yOur own common sense will tell you
that it wouldn't do at ALL"
l agreed hastily, and sat down to
accept the suggestion Of a friend who
had proposed sending me certain
Professor Bryant, who, my friend said,
| was quite clever at dealing with boys.
had visions of spectacles and brain
stuffed with classical lore, Of some old
dry-as-dust specimen Of humanity, and
I gave sigh Of sympathy with Tom.
I remembered my own mad youth, and
understood him better than most peo-
pie could, except Maureen.
But the boy must learn; he was 60
ing to college soon to prepare himself
for the bar, and he needed preliminary
| tuition.
My letter was written and duly dis
patched, my terms were accepted by
Professor Bryant" and few days
later came q telegram announcing his
arrival.
had spoken to Maureen about it.
and she had coaXed Tom into state
Of qniescence, which was a shade bet
| ter than the open rebellion which he
Usually showed to new arrivals Of the
genus tutor.
| sent a carriage to the station to
meet the professor, and stayed at home
to receive him.
| went out to the hall when I heard
the wheels on the drive, and | shall
never forget my feelings Of surprise
| when the professor came into the
| lamp-lit room. He was sixfOOtthree,
ut least-a fair-haired. blue-eyed giant,
and IL he was more than six and
twenty, Fm-well add to that the fact
that he was the most attractive man !
ever saw in my life and you will I'M
derstand that, as he stood there facing
me in his rough tweed suit, l was men,
tally calculating:
what will Molly my wife) say?"
What she did say was so different
from what I had expected that I was
struck dumb, and only stared at her.
wondering for the hundred thousandth
time at the Inconsistency of women.
She just looked at me, her eyes
bright and her cheeks quite pink, and
she said:
Hes the handsomest man I ever
saw: he is one of the Brynnts of Dor
chester, a cousin of my mothers Gsn't
| that queerD. He's as good as gold and
as nice as he can be. and I do wish
he'd fall in love with Maureen."
Which speech, as l have already re-
| marked, struck me dumb.
There was no use in reminding her,
you said so and so a week ago" She
| would have waved me aside with an
| airy "One is at liberty to change ones
mind" So I. metaphorically, took a
back seat, and waited to see what
would happen next.
What did happen was refreshing
novelty. Tom took to Bryant at once;
he also took to his books, and worked
| like n beaver, morning, noon, and night
except now and again. when he and
Bryant took holiday and went fish
ing. or this art Bryant was found
to be past master, and Toms respect
for him increased accordingly.
The other noticeable fact since his al
rival was still more extraordinary.
| Maureen became strangely quiet
oddly shy-a new loneliness had
touched her face, and even knew II
was something which could not be &C.
counted for by any physical cause. II
was almost the difference between an
"Undine" before she had soul and
after she possessed one, or at least the
woman.
| Manreen had crossed the dividing
line. and. consciously or unconsciously
somebody had won her heart
| Things went on much az usual other
wise. but, about six months after Bry-
ants arrival. he asked to see me in the
library ION business"
My heart sank. He was going tc
throw up the place--of course, knew
that. lie did throw up the place. as
l had expected: but he said to me
when he had done so: II think It's
only fair to tell you that it's not be
cause of any trouble I've had with
Tom that | am leaving. We get OF
capitally. The boy has brains ant
grit enough for two. He'll make his
mark by and by, but" he paused.
"Out with it, man. said. impa
tiently. 81 can't stand people wh(
leave n sentence unfinished"
Bryant smiled broadly.
"All right" he said. I'll go straight
to the point. I love Miss O'Connor
your niece and ward. am poo
man: although a small estate Mt Dor
chester belongs to me. 1t has been le
for years. and | haven't enough Il
keep wife. even surprising that
might venture TO try and win Mis-