Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1904-08-27
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one uNy lHul, uHlolS 'he NV va 49,
nobody could possibly give more food
for thought and anxiety than did
Maureen O'Connor, our niece and
ward.
To say she We" r''''! s'""''' '" ~, /,
enc -WuS as fresh and sweet as a wild
flower She was as wild as any deer
on our hills. She feared neither man
nor beast, rode horses many boys
would have declined to mount, could
swim like n fish and run like hare.
When / add that she was just seven
teen, and had shut up her lesson books
with decided bang the day before her
birthday, you will perhaps understand
why my wife and were sitting look
ing at each other, discussing Maureen.
She was, or would be. an heiress,
and she knew bout as much on the
subject of money as those birds yonder
near the marsh. She could spend 1t,
though, for she loved giving. No tale
of distress was ever told to her in vain,
for she had the warmest Of Irish
hearts. The only way, indeed, one
could influence her, I found out long
ago, was to appeal to that-it was no
good lecturing Maureen.
My wife was looking rather helpless.
Maureen adored her, but ruled her
absolutely. My wife wOrs1,iped Maui
reen, and spoiled her horribly, but to
me she always played the role of a
dutiful ward. though she knew per-
fectly we'll that it never deceived me
for one moment.
"She ought to go to the city and
make her social debut" she said.
firmly.
II quite agree with YOU said I, "but
will she go?'
IL don't know"
"Ahw l laughed. you see, we can't
exactly make her Co."
Have you ever been able to make
her do anything?" my wife asked.
scornfully.
She spoke MS If she had been in the
habit of enforcing obedience on Maui
reen every other minute, and l was
riled.
I'll oDS'lN'' S'hi ~
tempts in that direction have been so
very successful" l said. GROSSLY.
Whereupon We both laughed 1--WE
possess sense of humOr-a thing
which -r--v--Ir rituntions from
becoming serious,.
Just then, through the open window.
we caught sight of n dainty, charming
figure, in the simplest Of draper!es,
tearing across the lawn, three or four
dogs at her heels.
went to the window and called her
back. She came reluctantly.
Gam in for a scOlding?' she asked.
her lovely face mutinOus, her eyes so
full of laughter that they would have
disarmed the severest guardian, l al
most think.
"Come in here" said, 1--WE want to
speak to you seriously"
She groaned and gave n backward
glance across the fower-spangled
meadows and the sunny garden.
"Fancy being serious on such day.
she said. "Its wasting ones time posi-
lively, 1 do assure YOU
However, she lifted her dainty skirts,
and with one bound was in at the
window.
my DEAR" said, you've grown up
now. you know"
Her answer was an affectiOnate hug,
and "If you only knew how funny you
look when you try to look solemn"
said she.
Well, we sat down, one on each side
of her, and we propounded the social
debut. l talked what ! believed to be
common sense. My wife said good
deal about parties and beautiful gowns,
and seasoned the lump with little
worldly wisdom, which firmly believe
she had learned out of book, as she
hasn't particle of her own.
Maureen sat there as quiet as n
mouse and listened patiently, but said
nothing until we came to full stop.
It is q trife difficult to 60 on adduc-
ing arguments in support of plan
when nobody says anything to contra,
dict you.
LIS wa W nal VIC DotH lclt, 81 We
paused. Maureen still sat silent for a
moment, then she spoke. had never
heard Maureens voice with that in
Election in my life; she was actually
serious.
"My dears," she said, and she slipped
one hand into mine and another into
my wife's, you've been very good ia
me all my life" and there was thrill
in her voice as she said it which made
my eyes grow suddenly dim. "Hve
lost both father and mother, but you
have been to me so kind that | never
missed ether-can I say more? But
don't make me do this thing. What
Is the idea? l shall be rich some day
and know you think me pretty, there
fore you would like me to make q
grand marriage. l don't care II
marry or don't, but I'm quite sure II
would be hateful to live in dirty OLD
city, and I'm not going to do it, so thai
is quite settled, isn't it,"
During the first quarter of her speed
my win and held our breaths-it was
so unlike the Maureen of every day
but the wind-up held family Likeness!
to speeches we had often heard ant
we felt that we We're treading familiar
ground once more.
"Then you won't CO." said.
"Indeed, won't" she replied. an,
then there was vision of gathered
skirts and tiny feet. for Maureen ha,
departed by the way she had come,
My wife and | looked at each othe
and gave a sigh of relief.
II hate the city" she said suddenly
"but I thought it was my duty to taxi
her there"
"Just what felt myself" I tol,
her. but apparently we won't have t,