Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1861-10-18
a gray haired old man, rode up and paused
at the threshold.

unoerstand, went on the agent, w
slightly lowered voice. +" that you have
extended your cOun,enanee aud protection
,o-yOung Mrs. Mclwyn."
Jethro nodded.
The squire is particularly dcsirous that
you should DO nothing of the kind. lie
wishes the young woman to feel the extent
OF her folly and imprudence."
"Can', help il, said Je,hrc, cOOlly.
DO you mean to say that you will per.
sic; in shel,ering her. in spite Of Mr.. Mel.
wyn's wishes"
That's " my meanin'."
And are you aware tha, in ,hi. case
the squire will certainly decline to renew
the lease Of your place h,reG"
let him decline and be hanged TO him, -
said Jethro. coming the noarr-, to an oath
than he ever had since be married rel.checked
Melissy Hays.
Th, Aeen, slightly elevated his eyebrows.
shrugged his shoulders. and rode away.
Je,hro entered the house with an unrutiied
eoun,srsnee.
I'm a poor man." he muttcred TO him.
self " and pretty much all the money ever
bad has gone into the land and improve
msnts here. Bu, I'm an homes, man aud a
Christian. and that's more than Squire
Melwyn can say reckon. Mclisy, have !
done rich,'"
" You're always right, JethrO, 'aid Me-
lis.y. throwing her rosy arm. around hi.
neck. And ho was convinced.
We'll. this ain't quite such cranky
place as t'o,her was" CALCULATED Je,hro,
looking round upon the bleak walls OF the
eomforiless cottage into which hr' family
had Jus, removed. "and IT'S suthin' new
for Mslis.- to be wOrkin' for liSin'. Blu,
can't sAy ID have thing. Viii, different. "
And IL, for me you have made this
sacrifice, " aid Alice, gra,sfully.
She "a, working by the window, with lii.
tie Herbert playing at her feet. while three
or four miniature Parker. scudted in aud
out A. Mvlis.y iroued smiling away at a
table in the corner.
"DOn's .ay a word, Mr.. Mslvyn," said
JsthrO. " I'm .hurc don'l know how on
airth Meli.sy a ever 20, the chllireps' clothes
made IL 'twa.u', for you"
And Melissy looked 81 kindly a, the for
lOrn young creature tha, she iel, .he had
indeed found home.
The children were a, school, and little
Herbert sleeping in tho chimney Corner.
Jeihro was at work and Melissy abson, on
some household errand, and Alice "a, alone.
plying her needle and listening to the tick
Of the old clock on the wall, when there
came tap at the door ani the latch was
lifted.
"Caa you tell me if JeihrO Parker lives
here'"
Alice uttered a scream and 'praus to her
feet.
Aliee-my WIFE"
"Oh its a drcam--a dream, hare seen
you - many times IN my .lumhers, and oh
the waking was worse than death"
She .hrank away a. be folded her in h'
arms.
"Alics, il i. no dream. Sweet, wife,
am your own Herbert. SIT down, love, and
let me tell you Of my perilpu' journey aud
b.lr.breAd,h escapes. Believe me. 1t is no
dream"
And. as be talked. she heard the roar OF
the groa, foam capped breakers climbing
up the tropic -hore-. and saw the pink
shells lighting up all the wave. with their
crimson glow. All! il sounded like a
dream yet when che placed little Herbert
90 hi. father. breast, the child elaPPed his
hand. in ecstaey, and cried
Papa para''
Then for the trs, time she knew ths. she
was NluoW no lOnseT.
Z" never eau End words to thank the
friend. who have been 50 kind to you, my
love. said Herbert grAvely, when his wife
had told ber simple story. " Bu, there is
one subject which remains untouched be-
tween Us. have jus, come from Melwyu
Hall. supPOsins errOneou.ly. as 1t seems,
that my fathers hear,hstone would have
been a place Of refuge for hIs sons widow.
Bu, when saw the odd man all upbraid'
ing- grew silen, on my lips. Alice be is
dead"
Dead!
=" lie died in an arpoplec,ic G, ,hi. morn
ing. There !. ~ will am the only heir. V
Both were mute for few mitutes. Alas
the father who had gone to his long home
never ,augh, his children TO love or cherish
him. They could no, erie1e, yet there wa'
n thrill OF ave in their hearts. Within
the las, hour, they had passed from poverty
into abundant wealth.
$50 the new squire has made you pres
en-, of yoar old farm. Je,hro. said jeremiah
Jackson. some folk. do have all the luck
in the world. might get turned out ball
a hundred times aiore anybOdy'd make any
such offer"
"or afOre you'd DO charitable thing
Jerry said one Of the neighbOrs With a
laugh.