Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1854-07-28

room, by which she was compelled TO sleep
in an attic; and Tunncia', from yard ai
the back Of the house, once saw a grey-hcad-
ed figure through the liule diamond paned
window, sitting in Miss Furbey's old stuffed
chair,as mo,onless as a statue We knew he
was afflicted in some way but Miss Fnrbey
seldom spoke about him. In her prim and
quiet way she went about preparing his food,
which he used TO rap for, when he wanted
il, with a stick upon the floor overhead. She
made him black velvet cap, with a gilt.
wire ,asscl, and spent half her time in at
tending upon hm-ncver going ont, as she
used to do. I think this impovcr ishcd heT,
and was the Cause Of her siinling herself
more than ever.
Tunniclifr began 10 grumble, hccause we
always had boiled mutton now, from which
ih-grcaicr par, Of the broth went up stairs /;
leaving US, TuunicliT said, nothing but boil
ed rags.
Miss Furbcy, with more deceit than ever
| knew her to be guilty Of before, used to
make show Of discussing every DAY what
wc should have for dinner, and always ended
by having mutton. Since her father had
been there, she used to ask me to fetch such
things but this particular orrand ! always
dc,cslcd. NV instructions were to ask for
two pounds of neck Of mutton, at siSPcncc,
and to he sure to sc, it =, llircinbolham's.
Iliscinbo,l,am was rich butcher, whose
shop stood on, towards the roadway little
lower down.
lie was very sharp and quick with such
small cus,omarics and when hcrslto know
me, and my invarablc order, he used to
make me ashamed hy spying me coming from
the other side Of the road, and beginning to cut
and weigh the cSac, quantity beforehand. ]
hated him, and Il he Is living there still.
(which is no, very likclyl | hope he will SCI,
this.
TannicliG's matrimonial scheme mus, have
been rrcning abou, this time for her IDEAS
ran much upon weddings. Que day she said
to Miss Furby, after coughing and ,rcadng
On INV toe under the table, 81 wonder you
never 60, married Miss Furhcy."
"Mi.s Furbcy answered calmly, as il the
question had been merely tie whispering of
her own thoughts "wcll, | was very near
being married once"
Tuuniclrrod on my to, again, and asked
for particulars.
Mis. Furbcy took pin on, Of her mouth,
rinnei her work to her kncc-for she was
s,iching upward-and answered "my papa
wished nc to break it oil,
Tunniclr could no, keep down a sisglc
At this. and when Miss Furbcy added that She
was armly resolved never 20 m7rry during
her papa's lifetime, nothing but Mis-, Fur.
hsy's dreamy absorption in her stitching
could have prevented her rcmarLing Tuuui.
cliffs amusement, She ,roI So much upon
ms toes, and took (as she always did) 50 lit
lie prccaulion to prcycr, is being seen, iha,
! was obliged to move ms chair.
When the f., had somewhat subsidcd, she
said, "oh, 20 tell me who he was like, Miss
Furbcy."
. Miss Furbcy rose from her chair, and tax.
ing a lille ring OF keys from her side pocNef
opened one of an oli.hshionsi chcs, o! draw
ers, dipped her hand in, and brough, up i'm.
mcdia,cly a lille caske,. And there, in an
oval Gilt ring, upon a black ground, was the
por,rai, OF gentleman in a scarlet uniform.
| rccollcct i, now, Cor saw it oncn ailcr.
wards.
lie had light blue eyes and light hair.
Ills appearance was not very soldicr.liLo ;
bu, ! think i, surprised Tunuiclid, and made
wonder whether Miss Furbcy h,d been good
looking in her youth. asked Miss Furbcy
iihc had ever been to battle.
She said "no he was volunteer, and
used only to wear the uniform now and
then"
| Bu, TunuiclitT regarded the bringing ou'
Of the porrai, as a defeat, and let the fuqec'
drop; upon which Miss Furbcy Pu, the it,
lie caske, away again, then, and locked the
drawer.
No, very long nhcr Tunniclir suddenly
ab,conded, having frs, Of all taken away
vha, belonged to her Piecemcal, aud 50
stealthily. that ], who slept in the same room
with her, and believed myself in her conf
dencc, never perceived any change 'lll she
was gone
Sho had always b5asicd to me that when
the time came, sho would boldly declare her,
self to be the wife Of the baker, and defy
any one to dctaiu her. But her heart mus
have failed her: for she stole away, upon
some preicnco, after breaLfas, QUO morning
dressed just as usual (only liulc clCaner)
aud was seen no more. Miss Furbcy, aiie'
running abou, frantic half the day, received
letter from her, in which sho enclosed Ger
tain lines, which she said would let her know
wha, had taken place that morning at Yves
Ham Church, and wound up With the into
lent defiance which she had promised 10 dc
liver 10y word OF mouth.
We went On very quietly aner that, and
GOT 10 like Miss Furbey more and more.
was incredible what difference Tunielln' :
departure had made, Miss Furbey fourd ou
now ,ha, she had sapdercd her very much II
tn, nsirhborhoOd, which she said did not mat
ter. bu, know il ycxed her little. w