Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1874-12-01


fashioued fabric and regarded II visit
fully.
Il suppose shall never forget jus
how she used TO look with this dress Tall
lug in pretty folds down TO hcr leel, he
hair tied back with bit of lilac ribbon
il WAS a whim of your aunrs not 10 have
her wear caps. aud her hair used TO lie al
soft and dropping on her head, and look
cd tender and tired. like herself. II wa
just such dismal day rs this that Martin
came up to say there was young girl IL
the hall wanting place. and youl
aunt would see her. She was the same
in her youth tha, she is now; fearful o.
turning off real trouble. and always put
ting her shoulder under other peoples
loads. wasn't rightly pleased with the
girl at first. though she was rather
pretty.
Brown hair. gray eyes. with pale sci
look round tho lips, and pink that flut
tered in and out Of her cheeks every time
she spoke She was English. had been
in this country two years, could do lace
work. fine sewing. and embroidery; had
lived in two places since she landed, had
no references from either; didn't know
il was ueedlul Miss Deviue took a great
fancy 10 her though did my duty in
opposing it, and so finally Marian Hi
yard came into The house as maid 10 your
aunt without our knowing u word more
about her than she chose 10 tell. !
tho ghl it was foolish; your aunt didn't
need maid, any more than a cat needs
five paws. and SO told her, while /, that
had dressed and advised her since her
mother died, did ieel it hard 10 be set
aside even a little Tor this girl no Older
than Amy there aud without particle OF
Judgment.
For all that used " notice how pretty
the two were together, each setting oil
the other Your aunt was bright and
handsome. carrying her head like a deer,
aud looking clear aud proud out Of her
great eyes; her color wasn't feeble either
and she had WAYS like some OF the grand
foreigners your grandpa was 50 proud to
look back TO. somehow she Lewiiched
body completely and yet YOU never
thought Of making Tree with her. BE
side her Marian Hilyard looked like q
little snow drop in the same vase with II
cardinal flower; she reminded me OF one
OF the splend:d tropical birds in your
graudpa's aviary perching along with one
ol our gray doves
Dorothy stopped abruptly with sharp
glance 10 discover 1t We were smiling nj
her unusual freedom OF simile, bnt salts
fled rs 10 that resumed her story Iran.
gully.
when the summer cams and the house
filed up with gay company rs usual
your aunt was busy 30 naturally Marian
was len more TO herself. aud | saw her
crying 10y herself sometimes. Mrs Bran
don from the city came to visit; and
meeting Marian in the hall gave little
scream.
20 dear so you've got that English
girl my sister tried hope you can man
age her." she said ancrward.
why uol?" asked your aunt.
"She proved quite TOO sly for Stella. :"
said Mrs Brandon tossing up her head
Miss Devine didn't make much reply.
She didn't particularly trust Mrs. Bran.
don's tongue. and then she MAS generous
hearted enough. not to want 10 accuse
folks without being sure oi some ground
lor it. Putting this and that together
and remembering how the girl blushed
when che spoke OF references. it did look
suspicious; but she concluded 10 wait Tor
some real evidence OF wrong. Il was
slow 10 coming; Marian kept to herself
did her " ork regularly, was always un
selfish and obliging, and put away her
wages whep they were paid rs II she
wasn't young girl that might be ex
pecled to like haery occasionally. Youl
aunt gave her this very dress and the
ribbons 10 match il. 1t came in parcels
ordered from town and she lung II into
Marian's lap saying:
There lilac is your color you fair little
thing. When you get this on I'll make
you look in the glass and be vain ioi
once in yopr Quaker lile."
Marian never smiled. the pink nuttered
up in her cheeks and left them whittier
/ than ever.
Lilac again" she said halt whimpering
and all ready to cry, l thought. But IN
minute she thanked her mistress Just as
little child would and left the rOom.-
! That afternoon | found her on her knees
with that lilac lawn spread out on the bed
before her, and she crying over ii and
kissing il in wild pitilul way. shu'
the door in a hurry. 1t wasn't for me &c
spy on her grief. if there was something
suspicious about her and her past days
She made the dress up soon. and woreIl
a good deal. Sometimes | thought SHE
really took comfort in il.
One night your aunt Devine was sing
ng TO company, and Marian and in The
hall were listening. Her voice was
marvel; no Grosvepor in the young gen.
Grafton has one like it," said Dorothy
with glance at saucy musical Maud
"She sang ballad about Maid Marian
,ha ws,ds rang out. That gir