Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-10-22
NUMBER 40.


The mother was lovely, sweet-faced.
sad-eyed woman of two-and thirty years.
The daughter, Amy Lester, not yet nj
teen. was strange compound OF child
and woman.
"You are thinking OF father. dear moth
er ?" murmured the maiden, rs she mark
ed the lady's longing gaze.
Yes child. Your father. my hustand;
where is hep Somewhere under the sea
waves, wrecked on desert island, or Ian
gushing on a hostile shore? II Is hve
years since he left u on that fatal voy-
aye Ia China. MY reason assures me
that ne /. dead; yet, Amy. | can only
think of him ~ Ii ing"
- - with me. mother" said Amy
W. 4. iltmuiouS quiyer OF her lips. Il
i.,...n 1.ten that lie is liying-that he is
coming home :"
We need him in a hundred ways"
said Mrs. Lester, signing. III anything
were to happen to me. Amy, shudder
to think what would become OF you. You
have been brought up in luxury. and
would feel keenly any change to power
ty.'
"Are VIC not rich. then, mother" ?"
asked Amy, in surprise.
II supposed so. dear, until three years
ago replied the mother sadly.
! Your father was merchant and
| shp.owncr, partner ol Colonel Nichols.
| But two years ago Colonel Nichols in
| formed me that the out-stanJing debts ot
the drm more than balanced the assets;
in short, Amy. that he WAS on the verge
Of bankruptcy, his fortune and ours alike
wrCckedw
Il don't like Colonel Nicholsm said
Amy thoughtiuly. Ii he lost his money
with our- how doe. he li,a in such grand
,uis To9n2m DO A- a.ps and great
house belong
ia hi, o.faee. >'v B.' Colonel
:. 1oi- J. ''"neI
~ n or
no. ,ci in
r,Hs reject
- ply, when the
..,.n. rl.. nu il, hinges. and a
boyish nguc ,~.me light! up the walk.
Its Ally. lao,hcr-it's Ally Bell eS-
claimed Amy, all smiles AMI bushes.
"rll bring him upto you
The young girl ran lightly down the
verandah steps, and met the newcomer
linking her arm in his and gently draw
ing him toward the house.
He was a lad of seventeen, an orphan,
the nephew and ward of Colonel Nichols
Bright and gay and handsome, Allen
Dale Was inpetuous. ardent, aAd intelIi'
gent-one- Of those noble, manly boys
who mature early into grand and noble
men. Boy as he was. he loved Amy Les
ter with a pure and chiralrous love-
which bade fair to deepen in time into the
great love of hi, life.
He WAS the bearer Of letter from his
uncle 10 Mr, Lester. anl ha' ing deliver
led IT. he sirollrd with AM 'iown the wide
Garden walks into the cool shadows %.
or,yc II ~. bottom of t}r girlrn.
~ - 20 - Dy this good
,rl chTmins
"a would be
I-u;iic expert
., .l.n tonight, amy re-
. The blue lights show bet
lgh,. I'm getting along finely in
,ay ,4cmi~iry, Amy. like il best OF all
my studies
II am sure you 10, said Amy, earnest
". You are the incest boy ever saw. -"
Ally Bell laughed aloud Amys child
like simplicity and outspoken lrn.hfulness
were her create, charm in hi eyes.
The sight of thst 5rig yonder," said
Ally. ..rcminds me that promised TO
meet Colonel Nichols OH board Of il di-
rectjy afle, delivered that letter IL yoar
mother. must 80 now, but you may
expect me AS soon Is it is dark
He clasped her in his arms and kissed
her.
II ~ Ar.I
For minute the youthful loTers ''ooa
at the garden gate towaru wh'eh the!
had iovly walked, aud here they parted