Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1861-10-18
MIS- G ELL A n Y.
THE RUNAWAY MARRIAGEl


and they hei, together-but years and
troubles had somehow rubbed the sentimen,
oa Nobody had supposed that the wealthy
merchant. Ilerbcrt's father, would be 30 un-
al,srably frm 10 the resolution formed in
the first moment Of his wrath. never 10 see
hi, only child again nobody thought he
would turn colily away from the peach blos-
SON face Of that srst grsndehild. when
Alice herself carried IL to the lodge gates VI
the p,llAred manson.
IL was on a chill November evening, four
year. Afterwards. that Alice MslWyn toiled
Up the step a-ccnt, leading 70 tho-e very
lodge gates. with little Ierber, clinging 10
her hand. The delicate rOse bad long since
faded irom her .unken cheek; the blue
li,hi that used to d,ncc 50 playtully in her
fright eye- va. queuched by the how Of
many tcar.. She bad wasted perceptibly
snes the dreadful DAY when the grAy-hcad-
ed o!d sailor knocked at her door With the
udins. 80 plainly written in his face that
she knew, without a question. that che was
a widow aud her babe iaiherle-..
Yes, los, atsea, She never dreamed that
i, wouli tc 80 when be bad Lett her in the
bright aash Of youth aud hoPe-shs bad
looked forward 10 hi. return With such a
thrill Of Joy. through long months Twas
al over now. No wonder that she shud'
dsred when the WIND ssept through the
lsaaess tres wi,A hollow, moaning sound
no wonder she faneied how il was tossing
the great green crested waves about with 'is
cruel aud relentless hand.
Who are YOU, woman ! and what DO
you WANT
Itwas Old Mslwyn's voice. lie checked
hi. hor~s With sharp jsrs Of the band as
the young widow shrank back. H.. face
wAsas hard As u IT, muscles had been cast
in iron. bu, she knew ii was her last resort,
and spoke with boldness Of desperation.
"Fa,brr. | Au Hsrbert's widow, and this
is Herbert. child We are pO1r aud home
les, will You take W IN -
Never ." be spoke between hs clenehed
teeth. You knew perfectly well what
you had to expect when you married him;
never change my mind. Take care OF the
horses feet"
he drove on with the sAme iron face, and
Alice. entirely b,relt Of the mOmeutary im.
pulse o. strength, .ank white and brea'he.-
on the roadside. Not even little he'ber;'s
riteOus cry Of Mamma, mamma :" reused
bSr from the oblivion OF despair.
Poor. pretty thing its the biggest
shame that ever was. 1 tell yOa what.
Meli..v. never wished - aforo, but, sc'
tween you and ne, Id just like to be the
old fellow down below for bout bali an
bour. ior the privilege Of picking out the
bis:r,, kind Of nills,on' to hang round
o.i Mslwyn's neck when be gets ready for
It."
"wby. Jsihro Parker, Amt you 'shansd
70 talk -? There lay her down on the bed,
and y, the camphor bottle. Where's the
POOR baby? That's right, jamie, -: him
close BY the Gre, f0r he's as white a' a
sheet ."
"wby don't you ssad her to the poor
hou-e. at once ?" eroaked jeremiah jackson
tie village news yyudor. " She hain't no.
~h,rc else to 90, ,ha''s plain"
"S,ui her 10 the poorhou-e 80 kindly
saculate,l Mr.. Parker. Why, look at
them white hand. o bern. She's born
LADY Il ever there was one"
That's So" a-.en,ed Je.hrO, " she
Amt the kind o.. ,,ug that poor houses are
made for. No, sir.rce her own folks have
turned her out, but we'll give her the shell
ter Of our roof and a cra'i Of our brad.
Won't We Melis,y' -
"Dilnt know you bad 50 much money
10 throw away, said jeremiah dryly, snak'
ing out the iolds Of an immsn'e bAndlnna
handkerchief Always s'POssi charity
begun at home"
Well. whose denyin' Of i,H" said JeIh-
70. putting bi. hand, into hi. pocket with a
putr'ed air.
Nobody, only :, s'n, very likely Squire
Mslwyn will be willing for you to keep this
here thrivia' farm o his'n If you 80 asin
his wishes. aud the lease runs out mex,
month, don't it,"
IL bain'i no objection to his wishes as
long a, they are dcc,n, and christian like.
butI .ban't make heAthsn Turk Of myself
on his account"
"Theu youlI lose the farm, sure as
Christmas.
well. let It -, then. I've lived here a
pretty considerable spell o years, and |
won't deny but wba; I'm attached to the
o,d place but sooner than sell my soul to
squire Mellwyu, III try the experiment OF
ps!lius up stakes"
..Jethro. Je,hro =" whispered Mrs. Par
krr. pulling liitle nervously at her bus
band. sleeve. The possible rex they might
encounter by shsltsring the sqnire'' cn'ea''
daaghtcr-ln. law had never presented itseli
to her in this ma,ter-of fact way.
Now. look here, Meli''y," aid her hu'-
band. turning good.humorcdiy around /;
" would you turn out this poor ereeter for
all the farms that were ever titled"
mo" said Mslf..y. with a warm color
in her bone-, cheek, as she turned away 70
smooth the fair hair that lay on the pillow (;
and Jeremiah knew that the question was