Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-11-25

she Will thlnk OF you, out no" inuci'
comfort you can give her by telling her
how her boy came to leave his home"
Suke was an incorporating phiIoso
pher. She might have assured The poor
trembling girl of kind reception. but
she meart she should perform this action
simply because it WAS her duty.
keep stiff upper lip, Ery," she con.
tinued, "Jecause ii is right. Here she
comes now and poor Evy. who up to
this time had been medita,ing some
means ui escspe, stood now face to face
with the woman whom, above all others.
she dreaded to meet.
"Why, Eva. how do you do dear p
and the lady voice had a strange some.
thing in it that bad been missed for a
long, long time. 81 called al your house
Just moment ago. child. to invite you 10
spend Thanksgi, ing with us. We may
not be very gay patty. nut we shall Try
to be very thankful and happy
Was il Il sob from the pantry that made
both women turn their heads in that
drection' Ii SO. il was very speedily
swallowed; Tor just then Suke appeared
with huge pan oi milk. apparently en-.
tirely absorbed in getting the vessel TO
the table without spilling its contents.
81 cannot spend Thanksgiving with
YOU, dear Mrs. Cuvert replied Eva,
trying harI to steady her voice: lat
least you won't want me To alter | tell
YOU something. Mrs. Culyert, | drov e
your boy away from his homc!'
For moment there was no sound
heard save Eva. suppressed sobs. She
had told the whole truth in as short way
- possible; and now, with her hands
COY ering her face. stood ike culprit
awaiting her sentence.
You. Eva, you?' and Mrs. Culvert's
voice expressed all the astonishmsnt she
felt "You?" she repeated. as if half
dazed by the revelation. "Sit down be.
side me, my dear little girl. and tell me
all about it. Don't You know it will be
n great comfort to me TO find Il reason for
my sons strange departure? Why
haven't you told me before ?"
"Oh. don't ask rue that. Mrs. Culycrt-
don't, please was very wicked. see
now just how selfish was. But"
But lei that 90. and get to business, -
broke in Suke. 1--WE amt none of Us
that's got such clsar record in the past
that We can afford to have much nking
done"
you are right again, Susan" replied
Mrs. Culvert. iervently.-"Now toll NE
all about it, my dear, and remember all
the time that shall not. can not. blame
you. no matter how bsd'it is"
Mrs. Culvert drew Eva's little hand
into hers, and the girl commenced:
stephen loved meat least he said
50. and always believed him-and |
/ loved him This commenced before he
went TO college even. We wrote friendly
letters all through those four years, aud
when he graduated he asked me TO marry
him. This refused to do. lie kept
onlreal,ng me 10 allow him 10 ask NY
father. and this | wouldn't hear to-"
And why, Eva" interrupted Mrs. Cul'
vert, iii you loved him ~
That's just it. replied the girl, naive
y. 1T was just because loved him
| that - i..itl "a al to it. There was
too much in Stephen Culyert to be allow.
ei 10 rust out on his fathers farm. He
knew there was plenty and 10 spare,
and home was pleasant. and love was
sweet. and he hadn't energy sufficient Ia
bestir himself as | thought he ought.
There isn't money enough in the world,
Mrs. Culvcrt. to tempt me to marry an
idle man"
Yankee doodle, doodle doo!" sang
Suke, trying loal of cake with broom
corn.
We'll" continued Eva. matters grew
very uncomfortable, and Thanksgiving
day we had almost q quarrel. This hap.
pened ia your parlor, Mrs. Culvert, and
was Just alter dinner. lie taunted me
! with not loving him. | had grown tired
of this kind OF talk, and told him that
never could engage myself to any man
who had net trade or profession; that
had sense enough to know that love could
not occupy his whole attention; and
ended in telling him that was ashamed
of him. These were the last words he
said to me: Eva Benton, when you see
or hear from me again | shall either be
The man YOU are anxious to marry or a
worthless drunken vagabond. On your
head be the responsibility and with
this he marched directly out Of the
house"
I'VE have both erred, Eva, in our way
Of dealing with our trouble--l more than
you, because | am SO much older; but
that cant bc helped now. Kiss me. and
promise that YOU will spend TO morrow
with US"
Eva promised.
'Harkr said Mrs. Cnlveri. listening
in,enlly. and drawing her companion
close to her side DO you hear what
Susan i. singing DID you ever know &
voice. tn express 81 much?'
That is What she WAS singing when
came ip. Don't YOU know. Mrs. Culvert
that that is Stephens iavorite anthem