Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1912-11-02
AT CROSS PURPOSES
Twu of a Trade IN One Small,
Poor Family.
ny MARTHA M'cuLLoc4 WILL
LIAMs.


would inherit Grandmother Nnnes
nay-grandmother had ciinSing
TO her blood and had set her heart
since their childhood upon making a
match uf the two.
Unwiseiy she had tried TO bring
AIlonby MP with that IN mind. by
nnture rebellicus. also by nature
beauty-luving and wflful. ne had been
as nearly insolent over the matter rs
his fathers son could show himself
Ills father was the one thing In HE
he reverenced-and discourteEy 10
any woman John Allonhy. the elder.
could not forgive. A reAl man. saio
he owed such courtesy TO himself,
regardless of whether or no the
woman deserved IL
So his son had only raid 'lmpos-
sible, granny" not trusting himself to
explain the impossibility. Dad was
told: Il wouldn't look AT Lura one
year, let alone my whole life through
for all the nancy In the Bank of Eng
land-Iet alone granny's little hand
fun"
That WIS before the crash cnIne-
by several wears. The crash beggared
John Allonby the elder. and brought
a stroke that left him but living
shadow OF himself But when after
months OF silence he cOuld speak with
difficulty. ne said: ''Son-it is-worth
Everything find yon-whHt you
are" Allonby muttered something
Eruff, and turned away his head
blushing like q girl. Later when his
father slept IN mis- wheel chair. he got
up from his desk and fondlen the
wfthered right hand as mother
might fondle her sleeping baby.
He had not been bred to worR-his
profession the law. meant years OF
starvation. waiting for clients In
extremity -ife had turned TO writing
the returns were precarious enough.
yet he could do the work. and keep
with his dear invalid The dear in
valid must hack nothing AS to him
self-it did not matter A small
house remained 10 them-the sole
relic of their once great possessions
by the help OF his fathers sometime
valet new cook. chamberlain, gard
ner. and man OF all work, the estab-
/ lighment kept going In ramEhRckle
fashion Grandmother Vane,s weekly
hamper helped a lot; also, her weekly
dinners Allonby went to them by
his fathers express orders.
1T is tine least return you car de-
! Gently make for your mothers moth
I er's Kindness said his elder.
Iura WINS rarely at the dinners.
/ managing some way to have other
engagements. AT FIRST Allonby had
( been glad
: Later he had come to resent her
absences. They were not cousinly-
/ and he was bent upon keeping UP q
! surface of amity such as should PINE
vail among folk of one blood.
He had not spoken with her for
three months An impulse he did try
! TO understand. sent him to cross her
4 path He waited there. still sneering
q little. but also smiling
Accept my solicitations he said,
/ half extending his hand, This is no
/ place to offer them-that ] know well
but you give me no other chance.
Il am not sure understand you,
Inra said. coloring family. She was
! slight and dark. with an oval face.
ana eyes deep set under heavy brows.
'sYon surely have not heard" Bhe
went on. breaking on uncertainty.
AIlonby smiled more confidently
II did not need to hear" he said.
1T flashed over me that you and Dick
Helm were made for each other the
very minute ] saw you together Let
me know when the wedding is to be
SO ] may turn You ont love=verse,
having nothing else TO give"
I'm just a little afraid You win
suffer from suppressed poesy Il You
wait for that occasion" Lura an
| swered-and now she smiled. But
don't be downheaTted-tt is a secret
but Dick and Lesta Mills have come
to an understanding at last. There
is no talk Of marriage yet-but ] dare
say you. win be warned In time"
When the scoundrel has been al
your apron strings this year and
morei AS your next of kin, ! onght
to call him to account" Ailunby Rnid
Tia sneer WINS quite banisted the
emile sunny. Il WAS jesting.' he ran
On You know that You are not
the sort Of girl man plays fast and
loose with, did you know about
1.esta all the timer"
4
bring them together. They had guar
relied over such little thing" LAURA
answered. making as though TO pass
on
4 Allonby flung open the gate. say
ing, entreatinEiy, Dad wants TO see
yun; are you big enough 10 shame me
by coming in-'
Lzura laughed low. pleasant laugh
-'You think I'm high and naughty still
over your refusing me- she said when
she could speak. Don't you know I'm
grateful-every day of my lffeg Think
what 1t would be--two OF trade in
one poor small family"
Allnnby hooked niystiieu Lura
aughed again We are surely play
ing at CROSS plErpeses.' she said
'Ynu don't inow-Onat J came 10 tell
on. ! have won the first prize in
ae 'Era's story contest Two
The TrIour