Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-08-26

mother.
took it and glanced at Mr.. Deane.
He sat by the open window reading one
sheet of his letter with a knit brow, while
the other lay beside him. Suddenly n
light breeze whirled it out into the flower
plot, and ran out to get II. 1t had not
occurred to ME to be curious about the
letter, and nothing was fart her from my
thoughts than to read even the date OF it /;
but the writing was large and plain, and
rs stopped to pick il up, the first words
were burned into my mind like letters of
fire.
MY own dear husband Surely it
should have been nothing to mo that Mr..
Dcane's vile had written 10 him; but
voc is me! the fact Of his having wife
ut all was like death blow TO me--likc
the instant before drowning when one
sees ut a glance the whole of ones life.
gave him tho letter without looking
at him, and went up to my room.
Doubtless this was the dear Nary 10
whom had written that first letter from
his dictation, and had foolishly taken it
for granted that she was his sister. He
had never spoken Of her; but married
people are always mysterious, and her
price might be far above rubics ncverthe-
less. He had done nothing to make her
jealous. Once he had taken my hand and
touched it with his lips; and all the rest
OF the foundation OF my castle in the air
lay in looks more or less expressed.
But the love it appears was all on my
side. He was idle and grateful, that was
all.
would 60 away at once, no matter
where. Mr.. Deane was so far recovered
that my grandmother could easily attend
to all wants, and hc could soon return to
his own place. 1t would be something 10
re remember. if nothing more.
Then read my own letter, and in it
was my hope Of escape.
Aunt Rachel wrote to say that 'shc was
at deaths door with neuralgia, and would
come to help her with the children she
saw that door rs often in her own account
of her suffcring' that familiarity with it
had rather hardened my heart toward
Aunt Rachel but now was ready 10 lay
all the stress on her letter which it would
bear.
What will Mr.. Deane say to your go
ing away, said my grandmother. when |
had impressed on her mind my duty to
Aunt Rachel.
i don't care what he says
Lori said my grandmother, with a
look which implied twohours' speech
at least
That letter was from his wife, said,
hooking anywhere but at her.
She never answered void, but just
kissed me on both eyes, and stroked my
hair tenderly for n minute or two. Then
we parted for the night, and went away
in the morning before Mr.. Deane was up.
Aunt K. chel was out Of sight OF deaths
door long before | reached her, rs | had
confidently supposed she would be; but
she welcomed me heartily, and the kisses
OF the children soothed somewhat the
sore spot in my heart.
For the next three days the activity Of
the busy bee,' compared with mine. Ii
there were any gifts Of healing in mere
work, was determined TO have them out
OF it; but the image Of Mr.. Deane was
ever in my minds eye, and. as people
say who have not been to the Normal
got no better very fast
Last of all | went hucklcberrying with
the children and picked as for my life.
There's a strange man coming across
the licld,' said one of them.
looked up after II minute, and took
Mr.. Dcanc's offered hand.
'Ifyou teach school as you pick berries
your fortune will soon be madc,' he said.
with the glad look in his eyes which
seemed TO Danish that dreadful wife Of
his TO the uttermost parts of the earth.
How did YOU find mc?'
BY my wits. chiefly. Your grand
mother was rs mysterious over your de-
parture rs if you had gone into con.
vent; but when told her had good
news for you, she relcnted and gave me
the clue to your hiding place
And Aunt Rachel directed you here"
Precisely
What is your good news9'
Il have heard of school that you can
have for the asking
lam exceedingly obliged to YOU
Its private school, and very small,
but it has the reputation of being difficult
to manage; and from all that l know OF
you, have concluded that you will be
the right person. Will you undertake
it?'
Yes, if you are sure of my fitness
Il haven't n doubt Of it. / said the
school is small-il has, in fact, but one
scholar, aged thirty two, and his name is
John Jacob Deanc.'
If said anything or committed myself
in any way for some minutes after this
astounding speech, I have entirely for
gotten it.
'And that letter-'I found myself say
ing after while.
.tn e. 49,. .:.ta. L. La. l,,nha nd