Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1860-08-24

Tor reading by terrible headache, which
grew worse every moment, and by the time
I | had reached my destination thought on.
. ly Of finding a bed TO tumble into, and could
no, help eongra,ulatins myself upon the
possession Of an airy farm house chamber,
much better suited To my comfort than a
a small one in the crowded hotels at New.
port. After a cup Of tea concluded to
try my quarter. and see if nap would not
rvSive me sufficiently TO have good chat
with Tom in the evening. -Four Of his
"hopefulls" were preseni at the tea.iable,
the eldest, May, was told had " gone ber-
rying." "Ah ?" | thought, as I threw
myself on the bel. "May must be an active.
oblisiug girl. Ihope she will select good /.
plump berries. How much better 10 know
know whose hands they have been through
The clean s,0u, finger, ola country cousin
are just the thing"
swoke about eight o'clock, with my
headache quite gone, and after a hasiy
lOHet went below. Twas about to open the
door Of the room in which we took tea.
vhen tie maid Of all work, who was pas.
sing through the hall stopped me and said .
Mr. and Mrs. Warren arv in this room '
opening an opposite door. Z" Mis. May Is
ia the dining room with gentleman.
80 the beau il on hand" said in an
underione. "wsll. suppose he met her
ia the fields. brolsht her basket home Tor
her. and Is now paying himself Tor i, by a
cha, With hi, sweetheart. Well, | won't
interrupt proecclins-, even to set an intro
duction to TO the damsel."
50 spent the evening with the old folk,
and - pleasantly d,d it pass with Toms
lively talk and our eigars, that the clock
struck eleven before We though, 1t hardly
Zen. aud Tom hurried OF TO bed. with a
wonder how ho should feel like haying on
the morrow. Saah provided me with a
good candle. and followed hi. example.
\. passed The dinins.room door low
murmur informed me that the lovers were
s,ill busy with each other. and with yawn
| wondered how he would feel for hAylng
The next morning | was up early, aud
a. twas yet soHe l,,ile time before brc'k-
fast. accompanied Tom in a ramble over
b. farm. aud listened with really won
deriul interest to the many remarks he made
about what he had already done, AMI his
plans Tor future improvement. returned
to the house with ,harpened appetite. and
was jus, entering tn @ long ball when voice
sid
GOOD morning, cousin John, Aren't
you going to 'Peak to me1 lam your cou.
so, May warryn."
Turning, saw girl who looked as il
about sweet sixteen. sitting on low
scat under the shade Of a noble elm
which stood near the house. returned
Der groeting, appropriated to myself PAR,
Of the seat, and took a gooi view Of my
young relative. She was dry.,ed in a light
calico. with long apron. but they could
not conecal the p,iiis form. Quite little
body. thought. and lifted my eyes to her
face. Nothing very handsome there; bot
the rosuish smile and sol, folds Of shining
hair. might look very pretty, Il they be-
logged to person in society. Her cheeks
were blooming. bu, then they were not Of
ihe peony style which l-Ipeetsd 10 see. In
a word. | thought May. appearance quite
acceptable. and concluded that after had
fully impressed ho, with .ense Of my dis.
ul,y aud .mportan1's, would .,c,l an hour
Or two from my fishing, hunting aud sleep.
ius, aud "traw her out" In fact, leIpec-
:ed To have quite a 'p,cy Irritation with the
lady (she looked as II she kai the mailsr,)
perhaps awaken her lovers JEALOUSY OF her
lover, then could very easily settle AaAir..
pretend bad only been playing the part Of
an afoctionate and attentive COUSIN, and in
the end present her with some handsome
bridal preseni.-thai il. IL she were tracia.
bic. but il was foolish to think otherwise.
OF course she could not resist my fa,eina.
tious
Iproposed that should help her "piek
over" the berries, and receiving laughing
permission. my fingers. were soon busy,
though took very small hAndful,, so that
nigh, often help myself, but it always
happened tina, mine were finished about the
time tha, her. were, 80 our fingers often
met in the friendly basket Her slender
digiis few faster than mine. much faster in
FAC, than liked. - that the basket was
.eon cmp,ied and We bad ,p adjourn to the
house. pida't | do justice to the berries
that meal.
After the ea,ablcs we're disposed Of, | be-
took myself with my gun to tie woods. leay-
Ing May to superrn,epd the pot. and ket.
tle-. | thought i, must be be warm work,
but then she was used to il, and OF course
wouldn't mind, 20 went to work al.o, and
shot the partridges with as sure an aim n.
though, should assail Mays heart. |
returned laden with spoil which she eharm-
insly promised should be cooked with her
own hands.
That afternoon Tom handed me a note.
I, was IRON friend OF mine lately married,
who /, seems owned country seat IN the vi.
eiui,y, and il was now 6lled with visitors.
many Of whom knew. lie had heard that
Twas visiting there, and accordingly sent
me an invitation to party which they were
20 give that night. Thus wa. Just the thing;