Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1861-12-13
FRIDAY. DECEMBER 13. 1861.

Dodd Ho NOS IN bef elemenb oot ~ INV
kitchen and pantry. I he'd no mother. No
sister. bu, he'd an aunt. Ny blood seemed
to run In l,ils cold rills ell through me ..
I thought Of Aunt Jane; bot I could 60
no other way TO accommodate Mp. Grundy,
% took down my bat. and went 70 Aun,
james.
Tall. stiff. frieid Vas Aunt Jane. as usual.
Chilling vas my greeting. whitening wa'
the glance cast a, my muddy boots. but my
errand was successful. Aunt Jane bad d.
ways considered me foolish In living alone,
and she agreed to make my house her home
while my ward Wa With mo. leaving her
with carte Nanels for tho arrangements.
wen, TO court. Ny ward danced over my
briefs, and Z addressed tho presiding Judge
ouoo - MI. lee. once as Mis- Fannie. ]
was released at last. and went home.
What sight awaited me Taking I'D.
vantage Of my ordeS to "do a. she though,
prope-." Aunt Jane hal instituted . rrru.
lar houss.elesrins In the middle Of Janus.
~. A, che had only one day TO do u 10.
shs had taken IL all at once. From the
\ garrct 10 the cellar there vas not fro I.
the furnace hrs had gone out. and there
was no one to make IL up; everybody was
too busy. There were women on stsp lad
dsrs, women under table,. women on the
stairs. wonrn IN the closets. women from
the irop, door 10 the root. Buckets OF "a.
ter, larg. Akes Of soap. rss'. brushes. tow.
els. broom,. bottles empty aud full. books.
everything In the most dir.ful confusion.
vi. standing ruefully con,en plating the
scene. when ] heard a wslikno~n snii!le at
my elbow.
- am 80 sorry. Mr. Holmes, sad Mr..
Dodd. (" that NO eouldn't do the ofis. bot
u ~. locked, and we could not End the
key" And at tie sane instant I felt key
slipped into my hand.
Mentally promising Mr'. Dodd an extra
Y with her months wages. I saii 20. I've
60, the key. Aun, Jane. I expect Mi.- Ice
at midnight, !, 10 now Eve O'Clock. May
ask how I sm 10 receive her In thi. mO.-7 :
20. 1t will all BE- done by that ,im-.
We did no, take up tho carpets. only GOV.
cred them, and we will .oon &c, through. E"
ven, to the Office Dodd Dodd In.
comparahl- Dcid a Gre burned brightly
IN the open CRATE. . cold e,lla,iOn was spread
upon one Of the tables. and no, book va.
out Of place. vas scarcely sea,ed when
my melancholy housekepcr entered with
no, coffee and
You -ce. sir. Miss Jane said there was
no time TO g,, yaur dinner. 20 ! did the bess
could with the cold tongue aid chicken,
and did manas, some oysters, II you will
have them" And she left. TO return with
one Of her most delicious ',sws.
:" II Miss lee wants q maid. sir. my eous-
In b. a handy girl about twenty. Who
would be glad % come"
4" Have her here tonight" said. And.
with a grateful courtesy and snitfs. Mrs.
Dodi left me.
Aunt Jane was ne good a. her word.
When ief, the bousr 10 60 10 the boat d,
was m its usual order. though . raekins
headache reminded ms OF the noise and cou.
fusion that had prevailed until after ten
o'clock.
Tho boa, came up to the wharf the mo.
meni after I arrived there. and ] went on
board TO End nv ward. looked M all the
young ladies'. and in'tinc,i'ely expected
u .se tho blue eyes and lar hair of my old
friend George Ono after another. all those
I singled out were carried OF by fathers or
brothers. or had an escort with them. Con.
eluding tha, Miss Lee had hsi to wait for
her new bonnet. I Was leaving the boat when
. tall. elderly gentleman near me said.
"Well. Miss Fannie. We must try TO God
Mr. Holmes house."
said, quickly. - Miss Les'"
"Ths same. sir" said the gentleman.
mi. Screvem asked me TO take charge Of
her. Are you friend Of Mr. HOLMES 2
Mics Fannie. here Is the gentleman your
guardian has sent to NEE, you.''
Could that tioy lille figure bssids him
be my ward' She was mutlled up 10 fus,
woo.ens. ,hawls, till che was noariy as broad
a. .he was long. and wore heavy brown
veil. She did manage, however. to get .
tiny neatly glOvsi hand out from her wrap
p,ns.. and extend TO mo.
"Mr. Jones ha, my checks" sbe said.
iu ono OF ihe clearest, sweetss, voices ever
heard.
The gentleman handed me three checks.
and then offered my am TO Miss Lee. She
frs, thanked her escort for the care he bad
taken Of her. babe him good BY. and then
turn.d to me. Tho carriage taken and
trunk. secured. We lsft the wharf.
"why didn', Sir. HOlmc. come 2" said
Miss Fann,s. as VIC drove through the streets;
Z" vas no afraid o! the rheumAtism this
cold pisht' o, wasn't IL cold on the VA
teri"
"were you sea.slet'' ] inquired.
"Sea..iek ! No. indeed never w1 sick,
any kind Of sich, In my life. Is this the
house,"
Iopcpsd the carriage door. Mr. Dodd
opened my front door, and Miss Leo ran In.
I isf, her to Dodd. and turned my attention
to the baggage. When went into the psr'
ior. she was standing near the furnace reg.
is,er, talking to Mrs. Dodd. sod did NOS