Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-03-12

-~--
months.
Nevertheless, Iawkcr had been coach
man at the parsonage all this while and
had grown quite sleek-headed and smooth
faced, when one day, Mrs Harrow sent
for him. and with somewhat of low
spirited air, ordered the little carriage at
nine precisely.
"She looked rs if she didn't want to
order il at ALL" said Hawker to himself,
and he was right. Only strict sense OF
duty sent Mrs. Harrow ont at all that day.
A fair was in contemplation and funds
were necessary, and in virtue Of her po-
sition as the clergyman's wife. Mrs. Har-
row had been appointed committee OF
one to call upon a certain miserly men,
Der of the church, to solicit Donation
Mrs. Harrow had said, 81 hate to do it,
James, and Mr.. Harrow had replied,
"then il is so much the more your duty,
Ann and there remonstrance ended
She stepped into her little conveyance
with quite cross face, however, driz-
cling. misty rain, and sharp. unpleasant
air, making her no more cheerful.
..You know where Mr.. Hough's place
is?n She had began to say to Hawker,
when Betsey ran out with apaper ofpins.
please letme loop your dress, ma'am, !"
she said. You'll have it all spilled, If |
don't There is halfa mile to walk through
Mr.. Hough's grounds where no carriage
cant go, and everybody knows what a
muddy place his is. That purity dress,
that you've had such bother trimming"
Mrs. Harrow was open to reason, even
uttered by an inferior. She allowed her
o d servant to climb into The vehicle, and
festoon her skirt in a manner which rem
dered it impossible that it should be in
jured by muddied road, and then dis
missed her with pleasant nod. But her
face grew grave again as she looked out
upon the uncomfortable landscape, lying
under the drizzling sky, and she uniurled
her umbrella at last. and made her way
along the ill-kept garden paths to old
Hough's house, with no thankfulness 10
the committee in her heart. Yet, as il
happened. she came nj lucky moment.
Old Hough was i'll, and having neither
TREND nor relative to part from or mourn
for him, and being of no use in the world,
terribly afraid he should be called upon
TO leave it. He received her in his easy
chair in dressing gown and slippers, and
TO her utter astonishment produced n
twenty dollar bill. And tell the dominic
to call, if you please" he said; II don't
think shall last long" And he spoke
and felt as though he had just paid his
fare to heaven.
Mrs. Harrow proposed TO send the
clergyman down at once, and went her
homoward way in more pleasant fram
of mind The object had been gained
without any begging, and the disagreed
BILE task was over She gave smile as
Hawker touched his hat
BEG pardon. ma'am, said he.
We'll, Hawker," said Mrs. Harrow.
Would YOU mind telling me the color
of that dress?"
He stopped as he spoke, and lifted a
breadth of it in reverential way and
stood looking at it.
Mrs. Harrow laughed. They call it
garnet, believe" she said.
Garnet color--it's purity dress, and
We look like new in it," said Hawker.-
Thank We, ma'am, "and bowed and step
ped back; while Mrs. Harrow composed
herself in her seat with IN amused look
on her face, wondering whether the man
really had begun to take an interest in
dry goods, or whether it was only little
bit of flattery. But then, a dozen times
on her way home. she saw his lips form
the word garnet, as though he was trying
to learn it.
The Scotch gardener was amongst the
newly planted beds when she drove up,
and gave utterance to his usual thanks
giving that mistress was ma rim ava wi
yet" and Betsey appeared to take the
umbrella with the same sentiment ex-
pressed in all her movements; but for
once Hawker took no notice of either OF
them. His mind was evidently full of
something else--for with his eyes fixed
on vacancy, he kept repeating over and
over again, garnet, garnet, garnet color. "
Mrs. Harrow ran into her husbands
study with light step, proud of the sue
cess of her embassy.
"What do you suppose Mr.. Hough
gave?"
Nothing?n queried the minister:
"Guess again"
Give dollars?"
"No."
"One?"
"Twenty, James. Lookm and Mrs.
Harrow's hand was plunged into her
pocket; lightly at first, then deeply and
eagerly, as hands grope in pockets which
are empty of what should be there. Her
face turned pale, and she sat down seem
ing faint and i'll. "rm sure put it in
my portmonnaie, and put it in my pocket,
she said. I'm sure of that. ] mnst have
droppedi it in the carriage or on the stairs.
And she few out of the room and down
stairs, examining every inch ofthe ground