Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1874-08-11
Stltttta storp.
CELIAtS MOT II. .
By KATE PUTNAM oSGooD.

There he is at the candle again I" cx-
claimed Celia, stopping her needles and
whisking the half finished stocking at a
circling moth obslinalely bent on perish.
ing in the flame. ~ wonder what moths
were made for?-stupid things
MADE for the candle. perhaps" said
Rory. with peculiar infection in his
lazy voice.
Celia gave him an impatient glance,
but resumed her knitting without
answering.
"lt's all very well to call them stupid.
continued Rory presently, "but, il the
truth were told. don't you suppose the
candle likes the game too?"
mo don't, answered Celia, shortly.
"Well, you ought TO know. said Rory.
with that queer accent again.
Celia threw down her knitting work a
second time. Il declare. Rory" she
cried, Il won't be limited at like this ~
"What can do but hint-if you won't
let me speak out ?" said Rory.
"Well, speak out, then; mako an end
Of it; maybe it's better So" said Celia.
Rory's reply to this was to get mp and
come round the table to where Celia sat.
whereupou Celia. in her turn. quietly
slipped round and seated herself in his
empty chair. Rory did not dare 10 follow,
but he looked at her in 4 discounted and
imploring way that raised the ghost of a
smile upon her hitherto stern lille mouth.
But she Immediately became judgelike
again.
Now, jus, sit down there" she said,
land say on, what you've cot to say"
What's the usc?" multcred Rory,
su'ky at being out-mau@avred. you
know IL Just as well a. do"
"Kuow t~l1,9 sly it ont. tell you,'
"Why, that I-tha, you-O. Cola,
that love so much cast say it - cried
Rory, q sudden. toyish gush o! tender
ness melting through the Ii,tio crust.
Here Celia dropped one Of her knitting
needles, diyed down Tor it. aud came Up
with red cheek. But her reply was
practical in the extreme.
We'll. suppose You DO, what does it
amount to? l wouldn't marry shirk,
anyway"
This time it WAS into Rory's dark face
that the blood few. ant he bit his lip.
Celia's words had stung deeper than she
knew or meant perhaps.
"What would you have me do?" he
said. at last.
Anything - answered Celia, energet
ically. "Get q hammer and break stones
ON the road would be better than nothing.
But why should work, since my
father left me enough"
"why should you work ?" interrupted
Celia. "Why, for the sake of working
Yes, know-more's the pity your iath'
er did leave you just enough to dwadlG
along. Yes, you do dwadle, Rory-nc
use scowling like that; what else can yor
call the way you've spent your time ever
since you came home? When it's rainy
YOU dwad,e off with fishing rod; and
when it's pleasant you dwadle under The
trees with book all day long; and then
in the evening -"
"In the evening l dwadle round the
candle" completed Rory, sarcaslically.
"Yes, exactly; and / can tell you, the
candle doesn't ike it :"
Doesn't it?" said Rory, getting up
well. good night, then, candlei won''
dwadle round you any more this evening,
anyhow :"
With which speech he took his six feel
of laziness out OF the room.
Celia stopped the click of the needles
and listened for his tread on the stairs
She did not hear it, but what she did heal
the next minute was the outside door
closing with a bang that indicated Master
Rory 10 be in no very gentle mood. A
little smile and then little lrown came
over Celia's face.
"Where is he OF to now, | wonder'
she said to herself. not condescending
however. to go to the window and see
what direction the truant was taking. "I'
Susy Tibbetts's, perhaps; he has done
l that once before when | put him out-anC
he was put out tonight! Well, l can
help it; | cant see him running to waste
So. and hold my tongue. II he choose
10 revenge himself by going to Susy lib
betis's. why, he must, that's all sup
pose he won't expect me to sit up 'or HIM
he knows there's The pantry window 10
folks that stay out late courting."
But Rory had not gone to Susy lib
betts's, albeit certain OF being suffered L
hover round the candle there as long ant
as close as he liked. lie had gone dow
IN The mill stream. 10 n mOSSy stone Wher