Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1862-01-31
never supposiag ,ha, Grace would eoo'iuus
obstinate, they lsit bee.

Y
s,saisgf The drssa u be- lie vss ever.
Not. until !, hsd bssn % rsds,y d'sspsssd
wss she conscious that she bad indulssd 10
u. How insane she nov aw !, 70 have
been. All! iistle-shs thoush,-did her
triumphsns enemy know ot the blow she
had struck, and how I, bad gone 70 Grsess
heart Of hearts,
When night began 70 fall, che had come
homo ploddins her way YEARLY over the
snow. and having prepared her frugal sup
per, bad sai down 10 sew. Her mother had
observed her evident distross. and had In.
sis,ed on knowing in cause. SO Grace. un-
able to. pu, her entirely on, had mentioned
her own approaching dismissal from Mrs.
wolcott's ss the reason for her depression.
in vain. however. had her mother begged
ber u lay down her work. Hsr answer had
BEEN. No. I must 10 more industrious than
ever now. God only knows. indeed. what
will become OF us. We must lave here
nobody will employ me nov that Mrs. Vol.
eot casts me OF And her mother, unable
to comfort her, and equally Oppressed with
fears Of the future, had. finally. des,s,si.
The moonlight lay bright and cold With.
out; tho woods. eIeep, where the svruus
pierced them. were dark but neither wss
colder. nor darker. than the heart and hopes
Of Grace. Il was tho habit, ct Pineville,
m IL [" at many other places. for parties TO
90 about, ON this evening. from house to
bouss. singing. which they called letting 10
the New Year. A Grace eat sewing she
suddenly heard voices without; but che was
IN no mood Tor such visit. and she rosa TO
draw the curtain. not without secret lear,
Tor the cottage VAS lonely. and she knew no
one who would be likely to como singing ct
their door, unless rude boys or rudsr men.
Her alarm was increased, when she saw.
through the ls,hced window. . face that
was unknown to her /: and sbs gave . scream.
A. tba, moment. however. another step ~ss
heard. and dep voice. that msis her heart
leap with sudden bound. vas heard. speak
ing au,hontatirely, even angrily. Instant.
iy there was knock At the door. and the
same voico cried.
1T |. l--dony Be- afraid, Grace
With trenblins hands che orsned the
door. The men ~s disappearing down the
rvad the little gate into the wolco,t woods
was op-n and up tho avenue (Which led to
tie bsll) she thoucht she saw sleigh. with
. mualsi figure or two IN II.
oh! Grace, how could you 2 were the
Gr, words OF tho young man. a. be took
her hands.
STE blu.hsd crimson, bob could no, an.
ever. What did |, all mean' Richard
CAV. her No tins for thought.
We expected you, till nigh. cot in.' hs
said (: and then the judge. finding you did
not come. ordered me 10 start in the sleigh
and bring you. rating Fanny souudly for
having forgotten 10 ask your mother. which
is the reason, he -y'. you didn't come. So
Fanny is on, in tho sleish. waiting to hslp
yoa dro-s: and. the housekssper comes to
stay with your mother. II Mrs. Dean thinks
1t too cold to SO cut tonight
whl, coold Grace say' Before she could
reply. Richard had darted back TO the sleigh,
and wss leading back Fanny. Mrs. Dean,
when her wonder lot her understand how
things we're. said che Was too old to leave .
warm fro at such an hour, and % the house,
keeper Was called in. Gracs, still bevil-
d,red. was soon ready, thanks to the MIN.
bic finger. OF Fanny and her own simple
wardrobe ! and. with q beating heart. took
her plac. in the sleigh, which moved mer-
r,ly ID in the moonl,sh, aud under the st,ll,
grand old trees.
The Judge came down TO the from, door,
TO hand Grace out Of the sleigh. and him.
elf led her up to Mn. wolcost. who ro'e
and kissed her n, IL Grace had been her own
daughter. Mss Rsdfeld. standing alooi.
looked dass,rs at the new comsr. Poor
Grace did no, dare to imagine what II all
meant. I, seemed 70 strange to ber TO bs
moving among that brilliant throps, lean
ing on Richard's arm.
The pleasant remarks Of her companion
had the eject TO restore her. in some meas
ure, TO herssli. and she Was almost surprised
to find herself talking % freely to Miss
Lsndsdouns, whom they met near the door
Of ths conservatory. 70 which her partner
soon led her.
The perfume Of the rare e1ot!cs greeted
her here like the breath OF summer. AZ
tho farther enc OF the room they stopped to
admire . brilliant flower. when Richard
sa,d. \ hare a gift, Grace. which want
you to accep, from me- and hs held up .
diamond ring; but. 6r't. will you give
me the hand upon which ! would place isf
.Ricbard! Mr. woleott" che exclaimed.
You are not In earnest 7
Il never Was more %, hs aid. win
you take the rinsf
.Ba, you. parenss'' che s'tsd. half BE-
wi,dersd. hsrdly knowing what she said.
Il have their sanction. dear Grace, and I
avail, your,. and he held up the ring with
Q questioning gesture.
Grscs extended hss hand no pressed 1t
to his lips. placed the ring upon her finger.
then drew her head 10 his bosom. Ny
poor little lamb hs murmured. drawing
aside the veil Of curls that hung over her
face. and pressing kiss upon her shrobbing