Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1864-09-23


ing letter from her father demanding ber
immediate presence. The epi-sie was read
m The family. and although every body vas
sorry 60 lose ber. IL prevented all ingenious
subierfuges and embarrassing entreaties.
To superficial observers Constance ap-
Peared 20 fan easily into her old habits:
but IN truth ,hey bored and iretted Der.
They vOuld. indeed. have been unrndura-
bic but for her power 20 brighten ber
bone. There she praetised some Of the
lessons she had lately learned. and offer
Ell surh thoug htfsl service a. gave it new
atmo-pberv. Parents, brothers. sisters
wondered At the aided charm which impart-
e'l 90 Constance such fac in alton. While
acquaintAnces who had before admired. nov
loved. reverenccd her.
September vas again reddening the
naples. and viburnums. when Jennie wrote
10 Constance that at last her engagement
wss announced. Il did not tell YOU Of
Arthur when you we're here she said
- beeanse be vas not rvAiiy. nine. nov.
can praise him .. much a. I ike wish
you to know him. be i 50 good. 90 loving
- chivalrous
A. she rad the letter. Constance
thoughts reverted 90 the pine grove and
her conversation there With Maurice Arden.
He uas FREE man then. and she had
thrown away the only prize ever offered
for her keeping. She sbed bitter tears
over the missive. bat she answered Il
promptly and fol Jennie. in = merry
way. that she had fsncied her engaged TO
Maurice.
TO Maurice,r exclaimed Jennie in
amAzement. % Engaged 70 Maurice,
What could have been too free ia manner
Tor such old friends. and Jenaie reviewed
hvr whole conduct rith beating heart and
flying puiscs. She found nothing % re-
grvt; and rvassured she told Maurice Of
her cousins mistake. His face brichtened
all over when be heard II. and his low.
happy laugh "a, quite unlike the forced
nierrIment during the last wretobed year.
There i- more meaning. Jenaie. IN
that sentcnce. than you imagine. he said;
and then De told her how Constance had
prevented hi- offer when she was AZ Deer
ing and tie misery which be had since
endured. o Can il be possible that
misconcePtion Was the cause - be asked.
% ID you believe that osher~ise she would
have smiled upon my suit
Boo Jennie. like q true women. woald
make no conjcctures. She would only
promise to promote has cause by inviting
Constance 10 offer her eongratulation IN
person and 20 suPerintend he preparation
Of her warirobe.
This invitation Constance was only too
glad % accept; and she posted to Deering
with a trunk fun OF beautiful gifis. The
work went on eharmingly. 50 did the
love affairs. Al Vas explained IN the
pine grove - the delicious har,nonies of
the wind IN tae tree tops. and with the
tender light Of tbe September sunset bar
nishins the rough trunks. and touching
tso happy c0untenances into a richer glo~
than Titan himself has painted
Constance did not hasten 20 the city Nth
hcr loser-she wrote 90 her father. asking
him 20 sisil Dcering-al lie ssrmised
the meaning Of the nis,ive and vent a,
ouce. There be saw Msurice on has own
ground. unembarrasscd 5y conycniionalisms
and carving out his plans ior The hyhcal.
mental and moral improvement Of tbs labor
ers under hiscare. He~ss pleased With him
H. appreciated bis energy and diligence.
BIS broad bumanity. snd the Foundation
Winch BE- bad laid IN close study Tor vide
and practical acquaintance With men and
thing. He gave a cordial consent 20 bis
slit and returned home 90 prepare The way
for ii. cntranr, into fbr family The mru-
I,I- -u.-... rotIrrrd aud sncered but
Mr. Fcrciyal vas frm. lie insisted that
Maurioc should be received precisely a.
Charlie Wells would have been hal b.. been
the accepted lover. and BE- carried be- point.
iie va' fet,l and bored. ard the friends of
the family seeing BIN bar himself with sucb
rno'lesfy and yet sIrh scHrJsprci. With
such c,urtesv o. aH rnf surh devotion 60
hfs betrrtb-d. learuri thaf an artiran couid
De man aai gentleman. and fsted ani
bored bin TOO.
NJ Fcrcieai rurhased a min in Dccrinr
which he presented 90 Msurice. and Con-
stno, is 81 hsppy - tbe day is long IN the
personal supervision Of hcr house. the edu-
cafion ofher two pretty children. ard in aid
i0c 'hose scneucs Of i1dIriols bcucvolencc
uhfch her unclc ansi Maurice are continual.
iy propo-.ng. She has found uhat ~
sousht-ior ber husband. vitality ard prsc.
ti,ai pywer ior herself. labor. achievomen