Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-04-16

said she had written TO her father and
mother all about the affair, that he had
written also, that there had been no
promises. The man seemed cold as an
icicle--proud but not loving-a great
dread shadowing his eyes. | expressed
the wish that they should not meet again
until the answer of the parents came. He
replied without q moments hesitation
certainly" and with an ordinary good
bye left us. ANY other man. it seemed
to me, would have shown more emotion.
| stopped him To say :-'Perhaps the
girls parents will wish to see the man to
whom they arc to give their daughter,
before giving their answer" Il will go
to them,n he said: 'preier that they
should see me. | can wait until they
know me WE'LL This was said with
self-contidcnt mir that veXed me still more,
and turned to rcprove the girl, but there
was such a defiance in her eye, such
| look as warned me not 10 venture, that !
kissed her and said, "God bless YOU"
! know not what the two wrote to the old
people, the girls parents. but in week
came letter giving their unqualified con-
sent to the marriage, asking that their
daughter come home Immediately. She
started the next day. Theyoung German
seemed now perfectly happy, but happy
in dreamy way. In parting from her
he simply shook her hand-returned,
pressed it silently again, and then walked
away, never turning his head.
Gold, heartless lover" was in my
mind, but did not speak it. During the
girls absence frequent letters passed.
Each wrote promptly, and the JOY that
latter gave the man caused me to have
some respect tor him. accompanied
him when he went 10 meet his lady-love
at her fathers some days in advance oil
the ceremony The ride was n long one
but not unpleasant. | discovered the
mans power. lie talked charningly'
and in literature. art and music, seldom
found him at fault He laughed at his
ignorance of our laws and customs, SAID
he felt sometimes like fool, and very
often AS if dreaming The whole family
met us at the station. The central figure
was, of course, the girl that was soon to
be his bride and rs she came bounding
forward, expected him TO receive her
with open arms and repeated kisses. But
he did not She greeted me warmly,
kissed me twice, then turned in an en-
barrassed manner TO shake hands with
her lover. He started rs ifH,wakening
from sound slumber, looked whole vol
umcs of surprise and love, but merely
pressed her hand. The GOODNESS was un-
pardonable, and had serious notions OF
protesting against the marriage. In live
minutes his dreaminess was gone, and
the great trust the two seemed TO have in
each other. and the favorable manner i'll
which he seemed to impress the family,
puzzled rs well As annoyed me. And
this feeling grew. He was reserved rs
ever, but il was reserve i'll soft tnts,
mellowcd down to something that seemed
more like reverence or respect than re-
serve. The night of the wedding he WAS
as cool AS ever before, and both were free
from embarrassment.
His promise was made proudly, loving
", earnestly. rs though he wished all the
world 10 know and then, rs the parents
stepped forward to kiss the bride, he stop
ped them, and whispering rercren'ly'
NV first kiss" touched his lips to the
beautiful girls forehead, rs delicateIy rs
a mother would kiss a sleeping babe;
kissed her then on each cheek, and put
ting all his soul into his eyes aud iace'
pressed his lips to hers with all the PchI
up earnestness of long absent lover
You can scarcely imagine the scene. The
face of the girl seemed like one inspired.
There was so much of the proud II told
YOU 50. in her looks, that | saw that She
all the time had known the man who
stood unmasked for the first time.
And he is a man now, manly in every
sense of the word Proud still, calm,
brave and earnest. The parents blessing
fell upon him like benediction, and
every woman in the room kissed him IN
their fulness of JOY He said to his bride
as they were seated, ''Never before did ]
kiss woman's lips but my mothers.
always said my wife should receive my
first kiss as man. Think, my dear, how
much ii means"
They will come to me soon," said the
iudge. land then YOU will see how com
pletely misjudgedthe man."-[Farmer'a
Chronicle.