Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-07-22

! She stoppcu suuuSHiys ic"ehOS'"e
| that l was widow, and went on 10 a
fresh sentence; but wondered what she
was going to say.
al know shall be afraid of her." she
said And she is going TO play the or
gan and manage the choir; she will be
sure to want her own way in every
thing, and it woa'; be nice and comiorta
bic. rs it used TO be. And then, my dear,
she is certain To be quite young; no
middle.aged person would have taken
| the trouble 10 train herself, even il she
had the cleverness, which isn't likely.
Depend upon it, she will be young and
pretty, and all the shopmen will be fall
/ ing in love with her, aud people will talk
scandal, and there will be unpleasant.
ness"
IL don't see that il follows" said
rather sharply; but | did not like the way
she spoke about widows. 1t is very odd !;
but women whose husbands are alive al.
ways give themselves airs about US. ]
hink il is because they are Jealous OF our
power OF marrying again, having. as it
were, two chances to their one; ut least.
! cannot discover any other reason, but,
OF course. there may be one that don't
know Of
In fortnight Mrs. Henry arrived. 1t
was II long journey from Halley to St.
Bridget's. and the last TOUR miles had to
be done by road, in an omnibus that jolt.
ed good deal, so that people were apt
to be tired when they reached the town.
Mr.. Ambrose, like the courtly old gentle
man he was, went down to meet the mis-
tress At The Silver Fish. where the omni-
bus always stopped.
Now they are coming, cried the poor
lady. as we heard the garden door open.
II sha'n't know what To say TO her. Mrs
Acton; | wish hadn't asked her TO
come"
its no matter, tor the vicar Is alone.'
| replied, looking ont of the window.
whence could see that gentleman rapid.
ly approaching the house.
He came straight in to us. but his lace
wore sn expression of dismay.
well ?" we cried as he entered; then
seeing his lace his wife exclaimed, 80.
Justin. what is it.? is che so very bad ?"
Bad !" cried the vicar, standing in
front of us. "What the Dickens could
Dobson send her here lor' wrote fol
school. mistress didn't |. Mrs. Acton"
II believe so," | replied meekly;
"hasnr he sent one ?"
"Oh. do tell us what she is" entreated
Mrs. Ambrose. wlinging her little white
fingers. "Do tell US what she is"
My dear, she is lady, said the
vicar; and then he sat down and looked
at US, aud we looked at him.
For few moments we were too much
aslonished to speak.
"A lady what shall We do with her?"
gasped Mrs. Ambrose presently. as all
the social complications Of the position
rose before her.
That's the bother Of ii; | tOresee all
sorts of difficulties" sighed tho vicar;
''but it can't be helped, audi" he added,
Frightening. perhaps other people won't
find it out if we don't tell them"
How is she dressed?" | asked.
eagerly.
..All in black. looking small and
straight. somehow
is she pretty ?"
.No."
Then they 0ont find her out" said
emphalically. "Ii a woman isn't pretty
and well dressed, and does not call her
sell lady, she will only be found ou, by
her own class
"Hox can you know? ?" said the vicar.
looking at me.
Never mind howl do know; and if
we and Mrs. Henry are wise enough TO
keep our own counsel and our own
places. il will be all right"
but, won't she expect TO be treated as
a lady-askcd to dinner and all that"
asked Mrs. Ambrose doubtfully.
IL think not" said the vicrr; land if
she does we can't help it. If she is IA
lady, she will recognize her position and
accept it.'
could not tell how old she was. She
might have been thirty; she might have
been five and. forty. used to watch her
tor half.hours at time to try and settle
the question to my satisfaction, but was
always puzzled.
But she showed her authority at the
first sign of disobedience. There was
no threatening, no talking about how she
would punish them if they were naughty.
but the punishment came swiftly on the
commission Of the offence, and in less
than a month she had established such
discipline as had never been dreamed oi
under the old rule
And she taught Them so wonderfully.
| used TO listen in amazement while she
gave the lessons. and the children began
to improve rapidly.
We used to wonder, Mrs. Ambrose and
I. what Mrs. Henry did in the evenings.
Her dress was so simple that needework
for herself could not occupy her time;
- /. ...., -ollo,,, ont of doors even in