Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1909-07-17
ONE OF CUP|D'S Ways
The Jlted Girl and the Man Who
Couldn't Make Love.
BY SARAH LINDSAY COLEMAN.

BROOKS guZeu sleaully from lnc WIN
dow on the unpiclurcSquc side Of the
ear. Even when the passengers crowd
ed to the other side to look into the
valley far below them and at the
mountains mountains piled on top of
mountains-he sat mdtionless.
As the Country club was passed he
showed some interest
Ii was Miss Hilderbrand' afternoon
to pour tea there, Six months before.
when Miss IIilderbrand had poured
tea, Brooks sat on the clubhouse steps.
The laughter of gay voices had drifted
through the open windows to him.
The club members seemed very gay.
Brooks was club member, but he
was not gay.
An Illness had sent him to the resort
town TO recupcrate. Most of the hotel
people belonged to the club. and he
had joined 1t seemed to him good
way to get rid OF the time that hung
so heavily on his hands.
But he didn't care for golf; he
couldn't dance; he knew so little of the
new. books and the old pictures. the
thousand and one things they talked
about. He was an alien. Looking up.
he saw Miss Hilderbrand on the step
above him.
Miss Hilderbrand was the leader Of
the fashionables that ran the Country
club Her clothes We're initiated. her
speeches repeated.
Brooks had wondered that so re-
He had noticed that the charm of dis
tinction was I'm her high bred face and
then thought no more about her. Wo.
men We're not much in his line either.
Miss Hilderbrnnd had smiled down
on him and said that she wanted him
to come in and drink tea with her.
And when she smiled the question of
her popularity was settled.
After that day Brooks became real
member of the club. The women left
younger men to talk to him. The men
slapped him on the back, invited him
to drinks and voted him a fine old
chap.
He began to enjoy the life and the
new spirit OF friendliness that per-
vaded the atmosphere. There was no
more talk Of leaving this circle OF
bright pretty women and jolly fellows.
Brooks realized that he owed the
change to Miss Hilderbrand. Once he
asked her why she had taken him up.
and she replied that she was sorry for
lonely things.
Six months had made a new man of
Brooks, and still he fingered.
People had come and gone as they
do at resort hotels, but Miss Hilder-
brand had not gone.
The afternoon had again come for
her to pour tea for the club members.
but she had sent her excuses.
Johnston. friend and fellow citizen
of hers, said that she had gone on the
mountain to be alone and get a grip
OH herself; that telegram had brought
her bad news.
The car climbed slowly.
Brooks hadn't the slightest idea what
the trouble was nor what assistance he
could render. There was but one de-
sire in his honest heart. and that was
to help her How he would do it hadn't
been revealed: but, with his usual di-
rectness. he had followed her to find
out.
On the mountain top the band play
ed, and gay groups of people moved in
every direction.
Brooks came upon Miss Hilderbrand,
solitary in the midst of the crowd.
The glow of the sunset was on her.
and as he came up she smiled I'M
steadily.
Pm sorry you've heard it. I leave
tomorrow. l hoped it would not be
found out, but of course everybody
will know"
"Pm not everybody" said Brooks
stoutly. II came because l want to
comfort lonely things. What can
do?"
Miss Hilderbrand's glance went over
Brooks stout figure and came back to
his clear eyes. The two faces were iii
sharp contrast-in his the rugged
strength of a more simple civilization.
in the girls the suggestion of extreme
culture.
I'm glad you came" she said quite
simply. "Pll like to remember it when
I've become dressmaker. That's what
I've been up here deciding-what to dc
with myself now that the moneys
swept away. Dressmaking is my only
real talent. and" with another attempt
at smile. I'm thought to he such an
accomplished young woman"
But there's McAdoo." Brooks spoke
that name with difficulty. Among the
men there was one he detested and
1t was Miss Hilderbrand's fance
Haven't you taken him into your ar
ranGements?
HE hasn't taken me into his ar
rangements," she said.
Brooks stared at her as though he
had lost his senses.
I've been Tilted" She looked across
the valleys filling with mist and not at
Brooks.
Habits are hard to break" She
spoke to herself as much as to him.
ut had gone on so long it was habit.
IL we had cared for each other we
would have been married long ago"
She turned to Brooks. But 1t hurts
ones pride to be thrown overheard on
the day one loses the money" she said.
"Tm depressed at the dressmaking
too" she apologized.
How'd companion do?" asked
Brooks cautiously.