Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-04-01

i
English urnals now and then reveal
were dailJ occurrences there. She had
| thereupou announced her intention oil
leaving the place at once, and had been
punished like child, and held up TO the
reprobaii ion of all her comrades for such
unhcard ol-unmaidenliness. She had
been called an Americvn in the same
tone rs she would have been called a
savage, her beautiful shoulders had
known tho sting of bunch of rods, she
had been put into pinalores. she had been
starved into submission, and her letters
home had been opened and destroyed.
OF course. after divining that these
letters never went beyond the school
gates. it wan out of the question Tor
Lillian 10 think of remaining there, in
prison and among enemies, for the sake
ol all the accomplishments in the world.
Accomplishments could be gotten else
where. but health and nerves and spirits
could be destroyed here; and she thought
OF her fathers amazement II he could
only know oI her plight, and OF her
mothers tears and self reproach, and her
younger sisters horror, till she fairly
cried herself out of pity for them! Aud
one dark night, with parcel OF such
articles rs were indispensable, she cluded
o3scrvution. climbed through 4 window
ran IcloSs the fields, and caught the
night train at the adjoining station, where
grinniug guar'l. who may have sur
missed from whence she came, and had
perhaps had such passengers before,
-,"Wcd her away in a coach 10y herself.
The next morning she stepped from
the car, and found herself in little sea
faring town, OF which she knew nothing
except that ships sailed thence for the
other side OF the world. But how 10 buy
berth on any OF them? She had no
jewelry, for her father had always dis
approved OF its influence upon youth, and
her purse had been taken away from her
At the school; but she had managed 10
secrelc her watch from the hawks eyes
about her. and that she sold now. within
the hour, for just money enough to secure
passage in an outward bound brig.
The brig was outward bound. and that
was all she understood about it In her
haste aud panic; but anywhere away
from those shores. away from the power
OF Miss Montgomery, from the humilla-
lion OF her rods. the hunger Of her dis
cipline; from the spiked pencil of the
music mater, that tore her fingers; from
the maulslick OF the painting teacher,
that bruised her flesh; from the black
boards and braces. from the stocks and
pinafores, the sights aud insults and out.
rages-anywhere away from these daily
tortures that had been the only trouble OF
her life, and had lasted just four months
anywhere away from these would be
travelling Edenwari. And so. indeed, it
proved for Lillian.
When she learned at last that tho brig's
destination was Nassua and not New
York, instead OF being terrified, she con
graduated herself that Nassau was 50
near home; she only feared that before
all sail was set Miss Montgomery or her
myrmidons might be upon heri and she
despatched letter by the pilot, which
should reach the ocean mail. not closed
Tor couple OF days yet. and should in
struct her father either to await her in
Nassau or to place funds there by the
means OF which she might hasten TO him
and hei mother.
And that done. and the pilot boat
watched rs il went dancing over the
waves I'LL il was speck. and then was
nothing, she was sale, that she had es-
capped at last. that she was on her way
home-on her way 10 that home peopled
by such heavenly beings rs she believed
her family 10 be-that place haunted by
sweet voices, gentle manners, beautiful
shapes; and she could sec one and all
running down the white stairs OF the
pillared porch TO meet her as she came
up the blossoming paradise OF gardens,
and she was already embracing them and
CRYING in THEFT arms. And her heart
opened to all the world-she could even
forgive Miss Montgomery; and. having
made friends with the captains vile, she
was bubbing over with happiness and all
the effervescencc Of her new experience
Alter all, there's nothing SO lovely as
happiness. The happy smile of plain
face can soon eclipse the sour discomfort
oil beauty. And what, then, must be
the smile of beauty that does not feel a
film between itself and the sum- Lillian,
dancing here and there about the deck
hanging over the vessels side In reverie
or Frightening the little cabin below ,ha d
presently endeared herself to all about
ave shall have fine weather." said the
sailors, $50 long as she's aboard and
Mr.. Taliaferro repeated it TO her-Horace
Taliaierro. one of the three or four Other
passengers in the little craft, Indeed an
old acquaintance, as it seemed to hen
now, for he was no other than the devoted
partner of her only ball, the pale and
handsome Southern youth with whom she
had danced so often on that bewildering
night which she remembered like splen
did dream. She had hailed him here
with rapture, and the grasp oil both hands,