Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1906-03-24

CluslOH VI the CABIN, ana Seelueu ~
be engaged despairingly in praying
for death. But two still remained OH
deck.
They were Orlando G. Spoonamore,
capitalist and young man of leisure,
party Of the first part. and n handsome
young woman with fluffy brown hair,
party of the second part, and they
happened to be sitting side by side
She was absorbed in cony of the
Philadelphia Saturday Evening Stake,
and he was reading the automobile
news in daily paper-when he wasn't
glancing at his fair companion out of
the corner of his starboard eye.
The wind freshened and he proceeded
to button his light overcoat. But the
top button was unaccountably missing
TO the best of his recollection it was
there when he boarded the boat. The
breeze, or something, must have torn it
off.
Mechanically he detached the stick
pin from his necktie and pinned the
two flaps securely together. Then he
resumed his reading.
And his CHANGING.
Presently, having finished the story,
the young woman raised her head.
looked around her with sudden sur
prise, and started to rise.
Mr.. Spoonamore felt a slight tug at
his chest. He looked down.
TO his horror he found that he had
pinned the loose flap of her light gray
wrap to his Overcoat, and turned red
with anger and modification.
what does this mean, sir?" she de-
manded, in freezing, indignant tones.
IL beg your pardon" he STAN
mered. at was an accident. 1 had
lost button from my coat and l sup
posed l was shutting up the garment
with a pin. l had no Intention"
But you haven't lost button, sir"'
she interrupted. For she could see it
plainly.
He looked down again.
81 see you are right" he said. his self
possession gradually returning, "but l
thought had"
"Will you release me, sir, at once"
Her eyes flashed dangerously, but he
did not finch.
81 fear you will have to sit down
again." he proceeded to explain. "These
two flaps are fastened together with
my stickpin, and 1t has patent fasten-
ing Oh the shank, for safety from the
light-hngered gentry. l screwed 1t mp
tightly, and it will be work of time
to unfasten it."
she sat down again, but stifly, and
without a word.
Il never expected" he remarked, as
he fumbied at the pin, ito form a sud
den attachment like this"
"Sirr
"I'll have to suspend operations for
a moment. Here come two or three
persons hurrying to the rail. to look
at the water, l presume. May ask
you to unbend little and appear to he
engaged in an animated conversation
with me, purely for the purpose of
averting susplcion"
81 will not! Such position as this
Is ntolerable-unthinkab
1T is. 1t is impossible. But it eX-
lists, my lords and gentlemen, like the
human race"
Besides" she again interrupted, re-
taxing a tri6e as the humOr of the sit
uatlon forced itself upon her, lit isn't
proper for me to be engaged in CONVEX
saton with total stranger"
20, yes it is. If it were not, they
wouldn't do it in those delightful
stories you've read so often in that
raper. It's quite the thing these days.
To remove the curse, however, allow
me to Introduce
but l don't wish"
pardon me, but let me ask you not
to be so cold and distant-especially
not so distant. You'll excuse the ma
ture of the tie that binds us. One of
those persons is looking at us curl
Ously."
Hurriedly she leaned a little nearer
to him.
That's better. AS I was about to
say, my name is Orlando G. Spoona-
more. 1 move in respectable society,
and personally am entirely harmless.
don't look like a cannibal, do II"
"N-no, but"
"And your name, as have just dis
covered by looking at the printed tag
on that paper, is"
She hastily turned the paper the
other side up.
TOO late. You are Miss Glorana
Goovius. am delighted to meet you
in this informal, unprecedented way,
and become so close an acquaintance
in so short time. Asking your par
don for dropping into slang, l will add
that am decidedly stuck on"
81 don't believe you are trying to-
to separate u.s."
"Palsied be the hand that would do
such a thlng Still" he continued. tug
ging with great apparent earnestness
at the refractory fastening, Il am do,
ing the best can. Suppose you see If
you can't help me-"
A moment later their hands touched
beneath the protecting flaps.
With furious blush she drew hers
AWAY WIN SOhSluVlaple cuOIl' lOT VT
lando had muscular grasp-and she
was about to become distant again,
when she remembered the necessity
for caution.
"Miss Glorana-Goovius," he gasped,
as she hastily moved closer, and hor
fluffy hair blew across his face. Il
think | can get this thing loose
pretty soon-if you will just sit as you