Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-11-19
SANDER. Constant as q sailor ought to
be proverb."
"But it isn't"

/ but IL ISM
There was Randolph, the best hearted
fellow and the handsomest in our mess,
who lost his heart on shore to the sweet
est girl in the world as he assured me
so often that almost got TO love her my
self. 1t wasn't an engagement exactly,
because she was so young, and, will you
believe ii? there came u letter To Ran
dolph before the year was out, saying
that she had discovered that he was not
her affinity, and she was actually married
to the new minister; one of the interest
ing kind, like Mr.. Gray, Imagine. She
managed To get on the injured side, rs
woman always will, and reasoned away
R:,ndolph's claim on her so logically that
| am morally certain the minister com
posed the letter. Women think nothing
of breaking the eighth commandment in
that way, and since then have set my
face against them as u flint"
"ls that al9' said Nellie, interested
against her will. What became of Ran
dolph?"
(Which would you prefer. n comic or
tragic end 10 the story?"
The true one if You please"
"Wcll the true end partook of both, TO
my mind. Ned was 'all in the downs as
the song bas it, so long as he stayed in
port he wasted to skeleton. ate little
and slept less, which was tragic enough
but he got exchanged into another ship,
salt water cured him, and the last time
saw him no showed me the picture OF \
little black-cyed beauty, whom he mar
ricd ofi,-hand this time TO make sure Of
her"
"A sailors heart is tough enough, ac-
cording to your own showing, to bear n
good many hard knocks :"
That is Il merciiu provision n in our
case. Miss Clifton otherwise that necessa-
ry organ in most of Us would be in very
bad WAY, indeed. But must really tear
myself away. Good morning and pleas
ant day dreams"
And Fred departed with colors flying.
Il don't like him Bit said Nellie,
and believe he made the story out Of
whole cloth
90 no." said | ; "he hides a very en- n
est character under light way oftalking.
He thinks women are all ilirtS; but il he
could find sombody who could win his ie-
spcct, should have great hope of him.
But, Nellie, TO change the subject, |
have set my heart on your being our min
ister's wife. How do YOU like hum on bet
ter acquaintance"
"Idon't want To be anybody's wife, if
you please said Nellie. with dignity.
And with that she left me.
"lt's safe to cfapm performance now, y"
said Fred. butting his head at the door.
isn't she bcwitching? and such a foot!
could thin< OF nothing but old Herrick's
notion
''Ier li,tle feet stole in and oft,
Like mice beneath her peilicoat."
"Saye your compliments. You may
need them when yon come to close quar-
tcrS"
Fred went to church with me next day,
but Mr.. Gray's fine discourse was wasted
on him he was wholly occupied with
counting the little flowers on the dainty
lace bonnet, which could adorn no hea d
but Nellie's We joined her on the way
home.
1T seems to me" said Fred. innocently,
THAT Mr. Gray breaches mostly to our
corner OF the church. Is it that we most
need his ghostly counsel, or is the NOV
ing spring of his eloquence situated in our
rcgion?'
He stole look at Nellie, and again an
undeniable dush redeemed her cheek.
For the first time some one had taken her
own role out of her hands, and was play
ing it skilllully for her discontinue.
You couldn't make an excuse to call
there to night, could you?" said Fred,
when we had left Nellie at her own door.
Doubtless could
Good for you will leave you some
thing in my will"
Then you will take it back in codi.
ell, for should by no means take You
with me. Mr.. Clifton is of the most
straitest sect and don't believe in young
people making playday of Sunday"
1--WE are permitted to do works of neces-
sity and mercy on Sunday, and court
ing comes under both heads, think"
Not day passed after this that Nellie
was not to be found in my sitting room.
and the only proof that stone had been
dropped into the still waters of her life
was that she now always gave an elabo-
rate excuse for coming so often, when be-
fore she needed none.
Fred was more changeable than n
woman now her most humble slave, and
devoted to her least caprice, and again
ION high thought INTENT" he scarcely
noticed her coming in. aud had no words
for her sarcasms. She grew to be actually
meek in these days, and her first look
when she met him asked palmer than
words, How will you treat me this
time?"
Fred often asked her to drive with him,
and Abdallah ought to have been wiser
if not 4 better horse tor the various in