Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1854-07-21

she was engaged 20 Squire Talnlord.'
"Woll, said Silas, "Ithink that, all thing,
considered she has done pretty well for her
sclr,and Squire Trainlord will get good wife
But they might jest as well have done irycar
ago"
Aunt lligbec made no reply, aud ahsr q
while her companion rclapsed into silence.
The truth is the old lady was anything but
pleased that Sias should have gained this in,
information before hcr-shc who so Slriicu.
larly Prljcd herself upon know ING just what
was going on among her ncighbors, aud who,
as she often informed them, could "put that
aud that together" Now, too, she could
take no PLEASURE in her trip to the city, 50
anxious was she to get home and inquire into
particulars Shc loved to make a prominent
figure in every occurrence and after ponder,
ing over the matter long time, she deter,
mined to sirualilo herself in a manner that
will iTan'pirc hereafter.
Those who have undertaken to converse in
cars under tho Disadvantages before mention.
cd, will no, be surprised a, the fabulous na.
turc Of the communications given and rocciy.
cd for, although aun, IIigbcc would have
sworn in any court Of law, tia, Sila, O,crinr
had told her of Mary lnfoli's engagement to
Squire Tninfod. and Sllas Noully maintain
ed that aunt lligbcc, herself, Informed him,
the truth of,hc matter -as iha, neither had
told the other anything OF the kind, aud that
there was nothing Of tic KIND 10 tel.
Bu, while auu, IlIsbec ani Sla' GO their
dGcrcn, ways from the car station, We may
as we'll look in upon the parties most interest.
ell.
\ lulc way Of from the village, as though
too arisiocra,ic to minglc with ,hc residences
around. stood the awclIing known as Squire
Tniuforj's. Il was beautifully situated on a
piece Of rising ground, aud clasrcd in from the
outer world by tall trees that tn summer time
made an almost perpetual twilight.
Having entered the immense hall, which
looked like a room itself visitors were shown
into a parlor that seemed exactly in keeping
with the rest or the place The cane bottom
ed sofa and chairs looked lrh, and summer
likc-,hc large fowcr.poi in the hearth of the
great franklin was always arranged with
particular carc-and the asparagustops over
tho lookinr.rlass nodded comPlacently in the
summer breeze ,ha, came in through the oPcn
windows. Btgh, rays Of sunshine sllu,cd
down on the grass without and the wind
murmurcI among the pines like tired child
singing itsclflo sleep.
This was May's hyor.lo room and al
though, with her taste for the refnsmenis of
life she would have liked pictures on the
walls, and books and bronco scattered around
othc Squire" who pretended to dcspise every
thing that was not meant solely for use.
"Thc Squire" as be was called, from de
ference probably to his superior position, was
ono Of the sunnrsi.,cmpercd, mos, generous
minded, sclfdis,rus,lul men rIaI ever reach
ed the age Of ouy.fvc in 4 state Of single
blcsscdncss. lie was proud OF bis farm. and
liked tn have it praised hu, his nc.rhbors
were cutie welcome to the benefit Of al h.-
new improvements, and he really enjoyed
giving away his possessions. Noiwi'hs'anl.
ing his disposition, he continued a rich man
and everything rrospcrcd with him. ll.'
farm was one oflhc most beautiful in the coun-
try: m, oxen always looked 50 sleek and well.
fed his hired hand, 50 dilligcn', and his barns
50 bursting with plenty.
\ custom ten years standing had rendered
/, the most natural thing in the world for
Mary lndcld to keep house for him and yet
the neirhbors could well remember the time
when they considered her abode there some
thing strange and new. The orphan child Of
a ruined city merchant, who, when dying had
no nearer friend then Edward Tninford Mary
was taken a, once to his house, and placed
under the care Of his maiden sister. But at
Ter few years the sister departed to hume
Of her own and Mary remained as bcicic'
eycrp, that she now took the whole charge Of
the household, and ordered things entirely her
own way. This"way" never failed to please
her cuardian-an Office which boasled only
a name-bui Mary would no, have acknow-
Icdgcd, even to herself, that this result was
premciiiaicd.
When Mary Iufcll first wen, to live with
the Trainfords, in the full bloom ofyoulh and
beauty. and accustomed to every luxury and
indulgence, she had, withou, knowing it, a.
baurh,incss Of manhcr that cileciua!ly dis
t,ncsd her kumblc.minded guardian who'
neither surprised nor angry that she should
,s he imagined, look down upon h'0', mcekly
worshipped his divinity at a respectful dis
tancc.
Vcr beautiful was this naughty idol :;
ewes that. though generally cas-, down. yet
when lifted from this dropping altitude
seemed almos, to scorch any pair detected
in the act Of watching them-arms borrowed
from one Of those wonderous statues that we
c,,e on in shaded room mEs with crimson
J,,pery-and features moulded after those
classic face, ,ha, captiyi,atcd Greek and Ro-
man warriors.
Sometimes, when the Squire sat in the
.b,Je Of \ bu,,ernul tree, during having sea-
,oo Mary would trp Otto him with pitcher
of fresh water /; and the good man. who was
,,o,o c,miliar with his Bible than with any Of
..,,. ,Lnurht AS ha marked