Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1872-10-29

Ana so you are bent on this Jolly -
said the bachelor clerk, on. the day pre-.
ceding that on which Adrian was to be
married.
Yes. il you choose to call it folly"
was tho answer
Where are you going?"
I'VE snail 60 nowhere"
"What Not make bridal tourp"
mo. A clerk who only recsiyes n
salary OF t~olvs hundred dollars can't
afford 10 spend Two hundred in making a
bridal tour."
Mr. Blair shrugged his shoulders and
srchcd his eyebrows. rs much as TO say ::
If could not afford a bridal tsur, I'd
not marry"
On The day alter Adrian's wedding, he
WAS ut his usual place in the counting
house. lie received from his fellow
clerks a few feeble congratulations. Most
ofIhem thought him foolIto burden him
self with q wife not worth dollar.
!
when marry, III better my condi-
tion-not make it worse" was the un.
spoken thought ol moro than one.
Where are you boar,liug'" asked Mr..
Blair. indffsrently. two or three week.
after Adrian's marriage.
Nowhere" Was replied. 1--WE are
house Keeping"
What
AT housekeeping"
What is your rent9n
Two hundred dollars. and halt OF that
my wise. good little wife il TO pay IN
music lessons TO our land lady's daush.
teu. We have two pleasant rooms in
good house. furnished these with tho
money il would have taken for the usual
/ bridal tour Rosa has The use OF
The kitchen. and insists on doing
her own cooking and housework for the
present. demurred, and do demur; but
she says that work is worship. il per-
formed conscientiously and dutifully. as
she is performing it. Aud with NIL this,
we are very happy, Mr. Blair. as you
shall witness. Tomorrow you must go
home with mo, take toa, and spend the
evening"
Mr.. Blair accepted the invitation. He
bad met Rosa occasionally before her
marriage, aud knew her TO be bright.
accomplished young woman, fitted to
move in refined and intelligent circles,
and he lelt some curiosity TO see her in
tho nsw position OF mistress aud maid
TO her own household. Tho omnibus
carried the two men long, long way
from tho city's throbbing heart, out 10
the more quiet exterior, where they
alighted and slter short walk, eutersd
4 modest looking house with well-tended
shrubbery in the front garden. Up stairs
they asccndsd, and there the young
wife met them. Not blushing and with
sIammcriug apologies for their poor
home but with such case and self pos
srssioN--with such happy light in her
eyes. and with such loving smiles about
her lips-lhat Mr.. Blair found himself all
al one transferred 10 an earthly para
disc. As soon az time came for observ.
alton, he took note OF what was around
him.
The furniture OF the room into which
he had becn ushered could scarcely have
been palmer In the center stood small
breakfast table covared with snowy
cloth. and sct tor three persons. Four
cane seat chairs. n work.stand. hang
ing. shelf for books, "a mantel ornament
or two OF no special value, an ingram
carpet on the floor. and plain white cur.
tains looped back with blue ribbons
made up the complete inventory. No,
not the complete inventory; for there
WAS piano against the wall, the dark
case and plain style of which showed it
10 be no recent purchase. The instru-
ment had been Rosa'5, as the observant
visitor correctly Inferred.
After a pleasant talk Of some minutes,
Rosa left the room. and not long after
returned bearing tray on which were
tea, toast, butter, biscuit, cold tongue
and swsetmeats. There WAS beauti-
full glow on her face as she entered,
but nothing of shame or hurt pride.
With her own fair hands she arranged
tho table and then took her place at
the head to serve her husband and his
friend.
The heart OF Mr.. Blair glowed and
stirred with new impulse as he look
ed into the pure, sweet, happy face of
the young wife, as she poured the tea
and served the meal which she had
prepared.
After supper, Rosa removed the tea
things, aud was absent nearly half an
hour. She returned through her cham
bsr, which adjoined their little parlor,
breakfast and sitting-room, and looking
as fresh, happy and beautiful AS il en-
tsring drawing room filled with com.
pany. The evening passed in reading,
music and pleasant conversation. AS
Mr. Blair was about retiring, Adrian
said:
do you think now that We were
fools to marrys"
Rosa stood with her hands drawn
within one arm of husbands and clasp
ed, and with face radisntly happy.
A shnnn nrani nRar Az pla;,,a onnnta.