Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1905-05-27

Of the girl he loved, aud he was quite
unconscious, ms he thrust it away, that
the photograph of the older woman had
taken the place Of the younger.
"Well, You can tell her, Jack" said
Miss Martin, that think you're a
lucky man. always liked Kitty Ire
vor | knew her mother years ago. and
somehow, when saw tOu together.
hoped it would come 10 this. I'm
glad Of it, Jack"
He turned away, whjslIinS like n
schoolboy, for the world was n pecu-
LARRY happy place 10 him just then. |
But fate has Il nasty way of playing
\ man Il trick sometimes, and am hour
or two later, rs Jack turned into Ok.
ford street, fate played him one.
He came face to face with n man,
who stood still when he saw him, and
caught him by the arm.
"Jack Elton, rs liver' he cried
Jack turned and then held out his
hand.
captain Rileyw he cried "Why, !
haven't seen you for yearS--it must be
five or SIX"
ITS nearly six years." said the Cap
tain, since ! went away and | sup
pose the world has changed Il bit since
then. What has happened to you?"
Jacks hand travelled quickly 10 his
breast pocket.
Everything" he said. "The best that
could"
He drew out photograph one
nearest his neart, and Eeld it for an
instant in tho palm Of his hand, and
his fingers closed round It rs If it We're
treasure.
"I'm-l'm going 20 lie married." he
said, hesltatingly, "to-to-hpr!
He lifted up his hand abruptly with
The photograph lying in the palm, and
turned its face Toward the Captain
without looking at it nhnself. His
eyes were aI!ght, and if Captain Riley
had looked ut him lie might have been
even more startled than he vas.
As 1t was, lie fell back sharply, with
a queer gasp for breath.
What he Gaw WAs- a wnman'S thin
face, with wavy dark hair parted in
The middle, with lips grown bitter
through disappointment, with eyes
faded, perhaps with too much weep
ing. 1t was the Photograph of Miss
Martin!
His bronZed fac.MGrew grey.
"TO marry-hcrp he cried, huskily.
Good heaven, man, you can't mean
itw
Jack drew back the photograph
hastily and thrust it into his pocket
again.
81 mean t." he said stimy, land
why not?"
well, hope shell treat you better
than she treated me- lie said, bitterly,
aud Jack startcd4 and rose to his feet
"Treated your he crieU, hdirsely.
What do you mean?'
The Captain laughed, ana then his
lips set.
Il mean" he'said, steadily. chat !
meant TO marry her once, and | thought
she meant TO, marry me, but it appeared
she didn't. She altered her mfnd-she
Tilted me, as L afterward heard she had
Tilted dozen men hefoue me. Bat you
may have better luck. You're better
looking than l. was, anG-and--"
Jack looked Mt him with his face
growing red and hard.
ITS n lie!' lie burst out Mt last. at
must be n lie! It's impossible! En-
gagged to yOu--"
You'd better go and ask her whether
1t is lie or noe" he said. "Ask her
why l went away six years ago! Ask
hero Heaven! Ask her lf she didn't
once swear with he: arms round my
neck that was The only man she ever
really cared for ana ask her If, a month
later she didn't bid ME 90 where /
would! ASK hrr-ask her! I suppose
she's sworn the same thing TO You"
Its lie"' Jack cripd. But I'll ask
her. I'll so now. Sizes true IDS steel
I'd stake my life on her.
Jack went as rapidly as lie could,to-
ward his fiancee's house; and when, he
was shown in TO her, lie strobe forward
impetuously, width his heart beating
like sledge hamIner
Exit" lie cried, huskily, II want to
ask you something It's n lie. know
It's almost an lusnlt to ask you, but
! I've just seen a MANA Captain Riley
i met him in thei street by accident,
and he says"
He hesitated. Kitty had given u little
Start, and color had sprung into aer
cheeks. She gave a quick, III Involuntary
| glance out Of the window. How odd!
Only an hour ago Miss Martin had been
speaking of Captain Riley. If il should
be the same! If she could manage
somehow to patch UP the quarrel of ten
years standing, that had been II meTed
six years ago, and had never beer & made
up! If She Kitty-couId someho " heal
the breach now
She looked up at Jack with hetS lips
parted
Captain Riley ?",she asked, br cath.
lessy.
Jack fell back.
"Then it's true" lie cried, boar sely.
"Ond called him liar-.I though I'll
could believe"
But what's true?" asked Kitty. ~
don't understand"
"How was it you never menti med
Captain Riley to me?r lie asked, co IDLY
Kitty looked bewilGered.
Put Ill couldn't" she cried @It
wouldn't have been Glir--oh. coul flrA't
| might have told you later on. perlrapr
but, oh, you know, 1 couldn't at o oce.H
Jack turned on his heel.
"Well, IT you can hide thing. Ike
that. You can hide dozen worse
things he said, in harsh, bard yoice.