Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1860-11-23
MI S c T. LII A n Y .
GRATIA's HEART.
nr LoulsL cnANpLER norLI0N.


A message had come 10 me, requesting
me TO 90 at once To llillsiale. Two years
before. GrAtia Dean had married Judge
Winchester aud had gone there TO reside.
Gra,ia was my friend. have had many
friends. but none other who ever stood to-
ward me in precisely the sAmc relation in
which she did. We werO alike, yet differ
eu,. We had each Of rs a strong indvidu-
aliiy. and we never told each other our sc'
erets. At the time Of her marriage had
asked her some questions which she dii not
choose 90 answer. aud little coolnts. had
arisen between u.. For this reason ] had
never visited her In her own home, though
We bad me, twice year, when she came 20
her fathers houss. I said nothing Of my
feelings to any one; bat had never ceased
to love her Al tha, summer had wrought,
in secret. on infants delicate robe, cover.
,ns il with rich and fneiiul embrolicry-
!, was to BE- my pcAcc.oG,ring to Gra,ia, for
my heart ycarncd over her. sitting, a' !
knew she was. al tho long, bright slmmer
days, hoping such ',ransc, swre, hopes.
that the very though, Of them iIIOd me with
awe.
had finished thc li,,lo irc'', when the
year hAi finished the summer. | had fold
eli I, away in my drawer, and scattered
rose leave. upon It. waiting tor the 'idins'
which would authorize mo 10 'end It 90
llll.illc. |, vas autumn now--Oeiober.
The dun colorci hars just ,inscd with
brightness. which swan lus,rou.ly over the
hill.iops. had look like Italian summer.
Tho forest, had been 80 on FIRE, burnins
ba.hc. llmsi a, Of OLD. bat were not ON.
.umei loved the still days. Their pace
irll on nv spirit like a hcneiiction. lkneli
in the woods, where no eve nw me. and
prayed ior Gmtia
one day Judge Winchester. letter came.
liz wifo w.. very IN. and bad talked much
Of the lic bc.oueh, me {, como 20 her.
She pined. he thought, for her little baby.
/, bal only lived throc hours. II might DO
her s''l n sec me.
went the next day. | wrapped the lit
tie dr,s carefully in tissue paper, AMI car.
-ici /, with Tue. Why diil' IkncW the
limb. i, should have drapcd were clad in
the white robe of heaven. Judge Winch
c.,er'. home sccncl 10 me like palace. |
va, awarr. before, that bc was wealthy. |
had feared that Grliia bad married him fjr
that. and ihi. had hren one eause f5r our
e,uanscmsn, But was not prepared f1r
anything hail >, splendid As he stately res
iIcncr lo5kin, down from the high green
hlll side over the veriant valley ani'p,rk.
ling water. of the Connecticut. The house
was an artists Inspiration, wroush, out IN
quantity caucl grAy',one. Tho grounds
were spacious. with b,'ky dsll', cllmr' Of
whi'rsrin: tres. glimpse. Of hrifh, waters.
and here aud there statue. cleaning white
and It'll. ike watching .piriu. Inside
were treasure. Of AZ, and wcalth-ric,ure',
a.c.. .oli carpets. .iIken hanging, pr
ramc, and brightness. 81 much spli-why
could IL no, have savel ihA, li,,le life ,hrcc
hours oli2
| went TO Graua. Dil tell YOU .hc va.
beautiful Sho was fairc' than ever now.
The long lish, hair streaming back over the
plllow-thc white, white face, with the
rose aa.h in the check,-,hc great, dark
cyc.. searching forever after the infinite
the red, child. mouih-vha, pirture
She raised herself 10 the bcl a, she saw me
and pat ou. her weak arms.
~ knew you would come, Margaret"
Come. Graiia The angel. cannot Ion;
for YOU as | have. You shall no, s. to
them. now ! am here
She looked At me with sld tenderness.
.hcu you never ceased to cars i,r the
Margaret? Did you ever think about my
baby ?"
For answer shook out tie Ii,tlo dre.' |
hai brought, and held /, up before her i,'
rosebud, and lille. Of the valley, wrought
with such care, in - many patient hours.
IL made thi, for her, Gra,ia thought
you would like TO see IT,"
She looked at IL u long time in silence,
the tears gathering slowly. aud oVerrunnlng
her great dark eye, She put her hands on
it as carefully, almos, as fordly, a, il hai
had been within it which l, wa, meant to
clo,hc She kissed it, and then said to me !:
PA, it in the upper drawer, Margaret.
The thing. are all there which she wore
those three little hour. LNy i, with them {;
then come aud sct beside me and DO not
talk. must think while, and mus,
thank God, who saw fit To take my hearts
dcsire. for sisin; You back to me-"
| had been there three days. | knew now
that Gra,ia must die. There was no love
on earth strong enough to saSc her. Yet.
Judge Winchester loved her dearly. knew
he would have given home and lands-all
he possessed--and gone out into the world
a poor man, to work for them both, and
though; it but little thing to do to save
her life. l,was pitiful to see him 90 around
the house with such slow, hushed steps.
such face Of pale despair. God comfort
him
II wa, afternoon. and sat by Gratia. I
had felt, in these three days, the strength
and truth Of her love Tor me, bu, she had
not ye, shown me her heart. waited her
time. for was sure she would not die until
1 knew ALL She had looked at me SILENTLY