Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1872-02-27

began to do Ellen injustice in my thought.
| said: After all, she has not SO much
heart; no woman who loved a man pas
sionaleIy could look on unmoved and see
him absorbed in another"
How little | knew Toward spring
Ellen suddenly began to looI; very III.
She lost color aud strength. and "A slight
cough which she had had all winter be-
balne very severe. Her husband was
alarmed We ali were distressed Our
old family physician. DR.. Willis. changed
color when he felt Ellen's pulse, and said
involuntarily
"Aiy dear child. how long have you
had such II fever as this ?"
Ellen changed color, too. under his
steady look, and replied:
II think, doctor. have had little fe-
yer for some time. have not felt really
well since the autumn, and have been
meaning for some time To have long
consultation with you. But we will not
have it now" she added playiully, Il
have n great deal 10 toll you which these
good people are not TO hear. We will
talk it over some other time.' and she
looked at him so meaningly that he un-
der,tood that the subject must be
dropped.
That night she told NE that she wished
me to propose TO John to 90 over with
me and spend the evening at Mrs. Longs {;
that she had sent Tor Dir. Willis. and che
wished to have u long talk with him with.
out John kno wing it.
Dear said hastily. IL will not 90
10 Mrs Longs with John. hate Mrs.
Long"
"Why, Sally. what do YOU mean
never heard YOU sd unjust. Emma IS one
of the very sweetest women ever saw
in my life. How can you say such Il
.hing, Everybody loves and admires
her. Don't 90 ii you feel so. | never
dreamed that YOU disliked her. But |
thought John would be less likely to sus-
pect me oi any desire to have him away,
If YOU proposed going there; and | must
have him out OF the house. cannot
talk with the doctor il he is under the
looi" She said these last words with an
excited emphasis sO unlike her usual
manner that il frightened me But |
thought only OF her physical state; |
feared that she suspected the existence OF
some terrible disease.
| went with John to Mrs. Longs, ~
most Immediately after tea. He accept
ed the proposal with unconcealcd delight /;
and wondered ii Ellen observed the
very nonchalant way in which he replied
when she said she did not ieel well
enough to go. lie already liked better to
see Mrs. Long without his wife's pres.
ence. cordial and unembarra.sed as her
manner always was. His secret con.
seriousness was always disturbed by it.
When we reached Mrs. Longs house,
we learned that she had gone out TO din.
nrr Johns lace became dark with the
disappointment, aud quite forgetting
himself. he exclaimed: "Why, what does
that meang She did not tell me she WAS
going
The servant stared but made no reply.
| was confused and indignant; but John
went on: 1--WE will come in and wait.
am sure it is some very informal dinner,
and Mrs. Long will soon lie ut home >
made no rcmonstrance, knowing that
il might annoy and disturb Ellen to have
Us return. John threw himself into u
chair in front Of the fire, and looked
mondily into The Goals, making no at
tempt nj conversation. / took rpa book
Very soon John rose, samtered abstract
edly about the room, took up Mrs. Long 3
work basket and examined every article
in IL. and at last sat down before her little
writing desk, which stood open. Pres.
enty saw that he was writing. More
than an hour passed. | pretended to
read; but watched my brother-in laws
tace. could not mistake its language.
Suddenly there came low cry OF delight
from the door. "Why, John "
Mrs Long had entered the house by a
side. door, and having met no servant be-
tore reaching the drawing room, was un'
prepared Tor finding any one there. From
the door she could sec John, but could
not see me, except in the long mirror, to
which she did not raise her eyes, but in
which saw her swift movement, her out
stretched hands, her look of unspeakable
oladness. In less than q second she had
seen me, and with no perceptible change
of manner had come rapidly toward me,
holding ont her left hand familiarly to
him as she passed him. Emma Long
was not d hypocrite, but she had an al
most superhumau power of acting. 1t
was all lost upon me, however on that
occasion. | observed the quick motion
with which John thrust into a. compart'
mcnt Of the desk, the sheet on which ne
had been writing; observed her face l
observed his; and knew as had never
fully known before how intensely they
loved each other.
NY resolution was taken. Cost what
it might. come what might, | would speak
fully and frankly to my sister the next
day. | would not longer stand by and
see this thing 60 on. At that moment
hated both John Gray and Emma Long.