The Portland daily press., 1874-07-04
But Mr.. Oakhurst was happily out of hear

But Mr.. Oakhurst was happily out of hear
ing Of this colloquy, and was even then
lounsing listlessly, yet watchfully, along the
upper hall. Suddenly lie heard a light foot
step bhind him, and then his name called in
familiar voice that drew the blood quickly
to his aeart. He turned and she stood be-
fore hin.
But low transformed! If have hesitated
to descibe the hollow-eyed cripple---the
quaintly1ressed artisans wife, a few pages
ago--whd shall ] do with this graceful, shape
ly, elegantly attired gentewoman into whom
she has Ieen merged within these two
months? IN good faith she was very pretty.
You and 1,my dear madame, would have
been quick tt see that those charming DIM
pies were misplaced for true beauty, and too
fixed in their quality for honest mirthfuness,
that the delicate lines aronnd these aquline
nostrls were cruel and selfish, that the sweet
virginia. surprise Vt these lovely eyes were as
apt to be opened on her plate as upon the
gallant speeches oil her dinner partner, that
her sympathetic cohr came and went more
with her own spirits than yours. But YOU
and | are not in love with her, dear madame,
and Mr. Oakhulst is. And even in the folds
OF her Partisan gown | am afraid this poor
fellow saw the same subtle strokes of purity
that he had seen in her homespun robe And
then there was the delightful revelation that
she could walk, and that sue had dear little
feet OF her own in the tiniest slippers of her
French shoemaker--with such preposterous
blue bows, and Chappell's own stamp, Rue
de something or other, Paris, on the narrow
sole.
lie ran toward her with a heightened color
and outstretched hands. But she whipped
her own behind her, glanced rapidly up and
down the long hall, and stood boxing at him
with a half audacous, half mischievous ad-
mlration in utter contrast to her old reserve.
i've a great mind not to shake hands with
you, at all. You passed me just now
on the piazza without speaking. and l ran
after you, as suppose many another poor
woman had done.'
Mr.. Oakhufst stammered that she was so
changed.
''The more reason why you should know
me. Who changed me? You You have
re-created me. You found helpless, Grip
Piled, sick. poverty-stricken woman, with one
dress to her back, and that her own make,
and you gave her life, health, strength, and
fortune. You did, and you know it, Sir
How do you like your work ?' She caught
the side seams of her gown in either hand
and dropped him aplayful courtesy Then,
with sudden, relentiag gesture, she gave
him both her hands.
Outrageous as this speech was, and unfem-
l.
it, L fear it pleased Mr.. Oakhurst. Not but
that he was accustomed to a certain frank fe-
male admiration but then it was of the cOu-
Gsses and not OF the cloister, with which he
always persisted in associating Mrs. Decker
TO be addressed in this way by an invalid
Puritan, sick saint, with the aus
terity of suffering still clothing her; a
woman who had a Bible on the dressing-table
who went to church three times day. and,
was devoted to her husband, completely
bowled him over. He still held her hands as
she went on:
''Why didn't you come beforep What
were you doing in Marysville, in San Jose, in
Oakland? You see have followed you. l
saw you as you came down the canon, and
knew you at once. ] saw your letter TO Jo-
seph, and knew you were coming. Why
didn't you write to me? You will some
time! Good evening Mr.. Hamilton"
She had withdrawn her hands, but not I'M
Til Hamilton, ascending the staircase, was
nearly abreast of them. He raised his hat to
her with well bred composure, nodded famil-
iarly to Oakhurst, and passed on. When he
had gone Mrs. Decker lifted her eyes to Mr..
Oakhurst. ''Some day shall ask great IA
vor of your'
Mr.. Oakhurst begged that it should be now.
mo, not until you know me better. Then,
some day, | shall want you to-kill that
manp
She laughed, such pleasant little ringing
laugh, such a display of dimples-albeit a lit
tie fixed in the corners of her mouth such
an innocent light in her brown eyes, and
such lovely color in her cheeks. that Mr.
Oaahurst-who seldom laughed-was fain to
laugh too. 1t was as if lamb had proposed
to fox foray into neighboring sheep-fold.
To be concluded.