Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1912-03-02

eyes were fixed. A seal ring of Her
bert's took the place OF the one that
was lost. A joke-a stupid joze-but
stupidity lent her stammering tongue.
George. Georger she called after
him, but she entreated only an infiexi
BILE back With Herbert's name on her
lips and Herbert's ring on her finger.
she was indeed left committed to the
situation the last of her desiring.
Alexandra Haunted Herbert Hartley
in Greenfield's face. She waved him
abroad like banner. If the town
hummed with rumors of her, she help.
ed the rumor wax, but helped it TO no
explanation.
But with her family there was one
topic that. like the weapon used In
committing a crime, seemed always
impossible to dispose of. The nile
green tulle-why didn't she wear It?
And that was the one thing she couldn't
do.
1t was their house dressmaker that
In a measure vanquished her at last.
"One, two, three" measured the wo-
man. That's only once and n quarter,
and I'll need as much again. Those
ruffles on your nile green underpetti-
coat-they're match, Miss Alexandra,
and we're In hurry"
Alexandra went into her room, shut
ting the door behind. The tulle hung
upon the hooks with kind of defiant
grace, as II 1t still held something of
its owners quality. She took the gown
down slowly and spread 1t gently out
upon the bed. How happy she had
been when she had worn 1.-THE last
time she had been happy!
She had meant they should have
memorable evening, she and George
and the gown. And how had 1t so
fallen out? Coquetry? What did 1t
mean except that If 1t were good to be
with George 1t was a joy still subtler
to dance away with some one else
knowing his eyes held her. followed
her, and that for each the crowded
room held only the other? Provoca-
ton, .alluring, half a mystery TO her
self, it was like fold of the silk that
shimmered over its silk lining.
She slipped down upon the floor by
the bedside and began to rip the
hounces. What was 1t he said that had
made her so angry? Her vanity was
as endless as her caprice. He shouldn't
have said it, and yeti was true
enough. Well, she had warned him.
He was well rid of her. He had come
out OF the matter with better grace
than she had, except about the ring.
No doubt it had been found long ago.
1t angered her afresh to think how
stubborn he had been not to have told
her. The way to make her feel how
small she was was not to tell her So
that never served-but to take the big
way and put her in the wrong by be-
ing generous. If he had given her
chance, half chance
The scissors shipped, shipped. 1t
was thus she had laid sharp tool on
her happiness. She was cutting the
stuff, but what did it matter? She was
always cutting and tearing something
dear to her.
And the ruffies must come off, they
said. She bent nearer. She might as
well tear and be done.
What was this hard thing on which
the scissors struck and caught? Not
surely not In her hand lay the ring.
"AlexaF He had come at her urgent
summons, but hotly rebellious. And yet
Alexa, there before him-a curious fig
ure hung about with green silk ruffies--
Alexa, grieved, remorseful, pouring her
heart. out. How was 1t possible to with
stand her?
"And l suppose" he said, the ring
half back in its place again--"I suppose
I'll have to marry you to save you
from
But she would not let him speak the
obnoxious name.
"You'n have to marry me to save me
from Alexandra Lee"