Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1862-02-28
FEBRUARY 9s, 1862.

4
~ glance out Of the window. Il warrant
she knows something about II, u sha Was
only Q mind 10 tell she is over 70 the wid.
ow's more than half the time
u sbouldn't wonder u she did. exclaimed
Ni. LoveialS. I mean to call her in
Hattie wa. called in accordingly and no
important witness e-er underwenta . sharper
cross questioning q, the hands Of the most
ingepiou. criminal lawyer than did the as
ioni,hej girl i~ioro this self constituted
Cour, Of ihqniy.'
Bot they elected nothing Of importance.
Hattie solemnly declared That she hadn't
heard slrs. Jenkens mention the doctor .
name though she had thought that she
seemed 10 bs more sober than usual since be
went away
At last. by the dint Of tea and aat,ery.
with which they piled her literally. Hattie.
who was bo, . young. giddy girl. and no,
little ela,ed o, the idea Of being . person Of
90 much importance. Was induced TO prom
rs tia, she would ask Mrs. Jenkens Why
she refused DR.. Wells, for ,ha, she bad re-
fused hin they were firmly convinced. and
duly rcpor, her reply.
Hattie had hardly left the house before
she heartily repcn,ed OF the promise that
she had - ,houshtlc.sly made. but As she
had given her word. she determined to re-
deem ii.
So the nei, morning che -, out upon her
errapd. The nearer she approached the
house. the more unflca.antIy .hs felt; ior
she va. a -cn'ibls. though impal.i's girl.
and could not bu, feel. upon reflection. iha,
,hi, inquiry Vas ,rnpertineni. and ono which
their intimacy. open and unre'uained as u
Was, gave her no rish, to make.
When .bs reached the house, the cloud
upon her usually sunny brow and the up.
won,ei cons,rsint Of ber manner. could no,
fail to bc no,iccd by Mrs. jenkins. who.
though but few year, her senior. fel' a
rnoth,rly in,ere,, in the young girl. who
va. m orphan.
'wha, AL, you. Hattie ? she inquired,
kindly. Are you .ick'
'So-yc..' .taminered poor Hattie. Who
bes-n TO feel what little courage che had
hen able TO muster oorlns ou, Of the ends
Of hrr fingers; that 10, don't feel very
veil The lac, Is. she added. ds'peri.ely
I've 60, into a 'erape.'
The kind hearted widow looked Q liiils
snIlou'. for she was we'll aquainted with
ll,,tie's impul.i's !spo.i'ion. bat she snd
quietly. And YOU have come 10 ask me to
help you ou, Of ~
'Yo.. And II you only will. my dear
Mr. Jenken', promise YOU that meter
will &c, into such another
You may be sure ,ha. will do the best
that | cnn for YOU. Hattie. But you must
fret tell mo ~ha, i,s?'
; We'll. the 'sOeicty ladies, Yesterday
made me promise TO ask YOU question. q
very ,mperiinen, one. Am cure you w'I
uy, when you have heard l,.'
Mrs. Jeukens' coun,enance cleared. II
that all, you silly child ? she -aid. Why
I though, i. WI, something terrible! But
DO pray tell me wh,; the question i.!
am ,rry curious to know -
They want tn know said Hattie. he-i
ta,insly. Why you didn'tmarry DR.. Well.
They will have is tba, be ha. turned ou
some terrible character, a pirate. n robber
to sy the least; and tina, you have ioun'
IL GOT. and dismissed him
Mr. Jcnkcns' expressive countenanco. a
she heard this. underwent various changes
first che looked a.,onisbod. then indignant
then she eolorcd. and then smiled.
Il hope you are no, angry. said Hattie
: in come ,repiia,ion. as Mr'. Jenken' mad
no reply. 'IprOmi.ed to ask you. 50
though, must. Bu, you needn't tell the
indeed. hope you wont. I don't SEQ ~b
l, should be any OF their business. and Ia
y sure that IL IL none of mine =
y L am 20, in the least angry with 700
, Hattie. said the widow. smiling. 'rhous
I should advise you not to Ss 50 hssty. nm
other time. in giving your promise. ins'mue
Q a. this oecasioped you 80 much unessine.'
c You nav tell these ladies. that l invite then
u 20 take tea at my house Tomorrow afternoon
J and that will then and there answer thA
i important question, | trust. TO their en'ir
;, satisfaction. You may come. too. Hattie
J. .he added. a' tho young girl ca,ehed Up he
l. hat. preparatory to making ha'ty exit.
't Th,, message Was received BY the afor'
said ladies with mingled surprise and eel
!, consra,ula,ion. With surprise. becaa'
v Mrs. Jenksn. had. hitherto. stood 'tsadil
u aloof IRON the soeie,y; being 80 uncharita
q ble ~ to declare it to be nothing but
% school for scandal, and that IL acnompli'be
far moro mischief than good. With sci
!. congratulations. because they felt, TO vi
II Miss wormwood' . felicitous expression. '.hs
something ~as coming now .ha, would ~
y ionish .oms iolts!'
The mex, day. at the appointed hou'
found them oil quietly seated 10 Mrs. Jst
It keus' pleasant little parlor.
70 Mrs Jenkens received them With her usu'
b agabiliiy. Iudeed, she Vas more than u's
'e ally socisbls. and seemed to bs particu;arl
II deslrous Of making her guess, perfectly
,. home. But there vas certain eeas,rair
!, IN their manner, but more especially IN 'hs'
" tongues, which were more than usual
quiet. and their minds seemed 20 b 'olsm'
!. ;n,r....d with the i'm tant disclosure tha