Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1904-07-30


Louie? 1t will spoil everything.
wonder what answer she Will give 10
7 ord Clayton now. II We're her age
| know which | should choose"
Her thoughts were interrupted by
.oules voice at the door. Aunt janet,
are you there?" And Louie rushed I'M
petuously in. "Oh, Aunt, has he
gomez"
what he?" asked Aunt Janet.
"Why, Bernard, of course. on, aunt
l am so unhappy And the girl sank
into chair and began to cry.
Lady Janet flew to her side. What is
the matter, dear? And why are you
unhappy"
Bernard is going away from Eng
land-and all on account OF me-
II understood something Of this from
the boy. | have just seen him. He
told me that he asked You to he MS
wife, and that you gave him no an
swer."
But that's just it. He didn't ask me.
So how could answer him"
Listen to me for minute. What
answer are you going to make l.ora
Clayton? He can give you home
name and position. And l have very
little to give you.'
"Oh. Aunt Janet, but IdQR't love NV,
caurat though he is so stupid. Ana
I can be his wife. if he asks me. And
now he'll go away. and never know.
Aunt Janet, will you let me SO and
stay with my cousins in South Africa!
/ want to go away, so that Bernard VIII
remain in England"
perhaps it Is better that you
should" answered her aunt. I'm
sorry you can't marry Lord Clayton,
but I won't stand in your way If Ber-
nard should ask YOU
"He will never ask me now said
the girl
You needn't be afraid of that, my
dear. He is sure to do it sooner or
later And when he does. tell him that
| have no plans. except for your hap
piness. l love the boy, if for nothing
else, for his fathers sake" She
StUOpeU anu hlsSeu VIC Sli, anu eaSAA
went quietly out Of the room.
Louie sat upright in her chair, her
face flushed and her hair slightly dis
hevelled, but looking very pretty with
al. "Was there ever such compiled
ton? Here is Bernard, whom ! love,
marching out of England because l
won't be his wife as lie hasn't asked
me; and here am I, whom Bernard
loves. marching out of England be-
cause he won't ask me-" And she went
again to look IT the picture on the
easel. ITS very like me, but much
more beautiful than could be-"
AS she was thinking this. Bernard
came back into the room. Louie looked
at him from behind the easel. "Oh,
is that your she said in a lame kind
of way.
II have come FOR the picture" he
answered.
II have seen Aunt Janet, and you
needn't leave England. because I'm
going to do So"
"Oh, really. I'm glad. OF course, l
don't mean that. But I'm the right
person to CO."
ooh, no. I only came to look at the
picture. It's very nice"
"Oh, yes. And l came to take 1t
Then we can only say good-by
again. Good-by, Bernard"
"Oh. good-by" They clasped hands,
clx, fhnu didn't know
what they were saying or doing.
"Good-by, God bless you. His arms
were open. She sank against his side,
and he kissed her. In another moment
they We're separated, as they thought,
forever.
One week later, and there was a
great hustle at the London Docks, for
one of the royal mail steamers was
leaving for South Africa. Among the
passengers was Louie Maynard, who
had gone on board in the company OF
her Aunt Janet. That lady wished to
see the last Of her much-loved niece
before leaving her in the care of an
old friend, Mrs. Robinson, who was
going out to South Africa to join her
husband, and was delighted to have
so charming companion on the voy-
age. Louise had not gone to her cabin
to arrange her things, as she wished
to spend her last minutes in England
with her aunt. The poor girl felt very
discOnsolate as she chung to her and
the first bell sounded for the passen.
gers to 60 ashore.
Now, my dear, try and cheer up"
said Aunt Janet, as she chung to her,
"good-by! And If you see Bernard,
tell him he's very stupid, and how
happy am to be going away"
"Any one for the shore!" called out
an imperative voice.
Yes, yes,". said Lady Janet.
"This way, madam" And Lady
Janet hurried to the gangway and
went ashore.
Louie, instead Of going to the cabin,
watched from the side Of the ship till
her aunt was on the quay, and waved
last adieu as Lady Janet got into her
carriage and drove away. Then the
second bell rang for the visitors to go
ashore. Louie still remained at the
side of the ship. interested in all that
was going on about her. She saw a
cab, laden with baggage. driven hast
lily up to the vessel. out of which
dashed young man. He was soon
surrounded by helpers, and was quick
ly OH board. There seemed something
familiar to her in the figure. and as
the young man stepped from the gang.
way on to the deck she moved toward
her cabin, and the two came face to
face.
"Louiew Bernardo And they
looked at each other with the frankest
establishment.
what are you doing on board this
ship" asked the girl.
"Im going to South Africa. And
you?"
I'm going to South Africa. I told
you I was going away from England
to stay with some cousins"
But you didn't say they were In