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


But such monolony sas not wholly
good for either al Il,m lie grew more
and more dream, anI iuert. She insen-
sibly but continually narrowed and hard
ened, and, without dreaming ol s"ch Il
thing, really came {" W. ic'S "d less
part oi her husLan l., iunrr liic. Faith
ful. busy. absorbed herself in the cares ol
each day, she neyrr "h-viN,i that he
was living more aui mere IN hi- Guild
rem and hin reverios, sld withdrawing u
little from her. Sire dii not n,.rd cuu.
stant play and inter hangs ui sentiment
AS he did Affectiouatr, !" Al, dcvs;ed
is she was. there wa> i side NJ her hh>-
baud's nature which shr hu'l not seen ol
satiShed-perhap' never could Bu'
ueithrr ui them know it
Al lhls time Mr. Glay wa, offered 4
pr>iiiou ol Importance in the city and II
uscrns necessary lof them 10 m"r,
there To live How rejoiced III III,
Change. How bitterly regretted il
brl,rv tno ,ears had passed
rhcir city home was beautiful ouv,
tuI thvh connections and association.
were such as to surl found them al ruCt
With The most desirable eompauion>hips
Al tir>i il was hard tor Ellen I" rcadjusi
her sysrom of hrir@ an tn accuStom
her..l H. the demands uhh pleasure
oi even moderately soc.al liic Bu'
she Ta> by nature very iund at all sucf
pleasures, and her hons. STU became
one at the plcsslnlrsl rentcr-. Ia II quir'
way, of The comparatively quiet city
John GRAY also expanded and brighirncd
in tho new atmosphere; ho had always
been man ot influence among men,
All his friends. - even his acquaintance,
loved him, and asked his advice. II
Was singular thing that u man inert
and pracrastinating 10 his own affairs,
should bc so shrewd and practical and
influential in the affairs ot others. or in
public affairs. This, however. was no
stranger than many other puzzling in.
congrui,ies in John Gray character.
But since his college days he had never
mingled at NIL in general society unilI
this winter, alter their removal 10 town
and IL was with real delight that watch
ell his evident enjoyment ol people, aud
their evident liking and admiration ioI
him lls manners were singularly
simple aud direct: his face. which WAS
not wholly pleasing in repose. was SUI
perbly handsome when animated i'm con.
versation; it3 inscru.able retioence which
batiicd the kcenest observation when he
was silent, all disappeared and melted III
the glow of cordial guodielowship " hich
lii up every feature when he talked.
grew very proud of my brother rs
watched him in his new sphere and sur
rouudings; aud | also enjoyed most
keenly seeing Ellen in wider aud more
appreciative circle. spent large part
OF the iirs, winter in their house, and
shared all their social pleasures. and
lonAed forward to ever increasing de-
light, as my nisees should grow ole
snrugh 10 enter into society.
Early in the spring went 10 England
and passed the entire aumncr with reln'
,ives; heard from my sister every
week; her letters were always cheerful
and natural, aud returned to her in thC
autumn. full of anticipstions OF another
gay aud pleasant lnscr.
They met me At the wharf in Ne"
York. and remembered afterwards
though in the excitement Of the momen
gave il no second Thought, that whey
John Gray's eyes litst met mine, there
was in them singular and indefinabl'
expression which reused in me an in
stantAneous consciousness ol dlSrus
and anla.onism. lie had never liket
me thoroughly. He had always had al
undercurrent oi lear OF me. He knew
thought him weak: he felt that | ha(
never put full confidence in him. Tha
| really and truly loved him WAS smal
offset for these facts. Would it not be sC
to AL OF usp
This part of my story is best told in
few words. had not been at home on'
week before | found That rumor hat
been FOR some months coupling Johr
Gray's uame with the name OF Mrs. En-
una Long, widow who had but just re
turned 10 -, after twelve years o
married life in Cuba John had knowr
her in her girlhood. but there had never
been any intimacy Or even friendship be
tween them. My sister, however. hat
known her we'll. had corresponded will
her during all her life al the South. aaC
had invited her to her house mediate
ly upon her return TO -. Emm'
Long was singularly fascinating wo'
man. Plain and sharp and seltassertine
at twenty-five. she had become magnetic
aud winning. full OF tact, and almos
beautiful. at thirty five. We soc suci
surprising development continually; j
seems as il nature did her best TO Civ,
every woman one period ol triumph an(
conquest; perhaps only they know it
full sweetness TO whom il comes late
In early youth it is accepted un'hinking
ly as is the sunshine,-enjoyed withou
de.iberalion Of full realization, and onl!
weighed a, its lullness when it is over
Bu, woman who begins at thirty u
RI g.. a., f;r.t Time what IL is TO bay,