Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-10-03

she sobbod. "He was so free and glad
and happy up in the Iree.tops. Put his
pretty wings in my hat No, indeed, he
shan't be robbed OF 4 single bright feath-
or am going TO bury him just as he
is, out under some beautiful tree"
Berl colorcd, and Kate exclaimed,
Well " as Rite stopped crying and walk
ed OF, carrying the bird in her hands.
ia, child" called Aunt Rebbie alter
her, "it aint so bad rs if it were robin.
Those pesky blackbirds eat the corn up
as fast as it grows "
Bert followed Rite silently, looking
like the knight of the rneiul countenance,
and | imagine he made his peace with
her, and helped her dig the blackbird's
grave for when they came back the in
dignation had died out of her honest
young eyes.
| was amused when Bert sought me
out the next morning with sort of ea.
ger interest. and told me that Rite was
really one of The brightest little things
that ever lived.
"She's sitting out on the doorstep
now" he said, drawing amap of Greece
for school exercise, and it's regular
gem. Do come and sec her, Mrs. Hath.
away
| told him, with m air Of superior
knowledge, that waa aware OF it all,
and that il he would look through her
atlas he would find it II perfect PORTFOLIO
oil sketches and bits OF designs more
charming than maps. "IIcr father was
an artist you know" concluded Away
he wen, at once to take possession of the
atlas, and | followed, well pleased TO see
my little comrudc get appreciation.
She took it very quietly-hiS delight
over her slight pencil sketches: studies
Of old stumps, bits of gray wall, lichens,
bough with birds nest. a clump of
violcts. Suddenly. rs he turned over the
leaves, he came 10 something that made
him ,ta,l aud change color. IIo looked
up in n dazed sort OF way.
whats the matter, Bcrt?" asked
"Oh. nothing he said, drawing n
long breath "only feel just rs if some
one had struck me i'm the face Did YOU
draw this, Rite ?"
Yes" she said, simply. | looked
over his shoulder and saw ON the paper
nc held out the first rough design of the
monogram Kalc Dcvine had given him
less elaborate, but the same dainty fancy.
Then perhaps you drew this, too, p
he remarked, taking the cherished mon
ogram from his note book.
Yes" said Rite.
Miss Dcyine, ,impelled by merciless fate,
came strolling toward us just Mt that mo
menl in one OF her prettiest morning
dresses, her hands full of honey sucklc
blossoms.
"Ah, what have we here ?" she asked,
lightly, as she joined Us.
"Oh u host of pretty things-and-
monograms !" said Bert, looking her
full in the .acc. with Id briliancc in
his eyes.
She saw what he m cant, latered tried
to laugh carelcssly, but failed and then,
with some half uttered word of apology
or explanation. turned and lett us, glid-
ing away over The green grass again,
dropping honeysuckles as she went.
All, how the wheels of life turn round
if we only wait little and watch
A few days thereafter. when | drove
Bert Morley in the light buggy over to
tho station. his vacation being ended
asked him little maliciously, Miss De.
vine has been quite m acquisition to our
society this summer, hasn't che ?"
He looked round ut me with an almost
cOnltll cllUcSlUcSS III ilto udHNISOuiC lNIt
"rye got new idea about some things,
Mrs. Hathaway" he said. I'm coming
back here next summer, and next; and
I'm going to win little Rites love by. and.
by, if | can :"
Then you must make yourself brave
and lofty and noble and like a stainless
knight, said, quoting Rites words
"Remcmber that Bert IN
That's the work have set myself TO
do" he said, gravely; and put faith in
him.
That faith has been fully justified. Bert
Morley is to-day noble man, and n
blessing to the world. And Rob and |
smiled gladly in each others faces when
last evening We received wedding in
vitation, with monogram of dainty de-
sign and curious Intervening. You
could read "Rite" in among the larger
letters, if you looked sharp enough at
each vine, tendril and bud.