Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-01-14

: portant .uk on her little tanned face
| Mrs. Dsrion laughed-she couldn't hell
it. She hadn't intended TO present thu
, little ones until after dinner, and thi
General kissed them all, and said somo
} thing pretty about them, and Dods found
! confidence 10 blurt out one OF her dread
ful little speeches, as Hallio knew sh,
would. Tor the child was irrcprossible on
all occasions.
why. Mr.. Trefclhen. thought you
were soldier. but you haven't got any
gun, nor any pdntaietS M"
"Epaulettcs. you mean. Dodo; now
take the children into the other room,un
til we are through dinner" and Mrs.
Darton, who had learned that wise lesson
never TO be surprised-smiled again al
her daughters smothered Hush. Dode y
Halle was bringing in the feather
pudding-she held it high over The chill.
dren's heads, as she stood still TO let them
pass her. General Trefcthon thought
hs had never seen more beautiful face
than Halle Darton's was then. Her
checks were just flushed her eyes wei c
large and clear and blue, and turned full
uH him for an eager, little instant; her
ripeIed lips were just partcd-for she
was little nut of breath with n run up
,tairs, little sweep ol The brush over
her braid, and II little dash of cold water
over her lacc This same braid oi yellow
glil:crin. hair wound crown-wise round
her head. and the little, fluffy curls fell
out hom under, and shaded her forehead.
1t ~as such pure, open face
lie thought instantly oil these lines, in
My Kate"
And when you had once seen her forehead aud
month,
You saw, II. distinctly. her soul and her truth"
He turned from her to Mrs. Darton.
"She is yourself at sixteen, Nellie"
Halle said: "Oh. thank you, sir, >" in o
clear. pleased, girlish voice. and came
forward to bo introduced.
Ia the midst ol the bright flow of din
ner.talk. Halle touched her fathers arm,
and said in - little aside "lsu't it cn.
chanting to hear thcmp Mother looks
twenty years younger to-day. It's like
why, rs il pearl had been dropped into
our dish water, isn't it? ?"
The General heard her. and turned
quickly. do You~oiten ipd them. Miss
Halle, these pearls in the dish water'"
No, sir" very blunty; and then see.
ing the smile in his brown eyes, she spoke
slowly and thoughltully. MAY
bccausc-l-never look for them there. :"
And she stopped eating to think OF it.
1t WAS new idea TO her. so, after all the
little ones had been fed, she drove every
one out oi the kitchen, saying, playiully.
that she didn't know why, but she wanted
to wash the dishes "all sole alone this
afternoon. There was large pile OF
china for one pair of hands, but, you see,
she wanted 10 think. So she opened the
south window over the portico, and filling
the dish.pan with steaming suds, She
barred her round ,dimpled arms, and began
brnyey and ohecrlully. The dripping
goblels were just ready for the dry towel,
when Halle felt somebody looking at her
through the south window.
at doesn't look so dreadful. This wash.
ing dishes" he said.
"No, sir"
Halle was blushing under his steady,
brown eyes.
Its nice, when one lorgets that one is
actually washing dishes. But We always
speak of this life, sir, this cooking aud
clearing away, and sitting down. only 10
lnnk at tho clock aud inl its timu for the
next meal. this iussing for the where.
withal, that's never done because you
can't gain on it any-that's what we call
our 'dsh-water lile.' Ii it's all I'm good
for, then I'll make the best of it. but it
never will satisfy me, neUer, never :"
Then, remembering who her listener
was, she looked very much embarrassed
and prettier than ever, and General Tre
ieihen sail something which sounded
funny, very funny for such ploper, cav.
iel.looking General as he.
"May wipe those dishes for you, Miss
llalle?"
Halle laughed little ripple of a laugh.
"Of all things in the worldl" she DO.
gan; then, with IN air OF offended dig.
nifty, IL didn't intend 10 grumble so that
mammals visitor should feel obliged to
offer his assistance
lie just swung himself in at the low
window, and began 10 wipe those dishes
in charmingly of-hapd and graceful
manner. With demure gravity Halle
handed him an apron, and with an air OF
perfect solemnily, he tied it round his
neck. She laughed, and they began to
chat more easily and sensibly than they
could possibly have done in q drawing
room, and never did . tali man with an
apron roand bis neck, and a smiling lassie
with dsh.mop in her hands. make a
rhorc delightful taJleaa ctram than these
two.
She looked up, at last, like surprised
child.
"Were all DONE Why, | thing it's
nprCpcilv hooutifnI IN winch lisboS ii