Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-02-03

| 1flcltus nut Sucn l)DkS ot SAL sympathy
rs strangers might give and receive
abnve bier. and then Hepscy, who was
uecdel no longer, went away, with her
heart full of wounded love and proud re-
gret.
This was twelve years ago. She had
never seen him since. And now they
would meet agiin Well, what cared
she? When a past event is dead and
buried, why should its ghost walk There
is always enough to do and bear in the
living present. For instance, at this very
moment, she ought TO be thinking ont
the plot of new story, for Miss lIepscy's
flcilc pen was all sue could depend upon
for the winning Of her daily bicad.
Before the ears stopped ut Portland
long enough before-shc had quite re-
covered her equipoisc and made her en-.
trance at Doctor Ponds with her usual
gentle self possession.
Il am so glad" said Mrs. Pond cordial
ly. after The first greetings were over, so
very glaI you have come ia season for
my little social supper TO morrow! | WAS
afraid Aunt Magurcs cold might dctan
you n lay or two; and your old friend,
Mr Stacl;pole, is To be here
Mr., Siackpolc again? Hepscy was
glad tho name had been spoken 50 many
times that day that the sirangcncss vas
wearing of.
"lIc drops in quite frequently weat
on guileiess Mrs. Pond, adjusting he,
Eyeglasses. lie and the doctor are
great friends; but ii You will believe me,
| never knew till last night that you and
he hal ever met. | was speaking incl
dcntally of eXpcctiiga visit from you,
and then turned around to him, and
said | Why dear me. Mr.. Stackpolc,
yon used u live in Ppo'eville You mus
remember IIcpscJ Dillon p "Cor;anly |
do; We were old schoolmitc5.' sail he.
Aud then when went on to speak oi
yom literary success-you know am
proud OF you, Ilcp>ey-hc seemed to
know all about it and rciocc in it as
much as do"
"lnlccd" :" replied Hrpscy family.
Yes" rctutnrl Mrs Pond. Aud
Mr. Saekpolc H. u min of such excellent
taste that YOU lnishitalc his good opiniun
Is compliment Though, aS lor that,
compliments are no new thing for you,'
pursued Mrs. Pond. to whom an author
was IN object OF peculiar Interest. Even
lIcpsey's faded alpaca held for hol u Ger.
tain charm. icsIilying in lis silent way to
the superiority OF mind over m tier.
And lIcpSey. though usually very shy
AMI sensitive on the subject of her literary
career. was very glad ai That mumont Of
any diversion from The inevitable Mr.
SlackpGle. who started up at every turn
like a Jumping jack. s. she joined in
long gossip about authors aud art till
Mrs. Pond, versatile mind ,prang oil up
on yes, for the next days baking. and
she dtrtcd away Ia look alter the cook
lnl the ,tnrcrupm.
The next evening li-pscy came into the
long, bright plrlor. dressed in her best
black silk, much enduring garment that
had been turned and stiilencd with gin
but then black silks, like dead mon, tell
no lalcs-iud She looked very sweet and
attractive with her fresh blue ribbons and
her peaceful face.
Mr.. Stackprle thought so when he
came in late in the evening. After Il
lew words w ith the hostess, he slipped
into a shadowy corner, and looked eager.
ly orcr the room until he saS Miss Hep.
sey in a deep window little aside
Then he stood gazing at her face as
though he wished to read all that the past
long years had printed on it. There was
u yearning look in his eyes, and look
of long hunger, satisfied ut last
Presently Miss lIepscy'. eyes, drawn
perhaps by the magnetism Of his, turned
toward Mr.. Stackpolc's Corner and fell
upon the remembered face instantly
The flame, long buried and smouldcling
in hcl heat, ieapcd up into lie again,
burning at her cheeks and choking her
breath.
Poor IIepscY. She did not understand
that it was Mr.. Slackpolc's glance oi
earnest love that had stirred the old
pleasure and the old pain; she blamed
her own heart FOR it all
Iiepsibah Dillon said she to herself
severely, this won't do thought you
could be ru,tcd TO meet thai man. ii
YOU are turning rs weak rs cobweb, 20
away
And 90 she did.
When Mr.. Stackpolc, as soon as he
could without ruleness. Had made his
way across the crowded room, where
every body insisted on speaking TO him,
and had come to the window-niche, ho
fJund only the curtain there, with the
marks Of IIcpscy's trcinulous fingers up
on its white folds 1t was too tartsliz
ing.
H will. must see her." said he, and
ru shed back to Mrs. Pond, who stood i'll
smiling state, fluitering her Chinese fan,
as she put some stranger at ease in her
great-hca:ted. molherly way keeping nj
the same lime an eye and car on the
whole company, ready 10 prevent, with