Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-01-22

Invent there one summer afternoon,
when WAS tired with school duties Miss
Faith was not in the parlor. and sat
down to wait for her. Presently. Fanny
came in, bringing dish OF flowers.
''0h, i,'s you, Miss Fletcher she said.
Miss l.angly told me TO ask you to stay
the night If YOU came. Mrs. Walls sick. =
"Sick'" said |. What is it'"
IL don't know" replied Fanny. Like
she always i. She's Leen pretty bad for
n week"
So | took a solitary supper, then went
back to the parlor and sat down alone To
watch the twilight, thinking, with strange
sense Of wonder, how the dark was grow
ing. and life was growing, the one into
night. the other into light.
/ passed A lonely evening The clock
was striking ten. and was getting tired
of moonlight and rcyeric. when heard
steps on the stairs. and Miss Faith came
in. The light Of the candle she held,
showed her face paler than usual. and a
slight panied contraction of the bro"s.
Marian" she said, speaking rapidly.
withou, any greeting. Il think Mrs. Wall
j. diving. Are YOU afraid Of death2 Can
YOU star with her ten minutes alonc''
/ shiycrrd with the chill the thought of
death brings.
Where are YOU going'~ faltcred.
TO 10 little request Of hers"
I follow cd her without more hesitation
Don't wonder At anything. she said.
hastily. Only bc passive, and humor
her
/ Mrs Wall was sitting in the bed, prop
ped by pillows. looking clfe-likc with her
streaming grey hair and wild oycs Wa
ter and wine were on table beside her,
and = pale candle fickcrcd from the bu
rcsu bcyond
! Nv cyc went over these details A> "n
tered. then Was Immediately fascinated
/ hv a po,rai, hanging on the opposite wall
the face of = man of twenty i've, full ot
singular and naughty beauty, like Mr.
( Wall. vet strangely unlike her; wonder
/ ful eve. that seemed a> if'hey would haunt
one forever. an expression that attracted
and rrpcllcd half unranny half bcauii
/ hl.
Mrs. Walls restless glance followed
minr to ia" pirturr.
"Ah. Miss Fletcher" she said. Faith
sen, voa. didn't She Ms son James. Mise
Flctchcr-you'Vc never met him, have
youo suppose Filth wanted YOU for =
witness. Shc'- gone - ct ready for the
wedding she went once lctorr. rrncm
her. but something happened what Wa
il. Nil. Fletcher"
Something" said, bcW Wilderrdly.-
ASK Mis-, Faith when she comes
lr.. SAID Mr. Wall ''ttlth II
know. Faith II know. ], made me III
then | shall be we'll again when they 're
married I'm tired now-so tired,
She fcll hack ON the pillows, and held
the wine to her lips and famed her. Eff
teen minutes ,hc lv thus. ,carrrly seem
ing "a breathe. while sat beside her IN Il
-or, of terror. afraid TO look nj the portrait
opposite me. afraid of the whisper and
star OF the night wind; then the door
opened again and Miss Faith entered.
She WA. dressed in heavy white silk
,ha, shimmerrd in the lamP-light and
hung in rich fold about her white lace
veil was flung over her heal and confined
by a string oi pearl. the line. ni her face
were ,ternll ngid. and her cheeks were
" hitter than the dress.
"Ah. you have come back said Mrs.
Wall. with little spark of returning an
imation. How beautiful YOU are, Faith
hui - pale and cold Your chreks were
like the roses before, and your eyes so
b.ight-,ut then IL, years and years
She sank down again. and her breath
came heavily.
Hiss me, Faith ,hc said. family. al
ter a pause, "and then 90. You viii be
my own daughter now-my darling; and
We shall be happy after all.
2 l. - Mi "a
this. and she lay motionlcss and pallid.-
Miss Faith sat down beside her and chafed
the cold hands. while crept softly away
Ia the window. The breeze stole IN,
stirring Miss Faiths tilmy veil rs she
leaned forward with the same fixed face,
and tanning my flushed cheek a ! leaned
on the sill.
We >at there for time that seemed an
age. The figure on the bed never moved.
| heard the clock strike twelve.
Don't stay" Miss Faith said, softly.
Il AIN not afraid to he alone"
But kept INV place and said nothing
more. The night hours went OH. \ faint
grey WAS in the east when the feeble voice
murmured again, $50 happy" and the lips
nut on a smile and closed forever.
Then the watcher laid the hand back
reyerently. aud, hiding her face, burst in
la tears.
Dear Miss Faith" cried. kneeling at
her side. don't weep for her. I'm sure
il j. better so,r
Yes" said Miss Faith. simply and
sadly. lifting her face again; "a great
deal better The tears were for this side
OF DEATH
They were falling thichly, while she