Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1862-06-27
FRIDAY, JUNE 81, 1862.

Then I answered that. though ! turned
leaf alter leaf Of memory's book. yet !
could End no record OF mothers love. She
died when was about two years old. yet
my father had been kind, and. Ms far as
possible. filed the place Of both father and
mother. My childhood had passed happily ;
my father was both friend and instructor.
and my first great grief had been when
was zen. to school and my father sailed for
Europe.
Was your mother. nam, Lilian?' and
there was something in the tone Of hsr voice
that startled me.
Her name was frora-flora May. Was
IL no, q sweet name9'
Very pretty. and the glowing intensity
Of her eye. as me. its earc. made my heart
,hrob with strange sensation.
Il can't tell where she was buried. Once
when I asked my father. he said IL was far
away. and We would so to the place Of my
birth when ! was older Ny father was 20
lonely after mothers death tha, he cold his
home in New York and rmo'ed TO Ohio
I have no recollection Of my frs, homo. bu,
shalt ask my father to take mo sherc before
We return to Ohio
And your father loved bic wiicr
What Il strange question: ] said. Yet
.heappcarci to have 'pokcn wi,hou, thought.
II hs had not loved her. do you think he
would have remained true to her memory
fifteen years.
Ihaye headache, aud shall retire, Mrs.
Thorn,on said, rising and coming TO my
side. she kissed me ,enderly, and with u
flushed check left the library.
For long time ~, gazing into tho dy.
ing Goals. Wcro her question. the magic
key that unlocked the oa.ke, where the
memorie. Of my childhood were siored' !
could no, tell. Yet there came dim re-
membrancc Of time when was playing
alone in the garden and strange face pccred
into mine. Gs some one clnsping inc in her
arm, ki,sd me again and again, while my
face was wet with tears. never knew
whence che came or whittier she went. and
/, seemed strange ,hi, dim memory should
come back then. I, passed. and q bright
dream fitted before my waking 'i.ion-my
father would return in few months; he
would meet Mrs. Thornton she was 80 zen.
tie and winning he would not fail to oc
pleased with her, and nigh. bc permitted
TO call her mother
Ny hand was on the knob 10 open the
door. but | hesi,a,ci. l, was late, and tho
house was .,ill. How easy i, would be to
solve the mystery. and Mrs. Thornton never
know u. For months that ,eIled pietorc
had haunted my waking and sleeping 'i'-
ions. Why should | longer perpleI my
mind with vain Conjecture and Crossing
the library. placed the lamp 80 i.s light
would fall directly upon the picture. w"
II the rus,ling Of the .ilk or the faint echo
OF gentle footsteps that startled me but,
listening iuten,ly, I found oil .ilen. within
and without. All i, was the whispering
OF tho s,ill. small voice. and should heed
its promp,ings! She would not know II,
curiosity whispered 50 rai'ei the veil
but, a. my eye caush, glimpse Of sildcd
frame. the drarery fell from my hand j
remembered my promise Her'r TO raise that
veil. and turned away wondering why 80
costly frame was hidden beneath those
dark folds.
From that nigh. the mystery Of the II.
brary deepenej. bad nervou. dread OF
being Left alone with that ysiled picture.
AMI my imaginative mind pictured 'ecne
Of horror thu, would thrill every nerve aud
freeze my hearts blood
My father re,urnsd, and when I told him
how kind Mrs. Thornton had been. he called
to thank her in person, hut she was III and
c,uld nc, leave her room. Wondering wha:
could aci,ate her so. I returned 10 my father,
saying .he would be better in a day or two,
and he must no, leave the city until he had
seen her. Bu, he wa. frm in hi. decision
to leave the next day. and mus, aceompa'
ny him. Then expressed wish to visit
NV mo,Ler's grave. lie drew me to his side.
md with hi. arm. epcirelins the. and ,uy
head resting upon hi. bosom, told rue Of my
mother To him tho memory Of the pas,
va. ,,i,,o, and I mingled nv tear. with
,ho., ~ nv father. while again I seemed to
h.,, tina, strange voice, and sec ,ha, strange
a,.. no.,;,, int, mine
,.,,ho,,.tvo,id =. leave m, Kind friend.