Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1855-03-02
OLD SERIES. VOL. %, NO. IA.


have alone led me 10 decide thus. Only LOT
me ask this favor, dearest father" and tho
beautiful girl elaspcd the old man tcnderly
round his neck, and lcnt fondly over him
" that YOU will not alter your pocuniaryG ar
nngcmcnts with Walter in consequence of
this change in my virws Let him be ne
much your heir as he would have been had
he married your daughter"
And what bccomcs cf my daughtqr2 IfshS
is satisfied TO be por.ionless beauty for her
cousins sake, might rot her future husband
rnsonably regard hi, preference Of a once
favored lover with something nearly akin 70
jcalousy2'
bear father, 40 not pain me by speak.
ing thus. In giving up Walter. give up
all thought Of marriage. Mydcar mother.
fortune !. an ample one for q spinster--i,
it not, .irl Nay, You almost promised not
~ vii, the in of my icklcnc--, a. you term
it, upon Walter. 50 make me happy now by
niifying that promi-."
Millr,ls soft, cl oar, voice falt,rcd percrp.
Tidy in spite Of her efforts to aprar calm.
and when Mr. Vernon raiscdhis head. AnI
looked mp into her face, he .aw that she had
bccn weeping
"Comc, my Mildred, no tear. We will
ay M moro slout your marrying, my sweet
child and a. to this other matter, II shall
h" arranged Drarly as You would have it
only my Mildred must 10 mistress of this
old housc; that cannot bc Walter now"
Mr. vcrnou kept hi. worl; and when, a
year after the events Just related, hi' ncph.
cw followed hiu to thg grave, hc rrturn~l
~ find himsslf master 4 the princcly or.
tun, be- believed l., have bcrn forfeited Nv
III, Inconsistency. Somr months later, Wal
ter lrl hi. rrntlo Alicc 10 handsome homo
in the city. whcrn bis Happiness would hay-
complete but for the painful knowledge ths,
thi- happiness WIS built np1n tho blightoi
hopes of her 10 whom he owed al hi' pros.
rcrity.
In accordance with Ter father wish anl
tho provisions or his will, Mildred Vernon
still kept up her ostAbl shmcnt At Battcr-cn,
living lie of quiet u.nfnlnes. and hrncvo-
lcncc until all tncr' of her sorrow s,cmel
to have b"cn chased away Mildr'd hal
srlulously avoided meeting hcr cousin after
the death II her father and sho had not
.ocn Alir' since the fatal sccne which opened
h.r cvc- 20 her lovers real feeling towards
hcr.rlr The sudden nsws NJ the entire fail
ar, of ono or Walters business spcrulniions
NJ length rousoi hsr e. wore nrti,r Efforts.
Determined. at any nciifl', % -curc Tho
comforts II her h-lnyrd cousin. Millrcl dc-
cilcl up,n mor,rne,nc lcr c.tatr 20 II. full
nluo, and thus, in -1mr measure. ~ 'icving
him from hi' ru'arassncnts. Thi. ccncr-
ous idea Els mo- ,ppn'r conceived than exc.
cutci; ard r'cord tim in hi. life, Walter
found himself styrl fpn comparative ruin
by the woman he had - cruelty wrongcd.
Year, Ia.srd on; tho rnortca-c up1n Ito
Old mansion WIS at laui;,h closcl, and il
Tas--l into the hands IT strangr. whils
IL. oncr wrnlthy mistrrs, rct'r-l to the cot.
tag Of Old Roger To-. which, with largo
portion of garden. .hc had manlsrl {, rc-
tLn; and here, with o1c faithful attn liant.
her days h'otrl by ns peacefully as when
she wa. surrounded by tie luzurir. Of or.
Iun'.
Not until Alice sorrowcd over tic lirelcss
form of her husband. lid Mildred conquer
her fclin.- sufficiently 10 visit her She
iid then forge. and conquer them; and II
Vas to her arnc,, sympathy and active III.
gt,cc. that the widow Of Walter Vernon.
md her daughter MildrcC wcrr indebted for
, more comfortable maintenance than ths
state Of the merchants Affairs
yould allow. Mildred lived to see this or.
ihancd namc.akc the VIII, of good con.
cirncc, and the affection AMI reverence of
he grandchildren Of her carly and only love
Walter Vernon.
Such was Aunt Ruth's story or her own
.hcckrri life; for my rcaicrs will have long
incr guessed that .hc wa. the beautiful aud
generous Mildred Vernon of my tale. Its
/ tale. however, that l. not a fiction. Ro-
mantle a. r the loyc-dcyotiln Of our hero
ne. and unnatural as is the facility with
which the father yirli. to her wishes. there
ire many who will be able To strip the mar
ati,e or it, thin disguise. and detect in il
IN episode of ryal life.