Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1858-03-19
FIFTY CENTS IN ADVANCE.
VOLUME 25, NO. II.

sleep, he shut himself up IN hls study tbe
whole forenoon, to arrange and seal various
papers and writings. Shortly after dinner
the po.tman brought letter. BarrenEamp
tore 1t open. looked at the signature-iS was
from his si.,er.in.law, and, with gli'tenrg
eyes. read the hastily written and scarcely
legible lines;
Dear Broihsr.in.inc. Providence visited
Us yestereycn In melancholy and terrible
manner. Between ten and halt past nv
dear father died. apparently frOm rupturcd
blood vessel. lmpart tho awful news to
Eliza with caution. All, his last earnest
desire was 10 see her oncn more before his
end. Come over here II p'sslb.s. hut Eliza
will hardly be able a. yet - endure your
absence. write in the night, and seni tho
letter by a railway conductor for eIpeli.
iion, that you may receive IL to-day. Com
tort my poor sister.
Yours, REoISr.
Two months went by; the cold and bare
drearincss Of winter had given place to the
slft breath and lovely green Of early spring.
IL ssas pleasant aud cheerful tn the parson-
age garden. where, under sweet blooming
apple tree. sat Me pastor and his wife. tho
latter but just arisen from a long aud severe
illness. Her strength Of constitution lad
at last conquered the burning fever, and her
feeble look revived at the sight Of the active
and glorious world Bu, the melancholy
OF the convalescent. her heavy hour. .long
dreaming and brooding. the terror which
seized her if le(t alone for minute in tho
evenings. all too plainly showed she had NOS
forso' ten the fearful hour Of terror, but
that the painful recollection yet remained
and preYed upon her.
This care and anxiety troubled Barren
kamp's heart, u. he sat holding his Wiio's
thin hand. and looking sorrowfully on her
pale features. at the same time abstaining
carefully from any remark which might re-
new her anguish. lie had acquainted no
one With the events OF that dreaded night,
except his oh friend. tho sehoolmls.er, who
now believed more firmly than ever in warn
ings and omens.
The worthy couple were sitting in silence
when the lower garden gate opened, and
Munrer. the aged sexton, came with the
.choolmasicr along the broad central path,
and both. IN their approach, cordially con.
graduated The patient on her hrst appear
ance out Of doors after her conyalescen;c.
while the old gravc-digscr delivered letter
t. the pastor which required immediate at.
,cuiion. The good man pcru'cd /, hastily,
and then said. as he roso from his seat aud
turned towards the house
IL shalt have the answer ready 10 a few
minutes. Munler, and you can take u back
with you at once. stay both of you for
litle while with my wife, and help her to
pas, the time she will lko to hear the VIII
lagc gossip again"
How DO you DO, ScTton?" sad the pas.
torin. holding out her white and shrunken
hand-"you look well this spring weather
seem. TO agree with you. Sit down by me,
anil YOU .choolmastcr, pray take scat
how does the garden come on, your COW,
anil your little field? We have not seen
one another Tor u long time"
"Ah. brst Frau pastorin," replied tho
gray haired sexton, taking the offered hand,
e no, for eight whole weeks, not since that
night when the storm tore up the old linden
tree IN the churchyard by the roots; and
blew down N,hbcck's chimney-stlck. yon-
der m the village. which came near falling
on his youngest child. That was an awful
night, in all respects, aud FOR my part |
shall never forget 1t as lons as | live. You,
Frau pAstorin. fell III then. and were obi.
scd 10 lay by. remember quite we'll how
on the next morning, but, good heaven, is
anything rhq matter with your"
AFTER all, IL is rather too cool Tor you
out here. Frau pls,orin." interrupted the
sehoolmaster, quickly, wishing to cut as
short "a. possible, u conversation Of such a
tendency. "You would DO better in doors,
in your warm room. Perhaps may lead
you in.'
"Thank you, thank you, Herr school
master" answered the invalid, holding her
handkerchief for few moments to her eyes.
1, was the fr.t time. since ber fathers death.
that the fatal evening had been mentioned
I in her presence, and she was unwilling that
the emotions thereby excited should be po-
ticed. "It was only passing iaintncss,"
she said. with a half smilc "my former
strength has not yet come back; 1t will
soon be over. But do not be unessy Nun
ler. you said tha, night was au awful one,
did you-did anything happen to you that
you will not be able to forget it?'
"Do not talk OF that night, bes, Frau
pasiorin, )" entreated the sehoOlmaster, " it
i. long past, why 50 back to ~ MunIsr
can tell you welcome bit Of news; his
landlord has doubled the field which he has
50 long rented, aud promised him supply
Of potatoes for seed
Bat the Frau kept her eyes iuquiringly
on the sexton; something. il was evident,
held possession Of hls thoughts, for although
his long cherished wish had been sra,ihei
in the fact related by the schoOlmaster, he
disresarled IL: something els, was in his
mind, and relating to that mysterious night.
and the pastorin, in her excited condition,
seized on it eagerly.
"what happened to you, Mnnrer, sho
whispered. and took the old man by the