Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1874-06-09


! I. & F."
Leaving Maggie 10 wcnd her way
homewald, resolving anew never to los,
sight of her little knife, or the motto
which she had inscribed upon it,-a.
heroes inscriho inferior ones upon lheil
banncrs-wo will give the reader a brie
sketch of Clinton Parker.
We have told you what he was in mind
} and habits, while in personal appearance
he WAS u worthy specimen OF God:
noblcst work. Tall, straight as an arrow
broad shouldered aud full chested, he
looked tho very embodiment of all that
Sas good and true. Dark wavy hair care.
'cssly thrown back fom hish full brow,
very dark eyes, and a moustachc which
never needed magic comb" through
which his white even teeth cleaned when
he smiled, gave you a face that once
loved could not be easily forgotten.
The son OF wealthy parents, he had
enjoyed every advantage of education,
and when his school days ended he enter
cd his fathers business and took the bur.
den Of it upon himself, nobody would
have gainsaYcd you had you prophesied
success Tor him in the future. Everything
seemed to prosper beneath his touch, aud
lie was fast becoming one of The young
men OF the day.
Nearly ayear had passed away since
We iirsl introduced Maggie and Clinton
( 10 you, aud the latter was growing i'm.
patient OF delay. and was daily urging
Maggie to pronounce him good enough
and take him Tor better or Tor worse. =
But realizing rs she did the Importance
Of his becoming established upon firm
temperance basis. before being pro.
rouuced worthy 10 hold the happiness Of
another human being in his hands, she
hcSilatcd and asked Tor more time
yielding more to the dictates Of her judg.
mcut than TO the prompGngs of her own
Lca,t.
Feeling assured at length that Clinton
had ouigiown the weaknesses of his
youth, and was worthy OF the trust which
he asked her to boslow, she was con
tempIating the propriely OF yielding to
his cutreatics, when her happy dreams,
her bright aud joyous anticipations were
all swept away at one cruel blow.
She was sitting in the cosy library, with
= closed book Of green and gold upon her
lap, thinking over the lives OF tue loving
and loyab!e Poet sisters. Alice and Phebe
Cary, which she had just finished reading,
thinking OF the pure, uscCu! and earnest
lives which these singers Of sweet song"
had led, OF the happy, pleasant houses on
Twentieth Street.. made desolatc by
their death, when the whole sadly beauli
iul picture was swept from before her
minds eye by The entrance OF her step
mother, just returned from a series OF
morning calls, who. without a word of
prelude or preparation, asked in o voice
which made tho question severe repri
mand.-
Maggie. | should like TO inquire if you
arc knowing to the TACT that Clinton Par
kcr is dreadiully dissipated ?"
Down went the book and up came
Maggie.
Mother Fulsom, are you crazy" she
cried, "Clinton dissipated? 1t is as false
rs the person who told it,"
"Nol so fast, ii you please" said her
mother coollY. For happen to kHoW
that The story is lruo. have known all
along that he drank his wines; but all the
young men now a-days do that and are
thought just rs much OF. so il did not
trouble me. But if he proposes to be-
come a common drunkard. .as appearances
indicate, do not think that even his
wealth would induce me TO marry him"
And the woman who had SO ruthlessly
dealt this cruel blow walked coolly out OF
The room 10 put away her bonnet and
shawl.
Aud Maggie-poor, crushed Maggie
flew to her own room 10 hide her burning
cheeks in her pillow. and sob out the first
sharp agony OF her sorrow.
BY and by, when she could think, she
asked herself, "What must do ? Mother
said she knelC il to be tine, and she would
not misrepresent anythmg-lor she has
always favored Clinton, for his wealth, il |
nothing more. and it must be very bad
if it outweighs that in her estimation"
Severe words? Yes! But rs true US
they were severe. Mrs. Fulsom made |
money her god, and tho more Maggie |
thought OF this, the more convinced she
became that the case must be very bad !
indeed or her mother would never have |
counSeled q breaking of the engagement. !
Going to 4 dainty handicapped table
hat stood in Il recess by the window, she
unlocked queer old fashioned writing
desk which had been her own mothers,
and which, being her dearest treasure,
had been set apart to guard the little
keepsakes and treasures which sho had
received from The hand OF Clinton. Here
was queer piece OF rock with dead
ivy clinging to it. How we'll she rcmem
bcred when Clinton gave it to her al
Grand Falls, when they made that pleas.