Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1864-01-08
o. So PARIS ME-. FRIDAY. JANUARY & 1894

fui 20 listen 90 the hns poetry and spicy
anecdotes amidst the charming scenery
through which We passed. and although
could add but little from my own stores to
the conversation. yet asa sure NV face
must have expressed the pleasure which
received
Ny sky vas no; always 80 cioudlsss. The
idea that Mr.. Crofton could regard me as
anything but a mere schoolgirl had not oe-
CURED TO me. Mrs. Rsnton told me and
others that her brother vas pleased 20 find
At the house a child inteIligens enough for
q eomP.nion. vet too young for fir;aiion
and scandal; aud that. we're I older. he
would not permit himself % offer such
marked attentions. Yet MISS Monkton
and her st made me 80 uncomfortable bv
series of petty annoyances that I dreaded
70 enter the dra~ing-room; and once or
t-rce i even dined in the nursery with the
twin, 10 escape their malice.
loould not accomplish this. dos. IwouH
vas sitting with Maggie one twilight.
holding her hand while she went % .leep.
~hen Amelia and Conrad entered the hail.
The door was PartlyoPen but they dill not
perceive u. and as nv name was alnsos: he
first word spoken. could not refrain from
ga ietly listening 20 THAT came next.
How ridiculous Gilbert Crofton's man
ner - towards that absurd ebild,- said
Amelia
. She isnf absurd. and he isn't ridicu-
Ions replied Conrad. 4" She i. brich,
litiie thing; homely. % be sure. bat per-
isctly unassurning. and good natured al
most 20 fault; and be. | imagine. Is glad
20 come across one Of the sex Who does not
aatter him. and who does no, say yes. =
eiernaily TO his remarks and propositions.
however ahsur,l they NAV be -
Az any rate Il isnt right for BIN 70 be
80 exclusive in his attentions. By and bv
she vail think he wants 70 marry her
Perhaps he viii want 70 marry ber. bat
lose nv guess II she isn't as much astoni,h-
ed a. anybody when he tells her SO. II be
ever does. One thing. however. j. certain.
AmeliA. you only lower yourself BY joining
those Inbred Al4as in snubbing Mis- Ma
non. / have seen Crofton'. face turn ab-
solately white with rage When Clara Alan
has siang her with her mean. suspicious
shafts
The sPeakers passed on. leaving me
grieved and angry and crushed bene A,h
vague sense of injustice which could no,
entirely understand half resolved not
% 70 down 20 dinner. and then / renem-
bercd that Angelies was gone. and that no
one would be ~illing 10 play Tor the dane
Ing. or 20 bear poor Mr.. BlAksman's pet
tishness; 80. instead Of indulging myself
m an unhappy evening alone. made nv
Prcttiest toilette. did nv duty thoroughly
and checrfally. ard va rewarded With
precious half hour With Mr. Renton 10 ber
room before retiring % mine
The Monktons aad Alans departed ana
t~o other sets came and went. bat nv host
css siiil found some excellent reason vbv
should remain. especially after AnceTca
left. For two weeks Ne had an old gen.
tleman vho wanted somebody % read 10
him every day. 50 I gave him my thrcc
hours of translations. a good exercise Tor
me and pleasant for him. since always So
lected something lively n not positively
comic. Next an Aunt q Mrs Renton ar
rived who was nearly blind Usually. dur
ins her visits. Mrs Renton was her cor
slant companion. She walked and drove
and sat beside her. Describing everybody
and everything about them. and furnishing
her nth all those little hints and surges-
irons which in c0nversatioD are teieg1pLei
by The eyes Bot took ber place. a great
relief 70 Der and no hardship % me. espec-
isliv a. Mr. Crofton sometimes assisted me
f.- au hor-. fias giving me- fi.-c f, r-r
about the garden ani fslfu ny promise o.
mamma
! had been ~ Firgrove three months
shen papa wrote me that he co1ii ~ longer
spare bis darling Mr Crofon irourit
tbe letter 20 me- iu the library and stood
Waiting f,r ne 90 read it. after whirb he
sished me % join himself ard Mr. Rem
t7n in q visit to IRE craes.
What does papa vrites~ BE- ssted. a.
begsn % refold the sheet.
" Tie vrfes that must come home d.
rcct'y. f'r be cannot spare his darling any
longer
Then NJ Croftoo sd grsveiy sd ten
deriv. 4" Neither ca1 7 spsre rg dssling
Notvifhstanding b. was - serious. I
thought he vss making sport q ne. ~
ohceks erinlsonei and ny eyes fashed =,
said. o. When yol have teased me hereto
i5re NJ Croilon. i has heen unon inaiEar-