Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-07-08
GERTRUDE GWiNE'S
o P P 0 r r u M It Y

GER TRUOE GWiNES
o P PO r r u NIT Y.
"lmpossible! Why cannot | dismiss
the idea il is 80 absurd the speak
er pushed her hair OH her forehead, gtvs
two OF three vigorous whills with the
"heathen Chinee" fan. aud rounded of
the edge Of her impatient Earring mood
with q few impetuou, swings back and
forth in the wicsor rocker In which .he
was sitting.
It is . pretty picture il you care to look
at it. \ cottage in one OF our suburban
towns. modest, aud vet spacious,
shadowed by a great elm. withrose scent.
ed portions, and wi.lor.a shaded window,
Nesting among other homes, some more
pretentious, but ali expressing = life ol
ease, il not aillucnce. Il is an attractive
room with its cool crisp mNltiug. il, de
licate drapericS. and soft, gray lintS 10
lieved here and there wiki a toush ol blue.
it, books ami pictures. and easy chairs.
giving j! an air of refinement and reposc :;
its bay window overlooking the lawn on
which = sturdy three year old. and q pei
Spilz are engaged "a au iuepsessible
irolic, and It's glory aud crown the mis-
lress and mother. who is in an uncom-
monty brown study, just now, 50 She Mil
not see Us rs va scruIiniEe hcr. perhap,
= trile too iutentiy. a mig face she has,
/ lighted with luminous eyes, aud ,ndyNcd
with q moutA both .,ta a"d sweet, yet
} tremuouaiy responsive To- every shade ot
feeling. A bit OF sewing in her lap does
not belle the taper fingers Gladstonc's
Michael Farraday" on the stand with
The pencil between lhe leaves accords
. Weil with the eye and forehead, while a
newly opened letter in her hand may cX-
plain the present mood.
Impossible :" once moya enc says !;
"why should take upon myself such 4
BURDEN wish the thought had never
presented itsolg."
Rut here the boys laughter broke the
stiffness OF the summer air, and the
mothers eye glistened. and the mood of
harsh iupatience merged igIa cGnscien-
tious consideration.
Lookin. once more at the letter and
reading half musin.ly, half pityinglY
the sentence:
while in one Of our hospitals the
other day. ! was So touched with the
sight OF young girl, q mother, who
was about leaving and had no place To
90, save back to her former situation.
But that necessitated giving up her baby,
and she had learned to love the little
creature SO that the idea was almost Ia.
suypoLahle. But what could che do?
Very young, unskillcd in anything save
household labor, and most likely not
skilled in that, how could she support
herself and child? Evidently she could
not, and the only itiend she had, said she
must give up her baby to the sisters, and
! 90 back to work. To be sure there are
one or two Protestant refugees in the city,
but il they were not full, which would be
unusual, and she could fill the require
mruts, which wogld be doubtful, it would
only postpone the evil day, not avert it,
and declare. Gertrude, when saw the
little grieving. sobbing child-shc WAS
hardly more than that felt so sorry iOr
her, | wished had home to which l
could take her, and If her future fulfilled
the promise of the present, give her
shelter, and work and an abiding place
as long as she needed them for herself
and child
.'Why could not l do 1t pr was the
thought that darled through Mrs. Gwin's
mind as she first read the letter, and it
was this idea which, from "a flashing
thought had cryslalized into persistent
inquiry that had to be squarc!y met aud
answered.
s.Why-of course l could not do for
her as Mary proposed"
"Oh. but you could" quickly interpos-
ed that inward mentor which has habit
of making just such pointed aud ill'limed
interruptions. utterly regardless of their