Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1905-01-21
BY s a WEISS

crJ l.ahSly, HuShlnS all over HIS hAhu-
some, sunburnt face; ITS no use say
ing anything more on that subject,
I'll never ask any woman TO marry me
| so long as | know that cannot afford
her servant, or so long as there's n
mortgage hanging over the roof that
| I'd bring her to-"
His mother looked at him anxiOuSly
! over her spectacles.
at 1t wasn't for the mortgage" she
! said, slowly, 1--WE might get along.
Twas that worried your father into
his grave-that, and not finding the
| gold-Streak---"
Her son made an impatient move
ment, and she added:
Don't you think you could get lit
tie more time allowed us, Robert?
Maybe when the crops sold, and the
apples and cider"
"Mr. Davis won't hear of it, mother.
| saw him yesterday and talked it over,
but he insists it must all be paid by
the first of August. AL here he comes
now"
And Robert went out TO meet the
well-dreSsed, sharp-eyed man in a
| handsome trap, while his mother re-
manned in the back porch, with sleeves
rolled up, mixing food for the poultry.
"There amt many of 'em TO feed
now" she said talking aloud to her.
| self, as she had been accustomed with
her late husband. "Then there's old
Speck missing-the best layer of 'cm
| all, and Gold streak fit for nothing
since her legs broke. All, me! I'm
mighty afeared that she's the only
gold-streak Wen ever know at this
place"
whats that about n gOlG-streak,
Mrs. Langly:" exclaimed clear,
young voice.
And n girl with a sweet face and
bright brown eyes and blue-strfped
chintz dress, fitting perfectly to her
| trim figure, stood smiling before her.
MIS-. IaHgIy ruce nrIgnreEeu rmInv-
dlately.
why, Lefty, how do you always
manage to take one by surprise, as if
you'd risen out O. the earth or dropped
down from the clouds! Well, you're
welcome. I'll tell you about the gold
streak if you care to listen"
You see," she continued, ''the Lang
| lys come of Scotch stock, and it's been
said that RObs great-grandfather
Langly, over in Scotland, had the gift
o. second slght-that is, seeing and
knowing things that are going TO hap
pen. But / never did think much of it,,
though my husband--pOOr departed
| Jeems!-hplieved in II as firmly as lie
believed in summer ana winter. Well,
about eleven years ago old Alick Lang
ly paid MS a visit. | hadn't seen him
but once before in my lfe-for he lived
n long way from here. Him and
| Jeems they walked all over the farm,
and ii was a far better cultivated place
then than it is now, though nothing
compared to what it was in my fathers
time. Jeenfh' Uncle Alick didn't seem
TO think much of it, though.
"The day he went away, "Ashe went
on, "he was standing and looking all
around him on the farm. All of q sud
den he says, Jemmy-Jemmy and
Mnry'turning TO me-'I'ye one thing
TO say before go. Stick to your farm,
for there's streak of golden luck in
it, OF course, | asked what he meant;
but all he would say was, I've seen it
--I've seen it by the power that's given
us to look into the future. I've seen n
streak of gOld-luck running through
your land that's to better your fortunes
in good time Don't part with it until
your luck's found And that same day
he Went away, and the first we heard
of him after he got home was that he
was dead.
There was another pause, and Lefty
said:
And you think there is really vein
of gold to he found on your farmI'
"Jeems thought so. 10 his dying day
he believed in it,"
And what does Robert think about
it?' inquired the girl, with n faint flush
Oh her checks.
"Oh. he thinks ii all about
the gold, and the second sight. and all
Jusi at This moment they heard Mr..
Davis trap roll away. and Robert came
around the corner OF the house.
He looked a little excited, but that
might be from finding Letty there lie
walked home with her across the fields
to the next farm. When lie returned,
he said, quite abruptly:
Mother, Mr.. Davis wants TO buy
the farm. He's offered more for it ilan
l ever dreamed II would bring. He
seems quite anxious 10 get ii; and when
l told him that yOu objected TO part
with it, he actually offered to let us
off with the balance of the mortgage,
provided the business is settled at
once"
"Why, Robert, what can he mean?''
81 DONE know. There's something in
1t don't understand; but, il you've no
objection, I'll go tomorrow ana see
Lawyer Pannell about it,
Rober, had expected 10 be only one
day from home; hut he stayed three.
And, meantime the odd boy, going to
bring the cows from the meadow, re-
ported that there were number of
men passing through The farm, looking
about, examining the ground, and act
ing in n very strange and unaccount-
able manner.
Good graciousT thought Mrs. Lang
ly. They surely can't be looking for
the gOld-streakw
She was very anxious for her sons
return. When he did come, she noticed
the bright glance and the brisk manner
in which he dismounted from his horse
and came straight toward her, as she
stood at the steps to welcome him.
We'll Rob, | see you've got good
news
THE best news, mother he an
swered, cheerfully
Tears came into her eyes.