Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1872-09-10
awful ending that might have been.

- h"u scot tiat suail never lOFSct,
no, not to my dying day.
"Lottis Hill stood at the window near
her frame. How beautiful picture the
girl made She had trained bit of
Towering vine in one corner of the sash.
which she WAS dusling now, taking of
The dead leaves. The millworks had
stopped for some reason. stood watch.
my LoItie out of my eye when. without
looking that way. saw Ben come in,
saw her turn round. saw him make "a
sign 10 her, at which her face grew ra-
diant Oh, how sick | foli my teeth
came together hard. Then Ben went up
10 her Ioom aud leaned over, and admir-
Ing the vine, said something, his oyos
fixed OH hers. If thare wasn't love, al.
most worship in her face then, there's no
such thing rs love. Her eyes shone like
diamonds. Then he looked round and
slipped something in her hand-a love
note, Of course, and lcft her, smiling to
himself
Thinks l. and that's the way you play
with hearts. Mr.. Ben and when q mo-
ment after he camc round to me, nevsr
looked up.
" Something's The matter he said.
"ln my silly anger thought he was
ban,ering me.
You are mistaken. Ben Mun.en,' l
said hot!y. nothing the matter with me-
But meant the MILL he answered
laughing, The machinery has stopped
oh, ! my lace was alialne, but |
wouldn't look at him.
1T isn't often get chance to chat
with you lately he said. smiling right in
my eyes in way that made me angry.
"'Why didn't you stay with Lottie
HillF | asked, and my voice sounded
unnatural to myself.
'Wcll, | reckon little Lottie hus got
something beitor 10 DO than TO talk to an
idle follow he made answer.
SO have l. said shortly, for n. that
moment hated him. Why did he come
there 10 show his power over mo? for |
knew hc rsad nc like a book, my poor
blind worship and nll, my helplessness,
my crasl suffering.
"Ho looked astonished for moment,
but suddenly crisd out, oh, what splen.
did colorr
at was my hair, catching the sun. |
thrust my hands over i, wildly. My
temples throbbed. the tears were hot be-
Meath my syelids; / wanted to scream, to
rave al myself for being such a fool that
never could hide my feelings.
"At that moment the ovorseer called
him, and looked over to Lottis. An
evil spirit had taken possession of me
anu WAS raging for some outlet. Lottie
stood with her back towards mo her light
dress touching the frame, her cheek just
shs"'ng The deepening dimples as sho
read. ltmads me furious 10 see her at.
titude of perfect grace let her be- doing
what she would. the spirit of grace and
beauty pcrvaded all her motions, |
'honght bitterly,
Suddenly, slowly, SO slowly one
could hardly sec them move. and going
by jerks, the great holting began to slide
round just little, then at stand still,
all the Smaller bands and wheels and
cleaning shafts keeping it company. I
SAW now. All, that wicked, unseen devil
at my elbow, saw that her dress was
touching one of the wheels fastened to
the great central shaft. Horror curdled
my veins, but was silent. Again the
wheel neutrality-suspicious. never
knew it-nobody knew it but that the
terrible lion fingers had griped her by
half breadth OF calico. Any moment,
knew not, breathloss as | stood and
watched. any moment. | knew. all might
be going swiler than could think.
II kept still. Ben ,oouid never marry
LoAie Hiii, would never torture me by
careless courtesiec. That was the top of
my hate. Just then, in my heart. was
murderer.
God mercifully kept the works low
till saw vision-that fair, sweet face
and form crushed beyond all possibility of
rccognition-thon my sin. paralyzed en-.
crgies asserted themselves. dashed
across the intervening space, reckless of
my own life, creeping under the gearin.
until reached her-,I was very strong
threw my arms around her and pinned
her, rs it were. to the window'sill.
"Dou't move, / oried-took the sharp
knife which | used in my work. and with
one OF two rapid thrusIs severed her
dress from the betting just in time. A
minute-hall a minute more
''She turned deadly white as she saw
the piece of her dress rapidly lifted and
rolled up, up, till it reached the murder.
Gus iron teeth, and then gave great cry,
turning as white rs a ghost.
''As for me had tainted, and when I
came 10 myself / found one pair of eyes
gazing down upon me, whose thrilling
passion made me tremble again.
You brave, beautiful little girl p he
murmured-'my own. brave, brave dar.
lingr
"How strange that was too sweet to
hear. | tnrned my head away as half
so5bed.