Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1872-03-05

there ii another reason, and here hsr
voice grew very unsteady, and tears ran
down her cheeks.
"in spite Of all my faith, do not dis
guise from myself the possibility OF the
worst. cannot believe my husband
would ever do dishonorable thing
do not believe tha, Emma Loag would.
And yet. hen | remember what ruin
has ovcrtsken many men and women
whom we believed upright, dare not
he wholly sure. Aud must know that
same one is here who would see ami un-
dclstand il time were approaching AT
which il would be needlul for meto make
one last effort with aud tor my husband
lace 10 face with him. Unless that
comes, DO ne, wish you To alIudc To the
subject in your letters. think | know
just how all things will 60. | believe
that in ono year. or less. all will be well
But if the worst is 10 come, you with
Your instincts will luresee it, and | must
he told. | should return then at once.
| should have power, even ut tho last
moment, to save John from disgrace.
But | should lose his love irrecoversbly
it to save hm that go"
could say but lew woldS was lift
al up and h"tn out al myself. as il
Wcrr. hy my sisters exallalion OF at
moSpherc She seemed more like some
angel vile than like mortal woman.
Before left her room L, neon, | believed
almost rs fully as she did in the wisdom
aud The success OF her plan
Thers was no time 10 he lost. Every
d.y between the announcement ot her
purpose and the carrying il out. would
CO fearful strain on ElIen's nerves,
DR.. Willis had i long talk with John in
bis Office while Ellen was talking with
me. John came home To dinner looking
like mau who had received mortal
blow. DR.. Willis had purposly given
him 10 understand that Elen's life was IN
great danger. So il was. but not from
the cough At iiIst johns yehemen'
purpose was TO go with Them. But she
prepared for this His business and OIL
Iicial relations we're such hat it wal
neNt To Imposs bic tor him TO do it. ant
would at bort involve tremendous
pecuniary sacrifice She oveIruled and
demonstrated and WAS 50 finn in her ol-
jections 10 every suggestion II his oI ac'
companying or following her, that iinal'
ly. in spite of all his anxiety. John seem
ed piqued at her preference Tor going
alone, IN every conversation on the
subject saw more and more clearly thai
Ellen was right. He did love her-loyt
her warmly, derotedIy,
Two weeks from the day OF my con
yorsation with her they sailed for Liver.
pool. The summer was TO nc spent il
tone.
Alice. the eldest daughter. loving
sunshlny girl ol twelve, WAS installed it
her mothers room. This was Elenfs es
pecial wish. She knew that in this way
John would bc drawn TO the room con
stanlly. All her o~n little belonging.
were given to Alice.
"Only think. Auntie." said she, imam
ma has given me, all for my own. he
lovely toilette set, and all the Bohemian
glass on tho bureau, aud her ivory brush
es She says when she comes home sht
shall reiurnish her room and papa's too !!
Oh, my wise Ellen. Could Emm,
Long have done more subtiy
Early on the first evening after Johr
returned from New York, having seer
them of, missed him. said bilterl,
to myself. AT Mrs Longs | suppose,
and went up stairs 10 find Alice As
drow near her room | heard his voice
reading aloud. | went in. He and Al
ice were lying together on broad chntz
covered lounge. as had often seen hin
and Ellen.
"Oh. Auntie, come here" said Alice
"hear mammals letter to me She CAV,
it TO papa in New York. She says il i!
like The called orders they give to cap
tains sometimes, not to be opened i'll
they are out at sea. is all about how
am to fill her place 10 papa, And ther,
are ever so many little notes inside
more orders, which even papa himself i:
not to see! only suppose he'll llrecogniz,
the things when do them! :"
At that moment, as | watched Johr
Gray's face, with Aice's nestled close,
and his arms clasped tight around her
while they had Ellen's letter, greal
load rolled off my heart, went through
many dark days uterward, but | never
could quite despair when remembered
the fathcrhood and husbandhood which
were in his eyes and his volce that night
The story Of the next twelve months
could be told in few words, so far as lis
external incidents are concerned Ii
could not be told in thousand volumes,
il attempted TO reproduce the subtle
undercurrenls OF John Gray's life and
mind.
Each OF us was living double life
he more or less unconsciously | with
such sharpencd senses, such over
wrought emotions, that | only wonder
that my health did not give way. | en-.
dured vicariously all the suspense and
torment of the deepest jealousy, with II