Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1911-09-09
"Yes -Yes!''
1t Sounded Better After Nearly
Losing 1t
BY CLARISSA MACKlE
Copyright by American Press Assoc
citation, 1911.


Elmwood after year spent with an
uncle in n distant city. she found few
changes in the quiet village. The morn
ing after her arrival she lay contented-
ly In the slant rooted little room that
had been hers since childhood ana
listened to the familiar music Of ham,
mer and saw from the distant ship
yards.
Just then wood smoke reminded her
that her mother was getting break
fast In the kitchen and with pricking
of remorse at her slothfulness, Eliza
beth arose and dressed.
'T thought the waffies would arouse
you, Bess," smiled her mother, as the
girl entered the kitchen. flushed and
sparkling. Here Is the first batch
take them In and begin your break
fast r.
Mother miner scolded Elizabeth
leading the rosy checked. plump little
woman into the dining room. "Slt
right down and eat breakfast with
dad. I shall cook wafiies for both OF
you. Not wordP'
She smiled back at the two loving
faces as she passed to and fro from
kitchen to dining room ministering to
their wants.
1--WE can't expect to keep her with
us always" sighed her mother. "This
last year without her has shown me
how dreary It will be for us when
somebody takes her away"
"By somebody l suppose you mean
Norman" doomed Mr.. Gray's deep
voice. .I don't know as there's an
other man in Elmwood, to say nothing
of the outside world. that I'd rather
give my little Bess to than Norman
Ryder. Perhaps she has met some
body else in the city-you can't tell
and Norman's only country bred. Bess
probably met some fine dandifed
chaps in New York."
"I'd rather it would be Norman" In
sisted Mrs. Gray, with little fright
ened fiutter In her voice that went
straight to Elizabeth's heart II
couldn't bear to have Bess marry any
body from the city. We might not see
her from one years end to the other"
Elizabeth fastened into the dining
room with plate of wafiles scorched
to a crisp and her fair face flushed
and agitated.
1--WE heard every word you said"
she confessed between tears and laugh
ter. "Dears, I'm not going to marry
anybody. I haven't seen any one in
New York that could tempt me away
from you"
Mr.. Gray squeezed the little hand
she had laid in his broad palm and
looked quizzically into her blue eyes.
How about anybody in Elmwood,
BessY he asked.
at don't want to marry anybody"
flashed Elizabeth tearfully. ct want
to stay right here all my life"
That evening Norman Ryder drove
over to see Elizabeth Gray, and such
is the contrariness of womankind.
that he who had always found favor In
her eyes. now appeared to be awkward
and provincial in manner and speech,
as compared to the snowy youths she
had met when visiting her uncle. AL
though he was bigger and broader
and handsomer than any of the city
bred youths, almost the first words he
uttered seemed to place him in a differ
emit class.
$50 you knew I had returned, Nor
mani" she asked, withdrawing her
hantis from his close grasp.
Eyes, yesr' he had cried delightedly.
and It was that characteristic double
affirmative uttered with q slight twang
that drew a thin veil of discord be-
tween them. There was something
about the expression that smacked
strongly Of the rustic; that. with the
twang and the equally favored double
negative, "No. nor seemed to place
Norman Ryder among the farmers and
=, dairymen who formed the community
about Elmwood.
Elizabeth hated herself for shudder-
ing every time Norman spoke with a
twang. but she couldn't help 1t. She
was angry with him for speaking So
her father did not, nor did any Of their
neighbors. 1t was carelessness on
Norman's part, and It grated on her
sensibilities.
~ thought perhaps you'd answer
my letters" he said rather ruefully,
rs he drew his chair near the glowing
stove. but I expect you were pretty
busy studying your music. I'm going
60 ask you to play some Of your elias
steal pieces for me by and by"
"Of course WILL" said Elizabeth. "I
didn't write to anybody here except
father and mother. and they said
she paused with sudden confusion,
II guess they said ! came over here
most every night while you were
goner he grinned happily. "They let
me read your letters-and that was
next best to getting 'em myself"
II didn't promise you I'd write. .
protested Elizabeth. rather stifiy.
"No. nor he uttered quickly. ex-
onerating her from blame. "But-but
II kind of thought you might answer
one OF 'em. and so kept on writing"
IT. was glad to hear from you. and
suppose 1t was mean of me never to
answer any of them. but did mother
give you the messages sent"
Yes, yes! And that was somethingP'
He looked 30 happy and SO handsome
that Elizabeth had to harden her heart
against the magic of his dark eyes.
Every time that nasal twang smote on
The rihEys