Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1905-03-18

was worth money" as the saying
goes, and should he marry the three
Misses Jenifer would cease to be "the
ladies' of the substantial old red brick
house.
"Of course never shall marry" I'm
Gle Jennifer himself had said, and he
really believed it.
Had he not Outgrown the age of
hearts and darts, billetdOuX and senti-
mental valentine verses? A man of
forty Is supposed to have Outlived the
tender passion, as he has Outgrown
scarlet fever, humps, measles and
whooping cough. Besides, Sarah Ell
dredge, his first sweetheart, had mar
ried stout old sea captain, and gone
to Boston to live, and the squire natur-
ally imagined that that finished the
chapter of love experience for him.
SO when Miss Juliet Packenham
came to the honeysuckle empowered
cottage next door to live with her
mother. her poodle and her aquarium,
the three Misses Jennifer-Kate, Belle
and Sallle-made much of the newcOm-
er, for she was neither very pretty
very young, nor very brilliant, and
everybody knows what darling"
such a one as this is among her own
sex.
"She plays tennis delightfully."-" as
serted Kate.
"She has taught me such delicious
new stitch in crochet" added Isabelle
who w9s addicted to the elegant waste
of time that women call fancy work
II have never tasted such cake as
she makes" said Sallie, who was the
housewife of the establishment.
And the Misses Jennifer invited Ju-
Iiet into their domain with an eXtrava-
gance of hospitality that was very ac.
ceptable to the widows meek-eyed,
soft-voiced daughter.
"They are very nice young ladies'"
said Mrs. Packenham, who had seen n
good deal of trouble, and whose wine
of life" had been well intermingled
with gall.
"Oh, they are charming" said little
Juliet, enthusiastically.
And the squire, their uncle. seems
a very pleasant gentleman" added the
old lady.
Yes, mamma, very" assented Miss
Juliet.
"And very well preserved for fifty
years old" said Mrs. Packenham.
"Oh, mamma, he can't be that!' said
Juliet, earnestly.
"How old would you take him to be-
then"
HE can't possibly be more than thir-
ty-fve," said Juliet rehectively, bal
anclng her thlmble first on one finger,
then on another.\
NONSENSE said Mrs Packenham,
and she took snuff. Juliet, you're a
goosew
Juliet was accustomed to these little
polite speeches on the part of her lady
mamma, and made no response. But
she chung to her own opinions on the
subject of the squlre's age, neverthe-
less.
And she thought to herself that she
never had known summer to pass so
swiftly as did this special season.
Belle" said Kate Jennifer one eve
ming, as she came rather abruptly into
the room where her sister was practlc-
ing a difficult sonata on the piano,
"come to the window. quick!'
"What for?" said Belle, Obeying the
summons.
"Who is that by the hedge of labur-
nuns, talking with Uncle Jennifer?"
"Where? l don't see any one"
"Just beyond the lilacs, stupidv' cried
Kate, forgetting politeness in her eager
haste. "There-don't you see?"
II see nothing but the big white
spired bush all in bloom"
"Oh, you slly!' said Kate, with All
impatient jerk of the head. tits Jul
liet Packenhamw
Juliet Packenhamw
"Yes; don't you see"
"Well, and suppose it is" said Belle,
after moment or two of perpleXed ST.
lence.
Suppose it ISL" mimlcked Kate, fair
" driven beyond the bounds of pa
thence. Belle Belle, one would think
you were born ninny to hear YOU
talk! Do you want to be turned out OF
this house? Do you want mistress
to be set up over our heads? A Mrs
Jennifer, who"
"What nonsense you do talk, Kater
said Isabelle. THE idea of Juliet
Packenhan captivating Uncle Jennl.
fer. Why, she's as homely as hedge
fencer
"Some people might call her pretty
in sort of n way"
"And she's thirty-three II she's a
day, and old men like Uncle Jennifer
the fair Isabelle, 1t must be remem.
bered, was but eighteen, and viewed
other peoples ages accordingly-"arC
always crazy after young girls"
Kate was a little staggered in her
faith for the moment.
but l have thought of late that I'm
Gle Jennifer spent good deal of time
over at the cottage"
"Oh, that is only because the new
stone wall is being built on the division
line. and Uncle Jennifer always was
very particular about such things, you
know"
"Well, It may be So" said Kate, du-
biously, but confess l have my
doubts. only hope you are right"
fright! or course am" said Isa-
belle, sitting down again to her prac'
tieing.
Sallie, the housekeeper, came in al
that moment in great glee.
"Jullet Packenham is going to make
some of that delicious fruit cake for
me tomorrow" she said, $50 that we