The Oxford falcon. [volume] (Oxford, Miss.) 1865-18??, 1868-12-05

BIZ MAUD xEREDIrH.

peeping up among the AppIs-blos
SONS ? That is the house"
Laura's heart gave an involun
tary throb. Would they wclcom'
TER AsYa Law dassgl,snsr ~ 90
they lore her 2 Charles DPag
smfled IL he read the thought
passing through her mind.
do not fear, Laura; | do no
know who could help loving you 7
Laura smiled little doubtfully
she could hardly expect the whole
world to look at her with hel
young husbands eyes.
Old Mrs. Page stood al the farm
house door in her best black silk
with her company cap snC
white ribbons, as the stage coach
rolled up-a hard-featured ole
lady, with silver. streakod hair
brushed away from her wrinklec
forehead. and hands on which ths
network of veins stood up lik,
knotted cord. Her welcoming
kiss was like the peck Of bird oi
prey-so cold and hard did il
seem against Laura's cheek.
Mother = whispered Laura
softly.
Il am very glad to see you, Mrs
Charles. said the old lady.
so you are Charles new wife,
hey p said Farmer Page, from the
sitting room ; land n tall, we'll
grown girl, too. Come in. come
in Teas most ready, and | dare
say you'll be glad of cup"
There was something that pass
ed like the chilled breath Of an
iceberg across Lauras heart as
she entered, leaning on her hus-
bands arm. II was not the wei
come she had expected and hoped
for; and involuntarily she felt
that her mother-in laws criticis-
ing eye Was upon her, and with
no favorable glance.
II suppose you've beep brought
1p to work 7" said Mrs rage,
senior.
No; Laura could not say that
she had.
Can you wash and iron your
shirts 2"
NO"
Can you make bread ?"
Il have never tried.
Cannot you cook at all p
II am afraid not, ma'am."
"Humph."
"At this stage, Charles, who
had been watching the deepening
color on Laura's cheek with some
annoyance, broke in:
"But she can speak two or three
different languages, mother, and
paint beautifully, and / wish you
could read some of the poetry she
has written"
"Humph !" again enunciated
the mother-in law. Languages
painting and poetry stun wont
make the kettle boil, you'll find
young lady"
"She has taught in q seminary,
mother" the young husband in
terposed, awhere she has had nc
opportunity TO learn the useful
things you speak Of. All in good
time. Rome wasn't built in
day."
But Mrs Page, with her thin
lips set close together, was busylng
herself about the tea-tabIe. She
need mot have taken the trouble
Laura's appetite WAS pretty effect
ually destroyed.
"Come, darling" said Charles
Il want to show you the path te
the spring in the woods.
Old Mrs. Page looked contempt
uously after them.
That's all she's worth, she NUT
tered, ito look at pretty thing
and listen to honeyed speeches
I wonder where Hiram Pag'
would be now, if had been cut on
after that pattern ?"
In short, il was an indefinite
relief all round when the shor
visit came to an end, aud CharleI
took his young wife back to hll
home. Laura was depressed ant
melancholy, and Charles. thongi
be would not have confessed II
even to himself, was little preu
diced by the strong opinions ex
pressed by both father and mother
on the subject of his matrimoni'
choice.
Scarcely six months had passe
over the horizon of their marie
life. however, when clouds cam
TO darken il.
| Charles Page was only q cleE
| iu bank, but his humble salar
| had proved sufticiency for hin
self and Laura, Consequent,
whom one night returning la
from business, he slipped an
broke his right ankle so badl
that severe illness followed,
brought the grim phantom pove
ty nearer to them than was at a
J pleasant. ave won't let the o.
folks at home know Of il, Laura
said the young clerk, trying
speak ehesrfully. I'm afra
they're in trouble themselv