The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-07-11
Written for the New York Times.l
Passage in the Life of MIR.
John OakhurSt.
BY BRET HARTE.


arose from a charmed circle OF her admirers
on the hotel piazza, excused herself for a
few moments, laughingly declined an escort
and ran over to her little cottage-one of heI
husbands creation-across the road. Per-
haps from the sudden and unwonted exercise
in her still convalescent estate. she breathed
hurriedly and feveiishly as she entered her
boudolr, and once or twice placed her hand
upon her breast. She was startled on turn
ing up the Light to find her husband lying
on the sofa.
''You look hot and excited, Elsie, love-
said Mr.. Decker; ''you amt took worse
are you?"
Mrs Decker's face had paled, but now
flushed again. ''No," she said, ''only a lit
tie pain here" as she again placed har hand
upon her corsage.
''Can l do anything for yon,' said Mr..
Decker, rising with atfectionate concern.
Run over to the hotel and get me so
brandy, quickp'
Mr.. Decker ran. Mrs. Decker, closed and
bolted the door, and then putting her hand
to her bosom, drew out the pain. 1t was
folded four square, and was, grieve TO say,
in Mr.. Oakhurst's handwriting. -F.
She devoured it with burning eyes and
cheeks until there came a step upon the
porch. Then she hurriedly replaced it in
her bosom and urbolted the door. Her hus.
band entered; she raised the spirits to her
lips and declared herself better. Asi@
''Are you going over there again tonight
asked Mr.. Decker. submissively.
NO." said Mrs. Decker, with her eyes
fixed dreamily on the floor. ..,.,ss5se
81 wouldn't if was you," said Mr.. Deck
er with sigh of relief. After pause he
took seat on the sofa, and drawing his wife
TO his side, said: do you know what [ was
thinking OF when you came in, Elsie!" Mrs
Decker ran her fingers through his stiff black
hair, and couldn't imagine
Il was thinking of old times, Elsie; / was
thinking of the days when built that ker
ridge for you, Else-when l used to take you
out to ride, and was both boss and driver!l
We was poor then, and you was sick, Elsie
but we was happy. We've got money now
and house. and you're quite another wo
man. l may say, dear, that you're a 1lea,
woman. And that's where the trobule
comes in. could build you kerridge Elsie
l could build you house, Elsie-but there ]
stopped. couldn't build Up you. You're
strong and pretty, Elsie, and fresh and new.
But somehow, Elsie, you amt no work o.
miner' .
He paused. With one hand laid gently
on his forehead and the other pressed upon
her bosom as if to feel certain of the presence
of her pain, she said sweetly and soothingly
But it was your work, DEAR"
Mr.. Decker shook his head sorrowfulIy.
mo, Elsie, not mine. l had the chance to
do it once and | let it go. It's done now
but not by me-"
MRS. decker raised her surprised, innocent
eyes 10 MS. lie Kissed her tenderly and then
Went on IN more cheerful voice.
Inat am an l was tninkiug OF, Else.
was thinking that may be you give toe
much of your company to that Mr.. Hamilton.
Not that there's any wrong in it, to you OF
MN. But 1t might make people talk. You're
tne only one neres Elsie, sad the master
carpenter, looking fondly at his vile, "whC
isn't TAXED about: whose Wo1k amt Iispec
TED or condemned"
Mrs; Decker was glad he had spoken about
IL. one mad thought so, too, but she could
not wei lie uncivil to Mr. Hamilton, who
was hne gentleman, without making {
powerful enemy. And he's always treated
me as IL was born lady IN his own circle,
added the little woman, with certain pride
that made her husband fondly smile. 'Bu
nave thought OF plan. lie will not stay
here II l should go away. II, for instance.
: went to San francisco to visit Ma for q few
days he would be gone before l should
return.
MI. Decker was delighted. by al
MEANS" he said, go to morrow. Jack Oak
hurst IS gong down, and III put you III his
charge"
Mrs. Decker did not think it was prudent
"Mr. Oakhurst is our friend, Joseph, but
you know his reputation" In fact she did
not know That she ought to 60 now, knowing
that he was going the same day-but with a
kiss Mr.. Decker overcame her scruples She
yielded gracefully. Few women, in TACT,
knew now TO give up point as charmiEgly
as she. .ssi- q s..,.s...t - ~
She stayed a week in San Francisco.
Wnen she returned she was tIifie thinner
= ela nv
planned as the result of perhaps too active
exercise and excitement II was cut OF
doors Eeafly all The time, as Ma will tell
you, she SAID TO her husband, 'and always
alohe. am gettlng quite independent now,''
she added, gayly, Il don't want any escort
oeHeVe, Joey dear, could get along even
Without you-I IN so Drave!
Dul her v'sit, apparently, mad not been pro-
auctiye Oh ner Impeding design. MIR. Hap,
n oIl,d nn 49, not W. nao remained, ana
thomght Of MIN "I I Wy S 1sen;ns ve
1noun' " pau 'oey, uear, SAID MIS-
Decker when ne mad departed. Poor Mr..
osnn nu nas d miserable ni. room at the hote
esuppose YOU ask nun When he returns
, ,io'n oan tianeisoa tos'oP WIN us. He can
naso ou. spai0 ioon. qon think, she
c "'11IIy' .na' MI hanliton VIII can
t u.ten rnei h1 i;.,a coughed, lntlmated
S SI sn. we, ,; i,sIio TToquette, plnched her
woman he said .ftar,ri 49, .uisS aDeut
wna1 H., Ie sa'u .s al'eIwafd confldentialIy
10 MI. oa s l IS that without having
any p ,.;1, u nel owh she,ii take anybody's
anu b b noas d On u entlrely different to
ehIe to saw whetho uepn my SKIN II you'll be
tbe sc.ls and mess,,ro VI mol you didn,t give
,vbat rets 10 J, yourself. Ihats
The newt wa.E Mr. o.,-.
=, tn nec,er,s $50 oo MI oakgufst was installed
,;ons 81 he, h,,sSonS lie business rela
',a,,o;a I''SaI aio hiihself were above
I,,,au S,as- iem women were more
poPuai' Sne was aomestlc, she was prudent.
;n, We esa plIus IN country OF great fem
an.s o iee .uts anu iaueaue, she never rode
~ ar anoch VIZ" ~ o, anypoay Dut her husband
ion She wa. axpaus anu ambiguous express
W., ohc m"I aa"ays PRECISE and formal in her
speeou' ~ .ne .hiust oi fashion of osien-
talloas uesorat'on she never wore a diamond,
MI q slnsle valuable Jewel. She never
p e,m,.Oeu ali iauecornm =. IN public; she never
eou in U tne ialnillarlties OF California
?ooio.s. one uecsaiined against the prevail
III eone 81 oi inndelity and skepticism in
Mi aua. e,a Nv people, who were present,
,r iii 80 'ne ai9nlned yet stately man
=, 10 th "i'n mH.on sue rebuked Mr.. Hamilton
discnSs; p" of pa,ao LII ior entering upon the
rnh,isbod " a "olh on materialism, lately
p wiIJ nnt aoraat ~, some among, them, also
, wiz ny ~ .ne oppression OF amused sur
Paio0 oh MI. ildIlHIOnS face that UraIua H.,