Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-02-25
NUMBER 6.

away. Do let me stay As the poor
little pleader spoke, she shudderad, and
the big tears rolled down her face. The
proud woman turned without speaking,
and was leaving the room.
81 know can do n good many things,
and will work for you all the time, If
you will only let me stay. Do say that
I may stay, dear aunt" continued the
weeping child.
"Gct up, child, and 90 to your dear
uncle as you call him." at length the
lady said in freezing tone al will
have nothing to do with YOU She then
went out, shutting the door with tre-
mertious force. Poor LitLa sobbed Bit
lerly at this cruel repulsei her uncle con-
soled her. bidding her to be good, and
her aunt would soon love her.
And so it was settled, and the poor lit
tie beggar girl became a member OF
Mr.. Percington's aristocratic family. Her
uncle was always kind and aifcc-
tionate towards her, but he could
not penetrate all the mysteries Of his
wife's domestic arrangements, and Litta
would not complain. So he did not know
that she was treated worse than the low
est servant in the hsuse-that she was in
fact, n servant of servants
She was put to sleep in an out Of the
way attic. chamber that had been used as
a storage-room, and was filed with all
sorts of articles for family use which had
been thrown aside to make room fol- more
Rats and mice held their revels in the
long nights, and great spiders woVe their
airy webs upon the bare walls. Yet il
was better than she had known before.
aud If her aunt would have given her
kind word occasionally, she would have
deemed her happiness complete. The
change in Litta's outward circumstances
seemed TO effect change in her whole
being. She was no longer content TO
be ignorant, but each day increased her
all absorbing desire to prove herself
worthy Of her uncle's love, by making
the best use of the advantages which hes
placed within her reach. She longed to
know, TO understand, and so rapid was
her progress, it seemed as If, during
those weary years Of trial land ignorance,
her mind had been gathering almost un-
natural strength to grasp rich gems from
the tree Of knowledge. And so time roll
ed his chariot swiftly alopg, Till Litta
was twelve years of age. Her aunt had
never spoken u gentle or kind word to
her, or forgiven 1.-THE little beggar's pre-
sumption" in daring to claim relation
ship with her. Nj. Perclngton could not
help seeing how il was, and after trying
in vain all means in his power TO effect
favorable change in his wile's treatment
of Iitta. he thought it best to send her
away Tor few years, until her education
should have been completed. In pur'u'
ance OF this plan Litla was soon eS-
tablished in the excellent institution OF
Madame Lesion in the city OF Baltimore.
Once more the progress Of our story
brings us to Mr.. Percington's residence.
Six years have glided by. Time has
made some changes, but still he has
dealt gently with the master of that
splendid mansion, and bu: few iunowS
ale traced on his white forehead. Mrs.
Percington is as proud and naughty rs
ever, but Just now there is an expression
of doting fondness on her face. as her
glances rest upon the tall torn ofa young
man who is lounging carelessly on = sofa
near her. Lindsay Merton was Mrs.
Percington's son, the only offspring OF
former marriage, and though to all be-
sides she was cold and seemingly unieeI'
ing, he was her idol. His lightest wish
was as law 10 her, and with swelling
heart she gazed upon his manly features,
and felt that she was blessed indeed IN
being the mother OF such son. Except
ING short visits at intervals, Lindsay bad
been away from home for years, and
/ when his collegiate course was ended, he
spent four years in travelling, that he
might gaze upon the wonders OF the
/ Old World, aud bask beneath the sunny
skies of classic Italy. Now his mothers
anxious fears for him were ended, ior hc
/ had come home to remain with her. But
she did not know that subtle power
was at work 10 crush her hopes-she did
not know that her noble boy was even
now u slave to that (which biteth like
serpent, and stingeth aD like adder.
Else had her heart feared, and her moth
er love cried, "save him."
Lindsay Merton had naturally good
heart. and fine intellect: but while re-
naming in Italy, he became rather init
mately acquainted with gay young sci
on of a noble Florentine house. The
fiery, inpetuous nature ot the young
Italian. could not very well brook oppo
silon TO his wishes, and when, alter lc'
peated invitations. young Merton still dc
clinVd to taste the sparkling wine. his
false friend vowed TO effect the Amcrl'
cans ruin through this medium. We
need not stop to detail the various meth.
ods which were resorled to for this pur
pose suffice it to say that the barrier oi
total abstinence was finally passed, and
lured on by the artlul devices OF hi.
tempter, who had acquired strange
influence over him, Lindsay Merton wa
soon advancing rapidly in that path Rom
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