Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1911-05-06
THE GREAT
UNKNOWN
She Was the Girl He Wanted
and Finally Won.

BY MARTHA Moc,-wlLLIAMs.

you II you We're made of diamonds
and white sugarP Nora cried saucily,
sticking her fingers In her ears, but
not very deep.
Her sutton, Calvin Burrows, Esq,
laughed he 1rtily.
Nora turned her back TO him.
"Some people are pigs for obstinacy
and binder than moles into the bar
gain. They never can see when their
room Is better than their company"
Dear mel How distressingw Bur
rows said equally. He had a notion
that he had brought Nora up and so
knew everything about her. II know
whom you mean" he ran on. ITS
that tiresome ninny Jimmy Dolan.
Next time he comes and tries to wear
out his welcome you have Hannah
blow the horn for me-"
Nora laughed in spite of herself.
Jimmy Dolan is never tiresome.
! He knows things to talk about-news
and funny things and even books.
You sit mum half the time. When a
man has nothing to talk about, don't
you think he had better go home"
"And leave the prettiest little girl In
the county all by her lonesome? Not
much" Burrows said, reaching to-
ward his pipe pocket.
Nora eyed him with fresh disdain.
you're a regular chimney" she
said. "What is the saying about smok-
ing chimneys"
"Oh, 1t goes on to mention scolding
wivesl" Burrows interrupted. He had
by this time filed the pipe and was
1 crowding the tobacco well down In
the bowl. When 1t was packed to suit
him he lit 1t, puffed once or twice.
then stood up, faced the door and
said: 81 shall have the paper with the
birds put on the parlor, Nora, and
that pink lowered pattern in the halls.
think that's what you said you'd
like best?" pausing with his hand on
the knob, his lids downcast. but n
yelled twinkle behind them.
"You know said no such thing. IF
you go and buy those taggy green
birds I'll never yet foot In your new
house-not while they're on the walls"
Nora burst out. "And pink roses In
haIl-my heavens! That's just like q
man. It's nothing to me-nothing in
the world-but / do hate to see good
to town to pick ont something decent"
"Im obliged to you; so will my wife
Be-" Burrows said civilly. turning back
10 her. He had the look of one pom
dering a new ard strange idea, but
came out of his daze quickly and said,
with good humored smile: Mora,
I've thought all along you were in fun;
that after awhile you'd agree with me;
that you might as well take me- But
today you've shown me better. l don't
deny 1t hurts to admit 1t, but then I'm
not the sort to whine. So let's make
bargain, right here and now-you
help me fix my houJe up so any other
girl will be glad to. take me for 1t.
and I'll do my very best to bring Aunt
Rena round about Jimmy Dolan. jim
my Is not such q bad sort. The worst
that can be said is that there isn't
much to him. That won't matter in
the least seeing he has money enough
to insure rations for two. You-any
girl-might do a lot worse than to take
| him."
"Why, you've said many time the
reason he was no worse was that he
hadn't sense enough" Nora broke in.
Burrows gave her quick look, but
went on steadily: Maybe / did. but
then you must allow something fol
jealousy. / was Jealous of Jimmy, but
am not any more. The case stands
Just thus: You won't have me, not fol-
anything can say or do or be, and q
wife Pm bound to have. It's dead
lonesome living ON big place in 6
new house all by yourself. But have
got to get out of living by myself. and
you must help me Women know eacf
other as men never can. Tomorrow
morning I'll come over bright ant
early, and as we drive to town yo'
can tell me who Is worth having and
where is my best chance"
Nora stared at him hard In all hel
life Burrows had never made one-hali
so long speech to her. After he wen
she was quiet for full hour. She ha,
teased and tyrannized over and fioutet
/ him SO long, so merrily, 1t gave her {
start to think the occupation was sooi
to be definitely gone. BY way o
getting over the shock she ran to he
room and spent the interval befor
supper in trying on her prettiest frock
and combiag her hair three ways. Sh
wound up by choosing blue linen
two years old. yet Burrows espeeia
admiration. She also decided to wea
her hair loosely waved about her face
Burrows had said 1t was sin t
strain 1t back iii a set pompadour
Naturally when she stepped into hi
buggy she was vision of delight-a
least to his unworldly yet rather pre-
sale eyes.
! But he did not tell her so. Indeed
the conversation was for the first mil
or two decidedly fragmentary- The
there fell absolute silence while th
: black span went shaping pace owe
e long level stretch. 1t ended at
I sharp rise. Burrows refined in as the
9 came to 1t and spoke to the horses /
Y a soft, regretful voice. "They kno,
e Who's behind them most as well as
l. do" he said to Nora. "Poor lassies
Q To think they'll soon have to be tai
o ing some one else to town.
"Who" Nora said Grossly. &C