Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1872-07-09
Stlett Storp.
An UNEXPECTED POSSESSION,

1t WAS csry pleasant lazy. ca"
;n,table attitude. Auniv AtSn,"' leaned
hack IA the cushioned scat of the ,',ii =,
coach. half awake Jud halt asleep --toal
iag Sic Nas tired r.tr,SfcciiC,h f; >fc
remembered, wiin ,,sh ct rcIiri, al "a
past mouth, ct CHRONIC h,igus, "h.U
she could not rest. and thought ot il'n."
betue her. whrn she would have nothing
,,>a lu do For Annie was school
teacher. goln. home lo! the three month.
vacation. Going home l. Ihero n
phrase in Any tongue hat has q swccier
sound than ihat9
But one mere station remained brt"ru
they reached Dcutonville. where she
would t.kv whateN conVi vance the
humbls village afforded TOT The icw miles
,,,., dividing her from her own heath-
>Isne And thinking of this, leaning
hnck SO languidly. her smile frightened,
such n Sunshiny air OF calm happiness
ditiused itself over her face, that the
elderly gentleman opposite her gave "p
~ ing to read his paper, and read her
bright looks instead.
They had been travelling companions
during three days n0w-Annie and this
handsome elderly gentleman; and Mr..
Morris. for go he had informed her his
name was, had been extremely and very
unobirusively polite. lie had gone Tor
drinks OF water for her. had brought her
cups of hot coffee when the train stopped.
helped her 10 reckon latitude and lOngi-
tude when they changed cars, and, gen
orally had made himself useful and
agIcsable. And Annie hal lhapkeJ
him. and thought him very nice anu
polite. But q 81! Creatures beneath the
sun. he WAS perhaps the last in her
thoughts, while he sat gazing at her, and
,he dreami.y watched tho flight ol
meadow aud cornheld. and thought oil
dear old mother and father. and Kitty
married since Annie left home oi Jack
and Arthur, nearly grown now, II
wonder il they have got moustaches yeti"
though, Annie; aad at that her smile
lrepensd s0, that il was almost little
lsugh,
'Oh dear OH dear" moaned now Il
weary thin SickiSA voice behind her.
What ertr shall do! Where can John
have gone to-" Then Il sigh as deep and
real. and so far from being q sigh OF re-
lisi, like Annie's.
Annie halt turned. and saw pale wo-
man who looked tired. and whose eyes
were red. ss if she had been crying, OF
suffered from loss OF sleep. clasping in
her arms sleeping child, which, though
aE inlsnl. seemed much too heavy Tor
the weak looking woman 10 hold.
There was SO much genuine sympathy
in the young lady's lace, that the woman
needed little further encouragement To
pour forth the story OF her woes, which
though trivial. were real and harasSing.
She had been travelling four days and
nights. holding this baby all the time,
though she was far from well To- begin
with. John. = younger brother OF hers
was travelling with her. she said. but
could not help her much with the baby,
which, conscious of peculiarities oi
treatment. began to scream ii he touch
cd il. John had bottle OF medicine in
his pocket, which the poor lady wanted /;
Tor the baby-sick too, it secmed-need
ed it.
but the little thing sleeps quietly
now, does it note" Annie asked gently,
looking with real interest at the sweet.
intent baby lace. flushed. round and red.
in strange contrast with its mothers
pallor.
"She's had her nap out-abOut-miss.
said the woman, wcarily. "And l shall
want to give her the medicine as soon as
she wakes. Dear me! do wish John
would come" At this point the elderly
gentleman interposed; he could not help
hearing, because the tired woman. whose
name was Mrs. Cadwallader, did not
possess that excellent thing in woman,
voice ever soft, gentle and low.
II will 60 in search OF your brother,
mallam,a said he politely, and | am sadly
afraid this humanity was more for the
sake OF Annie Alkinson's sympathetic
eyes, than for Mrs. Cadwallor's-''l will
go with pleasure, il you will tell Inc his
name"
His name is Jonathan Edwards
Harrison, sir" Mrs. Cadwallader replied,
gratefully, but with needless partieulari-