Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1904-12-31
Observation-Disclosures.
A WOMAN'S VICTORY
ny ~. WIGHT.


1Hok HERE was the usual num-
Der of summer guests at
8 III s Cults Head.
II Il r Granite Cottage-a long,
noN low, old-fashloned build
ing-stoOd few rods from the hotel.
and ace0mmoda ted about thirty guests,
of whom Dorothy StrettOn was one
Dorothy was ut Gull s Head with
her father and widowed aunt, who
acted as chaperon.
People saM she was tn, gentlest.
loveliest girl they ever knew with her
friends and with the unfortunate, and
that she WAS like ice FOR GOODNESS when
she chose to be.
Oscar Dlnsmore, who had followed
her to Cults Head, was boarding at
the Excelsior House. He was cOnsld-
cred capital fellow" among his as
sociates; he spent money freely, owned
yacht, drove a handsome pair, was
witty, accomplished, and had been
nearly every where.
This man. who had been fiattered
and courted enough to spoil most men.
was in love with Dorothy, and she was
not Indifferent to him, though she en-
~deavored TO be.
He was too hold lover to be daunt-
Ell, however, and so, one lovely night,
when pale young moon swung low
over the solemn; sea, and the sound of
tripping feet mingled with the throb
Of viOl and eOrnet in the hall, lie
wrapped a shawl about her, drew her
ont upon the balcony, told his story
as he alone could tell it, passlonately
and tenderly, and waited for her reply,
scarcely doubling what it would be.
He gazed Mt her in amaZement when
the girls sweet lips syllabled softly:
NO"
Dorothy! would have sworn that
you loved me. know you TO be above
trifing with the honest love Of any
man" he cried.
II think it will make you angry, but
I must speak, much as value your
friendship. l refused your offer to-
night, Mr.. DinsmOre, because l know
that you are frittering away q splendid
manhood. and God does not put us into
the world to cultivate the meaner part
of our natures. 1t Is an actual sin
= for man of your ability and means
TO drift with the tide, as you are drift
ing"
The low vibrant voice died away
upon the'cOld night air.
Oscar stood before her In COMPOUNDED
silence, q hot flush burning his
brow.
And through this thought was the
uneasy consciousness of his own short
cOmings.
He collected himself with sudden
effort. and smiled with cold courtesy
as he gave her his arm.
miss strettOn is pleased to he cri'i-
CAL" he observed. But even blame
from her own lips is an honor. Shall
we return"
IL knew yOu would he angry with
me-" she said. wistfully. just before
they entered the hail; but | have
spoken only the truth. Your future
lies In your own hands,
For weeks Oscar avoided Dorothy,
and lived so recklessly that lie became
the talk OF all the people at Gull's
Head.
Day by day the girl saw him whirl.
Ing by behind his handsome thorough
breds with set OF men who were glad
to spend his money; or heard his voice
in reckless laughter as he betted IN
the bowling alley or billiard hall; and
not infrequently she saw by his flushed
face and unsteady eyes that he had
been drinking too freely.
DlnsmOre never missed nm expression
on the fair, pale face when she was
within sight although he scrupnlOnsly
avoided speaking to her. He took I;
sort of savage delight in his reckless
course, and In the grave sorrow Of the
girls eyes, and all the while his love
for her grew stronger and stronger II
his heart.
The summer was ended. The first O
the September days had come, and Dor
Othy's party We're preparing to return
to town. The girl had suffered a new
experience. for the pain was too dtel
for uninterested eyes to read.
In the six years which followed, |
was mystery to DOrothy's friend
why she did not marry. SuitOrs sh
had in plenty. and admirers who woul'
have wOoed her had they dared; bu
Dorothy, to all appearances, was invul
nprabie.
IL was during the winter after he
twenty-sixth birthday, tn I she, in com
pany with her father. was travelling
In England and the fame of the grea
surgeon. Doctor Dinsmore,-came t
their ears. People hocked 10 him Il
scores; his operations were wonderful
and his sympa thy and generosity some
thing to be told OF ny the destitute an
suffering with tears and blessings.
A rapturous hope thrilled throug
DorOthy's heart when she first hear
of him. She remembered that Osca
had told her of studying medicine an
surgery. although he had never pra'
ticed-bnt then, DinsmOre was con
mon enough name. oh. il II were Onl
he--the man whom she had never fol
gotten!
They met at last, at a reception.
was her old-time lover. grown q trih
broader. his dark hair slightly sprinkle
with gray, the gay insOuciance Of loo
aud manner gone. and In its place
gravity and dignity which relaxed {