Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-26

d ruDDerDeck auto tney were tThNPllnp
the pace that passes all understanding
James Williams. you would have
guessed. was about twenty-four. IL
will crafty you TO know that your es
innate was so accurate. He was ex'
actly twenty three years, eleven
months and twenty-nine days old. He
was well built, active. strong jawed
good natured and rising. He was on
his wedding trip.
Dear. kind fairy, please cut out those
orders for money and forty horsepow'
er touring cars and fame and a new
growth of hair and the presidency of
the boat club. Instead OF any of them
turn backward, oh, turn backward, and
give us just a teeny-weeny bit of our
wedding trip over again. Just an hour
dear fairy, so we can remember how
the grass and poplar trees looked and
the bow of those bonnet strings tied
beneath her chin, even II II were the
hatpins that did the work. Can't do
it? Very well. Hurry up with that
touring car and the oil stock, then.
Just In front of Mrs. James Williams
sat a girl in a loose tan jacket and a
straw hat adorned with grapes and
roses. Only In dreams and milliners'
shops do we. alas. gather grapes and
roses at one swipe.
This girl gazed with large blue eyes,
credulous. when the megaphone man
roared his doctrine that millionaires
were things about which we should be
concerned. Between blasts she resort
ed to Epictetian philosophy in the
form of pepsin chewing gum.
At this girls right hand sat n
young man about twenty-four. He
was well built, active. strong jawed
and good natured. But II his descrip-
ton seems to follow that of James
Williams divest 1t Of anything Clover
dalian. This man belonged to hard
streets and sharp corners. He looked
keenly about him. seeming to be-
grudge the asphalt under the feet OF
those upon whom he looked down
from his perch.
While the megaphone barks at ia
nous hostelry let me whisper you
through the low tuned cardiaphone to
sit tight. for now things are about to
happen. and the great city will close
over them again as over a scrap Of
ticker tape floating down from the
den of Broad street bear.
The girl In the tan jacket twisted
around to view the pilgrims on the
last seat. The other passengers she
had absorbed. The seat behind her
was her Bluebeard's chamber.
Her eyes met those of Mrs. James
Williams. Between two ticks of a
watch they exchanged their life's ex.
periences, histories. hopes and fancies.
and all. mind you. with the eye. before
two men could have decided whether
to draw steel or borrow match.
The bride leaned forward now. She
and the girl spoke rapidly together,
their tongues moving quickly like
those of two serpents, comparison
that is not meant to go further. Two
smiles and dozen mods closed the
conference.
And now In the broad, quiet avenue
in front of the rubberneck car a man
in dark clothes stood with uplifted
hand. From the sidewalk another
hurried to join him.
The girl In the fruitful hat quickly
seized her companion by the arm and
whispered in his ear. That young
man exhibited proof of ability to act
promptly. Crouching low, he slid over
the edge of the car. hung lightly for
an instant and then disappeared. Half
a dozen of the top riders observed his
feat wonderingly. but made no COM
ment. deeming it prudent not to ex-
press surprise at what might be the
conventional manner OF alighting In
this bewildering city.
The truant passenger lodged han
som and then floated past, like a leaf
on a stream. between furniture van
and horist's delivery wagon.
The girl in the tan jacket turned
again and looked In the eyes of Mrs.
James Williams. Then she faced about
and sat still while the rubberneck auto