Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1872-08-27

miles and miles. and sat in the dear oil
parlor. | smelt the honeysuckles ana
the yeraniums, and SAW the iucchias all
glo ing and scarlet, and heard The soit
pattsr OF the rain that she told me about.
against the window, aud islt old TOMS
black. alnos, shapslcss body. rubbing
against my knee i'm iact. | wa. sl
home. One item in her letter surprised
ME little. 1t was this:
You will. perhaps. be as.unished that
| | have Il companion-a pale, pretty little
woman. about twenty three years old.
Mrs. Morrison told me about her 1t
would be real act vi charity TO "ilvr the
poor creature home. she said when she
came over tor one of her long CHATS,
Then s1e gave me "A bit ol her history
/ Tn. girl was married two years ago. an,l
/ lnr Il year past had beon deserted by her
/ husband. She lost her little child. aud
nu Tho eve OF returning home, heard that
her mother had died suddenly OF ma
ligusnl lever. She has very lill.
property. no, enough TO keep her, and is
in delicate health. 'You.know how much
MISS Molly" CHATS nay Youngest
,lamghter.) "sinee she married, snri some
Nay irIt my heart warm TO this desolate
girl. SO ! said she might come. She
came, and I'm glad of 1t. She's not over
prstty-but there's sweet expression
that quite enchants me. llsr voies is
musical. and as | lislou To her halt
fancy thai have Molly back again. |
hope you will approve "I "hst | have
done. lGod bless her. WHOM did she ~ ~
10 ANY thing didn't approve "l"r
AN confident that, in giving a home l."
her. have taken All angel Ia our hearth
-tomu. unawxrcs. Horace is still away.
shootIng-is his vacation not over long ?"
There. that's what surprised me little.
and Was somewhat annoyed at the long
stay ol my boy, Tor he WAS 10 have bseu
NJ home week before. But | thought
Horace had SO few faults that must
overlook his protacted visit. lie has
doubtless found new friends from whom
il is hard TO tear himsolf away.
Well, business was despatched in few
days. and was Oh my way home. |
don't think there was ever happier
heart than mine when saw The first
glimpse of my own house. 1t was al
ways so. Daily the same JOY was re-
peated-for my fircsido WAS happy one.
found my old wife rs blooming and rs
radiant rs ever. for age could never stale
her charms. in my eyes; and saw and
approved OF her companion, Poor girl!
il she did not look downright melancholy,
there was an expression in her soft dark
eye that touched my old heart, and
felt at once like father towards her
What! Horace no, home yet ?"
cried |.
"NO," my wife returned. smiling. 1
hear there are lions up there"
''Of course. of courc. but you don't
think the boy will bring home wifcP"
No-my good Susan thought no such
thing She WAS not sure. however. but
he might be talking OF it.
Let him talk" said |. ale sha'n'i
be lhwarted: only hope he'll make "
good choice"
iiaraoc came home The mex, day.
Was so glah To see him, and felt myself
taller, aud brnveT, and better ns he stood
by my side, ! glorled in my straight.
hsndsome boy. aud thought, God forgive
me, that he was perfect. My old heart
expanded with love aud pride. but pride
WAS predominant
/ That same afternoon we were talking
OF Horace. and the pale companion sa.
by the side Of my wife. shall never
iorget how she looked. rs tho sun stream
ed in aud laid across her golden hair.
banded so smooth and shining on each
side of her forehead how pure and
spotls.s she seemed 10 me. thought if
Horace gets wife MS sweet and sensible,
aud modest us this little woman seems TO
be, and not one of those Haunting. loud,
fashionable bolles, how glad should be
AT that moment the girl-she seemed
scarcely more than girl to me. took
from its shelf photograph album, and
slowly turned over its pages.
had just turned to speak to my wife.
whom | heard fall. We both sprang up.
There lay poor Nellie. as We had learned
to call her. Ike dead woman on the
floor. She had tainted away, and the
album was under her hand.
Susan had the poor creature up stairs,
and tended her Tor two days like Il
mother.
IL can't make il OUT" she would say,
in puzzled manner. 1.-THE poor child
won't speak-except to answer yes or
no--And she seems to avoid me-"
"Wsll. il she wont speak, Horace has
spoken" said l, eagerly, for wanted to
tell the news. 81 think Horace is caught
and viii soon bring you home a daugh.
ter, SO you will not need this sickly COM
panion, for must say it is not pleasant
to have women about who faint away at
The slightest provocation."
Don't talk SO, john" said Susan, and
then together We spoke OF our son and
his prospects; but there was cloud up
on my wifeg brow, and strange fore
! boiing in nv own heart