Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1872-07-16

steps had vanished-yet she turned to
the Judge gayer than usual when he
spoke.
"ls the disease so very desperate ?" he
asked, drawing little nearer the WIN
dow, out of which the young girl would
willingly have gone TO have escaped
from him. "ls il so very desperate, Miss
Kitty, rs to call for such unremitting at.
iention from our young doctorp Has the
heart been sounded ? Are the pulse.
evcns You see. have little skill in
these matters, and may ask what may be
The trouble theroabout."
Justification, il anything, Judge Hare,
hardening OF course
"Oh no! that would be dreadful at
your agel | am more afraid for you OF
the love in cottage teyer-it begins
with dews and damps. and ends in con.
sumption, or worse, dear Miss Kitty"
Il think could live through it," said
The young lady, consciously. You be.
ieve in the sentiment, you know. az well
~ do There is nothing so sweet in
life as loves young dream! vines. love,
and shtubbely might make The cottage
bearable."
!All worry iahcilul, my dear Miss Kitty
but very inconvenienl Then suppose
the cottage WAS not paid lor. and few com
forts in it. | never could respect the lover
who tempted you to such home"
A flush spread over the girls face
She remarked quietly. "How fearfully
worldly wise you are, Judge! wonder
ii you ever had your day OF loves young
dream. and vine clad cottage, and il you
now could tell me il was all failure ~
Tho Judge was uncomfortable; there
were too many suggestions following
such All inquiry.
Lille. my dear girl" he said. "has
many experiences. and have learned
that we cannot live on moonlight, nor on
love only. Excuse me-" he added. u
certain degree OF boyish awkwardness
disturbing the GrandSonian manner with
which he would have taken, but did nol /,
the neat little hand within his own "Ex-
cuse mo, but listen while state the case
TO you" lie began like Judge, very
wisely. brought many nicely arranged
argument againrt this love in cottage
SET forth the advantages of an establish.
ed position.
There WAS pause. The Judge drew
a deep breath In the girls heart was a
struggle; she could stop him with word
stay the confession trembling on tho
proud mans lips. or hear him out, and
give him ever more the memory of u
humiliation.
II was no desire tor personal triumph,
no wish to test her power over him, yet
she held her peace.
He hurried on--wisdom, dignity. alike
forgotten in almost boyish fervor. as il
the earnestness with which years ago he
should. hut did not, have told his love TO
the mother had been acculnulaling in in.
tenSi,y for the daughters ear; he p.oad.
ed his cause faithfully-no jury over
heard such summing up.
|. was strange experience for Kitty.
Sne hsd hard work to keep back her tears.
for Kitty was no firt
II have done wrong" she said hnmbly.
",o listen to you; should have spared
myself and you this pain; | thank you
kindly for your regard, but forgive me,
have promised my heart and hand to the
young doctor-I am doomed 10 try, at
least, love in cottage. should have
told you earlier in the evening of this.
''Yes, you should have spared me this
confession" said the Judge. coloring.-'
There was strong reaction already in
his thoughts, and his eyes opened TO a
more just estimate of his folly. ut would
have been more honorable, Miss Sea-
worth. to have understood me earlier"
There was some embarrassment be-
tween the two. then the Judge said. "OI
course, if you had told me earlier
should have spared myself and you these
idle words; they were honestly felt and
truthfully uttered. intended for your ear
alone; and rs true woman, Miss Kitty.
l shall depend upon your honor not to
mention this little contre temp,s TO any
one. and we two will forget it as quickly
as possible !"
81 give you my promise, Judge Hare.
to speak of this evening to no one but
my mother; am as sorry for the mistake
as you can be-"
"You could not confde the story to a
more generous friend" said the Judge,
thoughtfully, still thinking only of him
self. "Your mother is an old friend OF
mine; l can safely trust my mistakes
with her. Now. my dear Kitty" he said,
taking her hand as he rose to depart,
"iorgiyc me that have kept from his
rightful place in this window. your young
friend; and that have sent you among
the curtains to get rid of me! l believe
that have lost the spell to lady's heart,
and that my days of love.making are
over. can only wish you tho happiness
OF thousand honsymoons, without fe'
yer. chill or change. Give the old man
a kindly place in your young heart, and
may you always bo lovely. Good night
The Judge took his homeward way in.
TO the shadow of the elms, as the doctor
l.. Il