Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1907-01-26

The Widow Drummond did not
aesitate to call ugly things by ugly
names When she lost her husband,
an easy-going, pleasure-loving man,
she scandalized everybody by openly
wondering where horses went to, as
she could not imagine him existing
anywhere without them And yet shs
had been devoted to him, and ne
meant no harm. That was the pity
OF it; she meant no harm, but did 50
much by her Incorporating can
dor Her intimates, with smile.
called her Truthful Jane" hoping
that by little gentle ndicule
certain discount might be made to
attach to whatever she might say
next, for she was no respecter OF
persons. But, though she vould
make no truce with conventionalities.
she was warm-heartod and s:'mpa-
thetlc, and sh] did an immense
amount Of good, though she would
ms often as not undo 1t with he:
tongue. She would speak TIE truth,
the whole truth, and nothing but the
truth. That modified form of truth
sometimes spoken of as fact she OBJ
horred. She stoutly maintained that
1t was but refined name for lying,
and she would have none of it.
1t was certainly a curious thing
that, being what she was. it should
have been her bell that was iolently
rung one day. A battered, dazed-
looking Coachman had rung 1t, and
he brought with him an entirely I'M.
foreseen opportunity for the testing
of her principles.
He was so badly shaken that lie
was incoherent at first, but few d.
rect questions from MrE Drummond
reused him sufficiently to enable him
to make a confused statement as to
n carriage ACCIDENT and the necessity
OF help being sent Immediately.
"Where?" she asked, sharply.
"Close by your barn, ma'am, Oh,
my head" moaned the man.
With businesslike promptness she
hal him attended to in the house.
Keepers room, sent orders to the
stables for a groom to gallop off OF
once for doctor, and then, accom-
panied by some Of the servants, carry
ing blankets, brandy and whatever
else she thought might be needed,
She hurried down toward the barn.
On reaching the road, she was hor-
rified at the seriousness of what had
occurred. A light wagonette was
lying upside down, completely
wrecked. The horse had broken away
and was not in sight. A female SER
want was wringing her hands In help
less despair.
"Oh, ma'am!" she cried, as her
mistress came up, "they are both Of
them dead! Isn't It awful, ma'am?"
1t was awful to see. A young lady
had been hurled upon her head, and
abe lay quite still in the middle Of
the road. The other was man, and,
to Judge by his dress, e. gentleman.
The carriage had fallen ON his hands
and head, which were mangled In
the most terrible way. The men
Slckened as they removed the car.
rage from the body, and then car.
riod 1t onto the grass by the road
side. He must have been killed in
Etantly.
The lady was breathing family.
They dared not move her, so Mrs.
Drummond and servant placed q
blanket under her head and did their
utmost to revive her. But in vain;
she was alive, but she remained uD"
conscious. On removing her gloves,
Mrs. Drummond caught sight OF her
loft hand, and muttered:
poor, poor thing! He was her
husband"
When the doctor arrived she was
unconscious still. He turned away
abruptly from the motionless figure
OH the grass. biting his lip.
Nothing to be done there!" he
said. 1T is the unfortunate lady wa
must attend to. All, his wife, / see!
She will have a miserable awakening,
l fear, II she awakes at all in this
world. But 1t Is impossible for me to
Judge of her injuries here, Mrs.
Drummond, will you allow her to be
carried to your house? Thank you.
Her husband can be taken TO the hos.
pital in my carriage, IL ore of your
men may go, too. Now, the sooner
l can make proper examination the
better!"
A litter was quickly improvised
with the BLANKETS, and It was not
long before the insenslble woman waS
placel upon the bed that had been
prepared for her and the doctor was
given fair chance Of ascertaining
whether she was likely to live. He
then approached Mrs. Drummond
with a very grave face, and said:
"She will recover consciousness
but after that all depends upon you.
Her life is hanging by g. thread. ANY
further shock would certainly kill
her. tell you this frankly ami
without reserve, because / must now
90 away for an hour or so to pregR-
ing case. IL she comes to herself in
my absence, the whole responsibility
will rest with you. l know your
views, Mrs. Drummond, and honor
this instance you must suppress the
truth. Your good heart will best tell
you how. She must not know In hnr
pr 9sent state that her husband Is
dead. solemnly declare to you
that, If she finds it out, by even
look in your eyes or any hesitation
in your voice, her death will have
been caused by you. Have l your
promise?"
mo, doctor, 20 have OF; 1t ]
will remember what you say"
With that he lad to be content,
knowing it was useless to urge her
further. He went away, and she re.
turned to her patient, who're beauty
she had not noticed before in her
agitation. She sat down and began
to think OF the warning the doctor
had given her. If she had had time