Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1911-12-09


lily and niled the village streets with
n level measure of Wilderness, The
lights of the stores cleaned through
windows crowded with Christmas
wares and shot pale diffused rays
across the sidewalks.
In Darrels grocery store group OF
men were gathered around glowing
coal stove.
II hear that Walter Hoops has come
back" remarked Len Darrell
al wanter known The same express
sion of surprised incredulity ran around
the circle.
"Yep-came home tonight on the mail
train. Fender said he passed him walk.
ing down from the station"
"He must have come back broke. then,
couldn't afford to ride down on the
stage on night like this" remarked
Henry Slade contemporary.
"Fender said he didn't even have an
overcoat on" added Darrell, giving
forth his information In delightful NOR
sells.
"Shucks!" exploded William Otis.
who was a third cousin removed OF
Walter Hoops and consequently morti-
fed at these outspoken remarks. ~
washed my hands OF Walter long ago"
he explained to his companions.
"All of us did" agreed Henry Slade
when a mans fool enough to lose ev.
cry inch of ground that he's inherited.
he can't expect thrifty folks to hold
him up when it's all spent and he amt
got nothing"
'Thats right, Henry. Walter didn't
oughter let himself be bamboozled out
of his property by them spectators
He couldn't prove nothing against 'em
They was mighty clever"
"Well, he couldn't get his place back
again IF he wanted to. Laidlaw was
telling me that II was sold to rich
New York party for summer home"
81 wonder If Walter will show up
In here" said William Otis uneasily
II dunno. bit I might as well be NOV.
Ing along now. Martha will be through
buying them presents"
Enough to do without taking on a
poor relation for Christmas" remarked
Henry Slade significantly as Otis bang
ed the door after his departure.
The group laughed heartily. and then
a little silence fell among them In
days gone by-more prosperous days
for Walter Hoops-in his big hearted,
generous way he had helped all of
them, Endorsed notes. loaned money
and In other ways proved friend
Many of the notes had been unpaid.
and Walter had paid the money from
his own pocket and said nothing: 9th.
ers he had helped In various ways
Not one man In the group gathered
in Darrel's store but had received
some favor at Walter Hoops generous
hand.
Now they were uneasy. What II
Walter should come into the store and
presuminG upon old acquaintance. try
to borrow money from them or expect
to be entertained over Christmas or
for an Indefinite time? A down at
heels friend could only be an inter
loper at this season. 1t would be the
worst thing in the world to encourage
Walter Hoops in the belief that he
could squander his own heritnge and
then expect to return TO Compton and
live upon the savings Of his more
frugal acquaintance.
I'm afraid Walter has been q bad
lot" murmured Henry Slade In self
justification Of his thoughts.
Hes made folks lot of trouble.
added Len Darrell. frownng.
"'Just look at Emily Wayland-see
how he treated her. She had her wed
ding clothes all made. and he broke II
nj ha io,t
forgot II nuther" Dan Willis spoke
resentfully.
THAT all happened eight years ago.
! guess Emily's got too much spunk
to worry about Teller that's treated
her that way" remarked the black
smith.
1T would be just like him TO go to
her and expect Henry Slade was
saying when utter CONSERVATION fell
upon them. and they were dumb
From the other side of the double
store. which had IA separate entrance
appeared Emily Wayland. with small
basket on her arm She was very
straight and slim. and her black hail
was mixed with gray. but she was
still beautiful. Any woman with her
glorious dark eyes and her rich color
ing of cheek and lip. could never be
plain. N
She must have overheard their re
marks. for they had all spoken loudly
without reserve. forgetting the thin
partition that acted as n sounding
board. Her head was held very high
and she glanced neither to the right MOI
left as she passed down the store and
out Of the door. That was unusual
for Emily was always gracious and
sweet.
The clerk who had waited upon her
came around the counter and glared
at the group OF men around the stove
why didn't you fellers come right
in and say what you had to say right
to her face?" he demanded Ironically.
"She couldn't hear" said Henry
Slade uneasily !.
'Well. guess she did. If heard
guess she did"