Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1874-03-03


assurance TO ask you to marry him " she
said (reezingly.
"Why not?' lie loves me aud lovo
him." said Frank bravely.
This was little too much. No words
could adequately express our cons:eina-
ton. and we all three sat and gazed at
her in silence.
at is just too bad" sighed Grace, nj
last, with tears in her eyes. Its going
TO spoil all our good times"
1T is 4 very unpleasant mistake from
beginning To end" said Arabella, with an
cffor, to compose herself; "but il pro7es
conclusively that whatever else he may
BE-, is no gentleman
you are wrong there y cried Frank,
with flashing eyes; and then like The true
woman she is, she bravely took up the
absent ones defence.
II seems that the nephew. Ralph Hill,
whom the farmer went To call on that
memorable evening, WAS absent at the
time So Ralph Strong was sent in his
place. Accepting our cordial invitation TO
visit Us. wthou, the least suspicion that
we were taking him Tor other than he was.
he had come and gone week after week,
in bissful ignorance, until one evening,
while ccEfding to Frank some bits of
personal history. he chanced to discover
tho mistake we re making. and was
a2cr at once 10 explain; but Frank.
partly from love OF mischief and partly |
(or fear IN explanation would put an end
u his coming. begged him to keep quiet
for while. $50 the fault is all mine."
sle said "and now YOU may call him
what YOU like. farmer Hills nephew or
farmer Hills hired man.-to me he is and |
ha, been from the ir>i, simply Ralph /
S:rong, the lruest and best man | have
ever known"
AID all Aiabclla's arguments failed TO !
convince her that ploughing and rcaping
for faimcr Till had in any way lesSened /
his manhood. or that in marrying farm |
cr she would be booming herself to Il life |
OF drudgcry. So there was nothin. mole
to be said She WAS OF age. and had a |
perfect right to 10 rs she pleased; but it
seemed 80 odd that Frank, who had re
fused ~ orc offers than she could well !
remember. was, alter all, going 10 marry |
farmer Hills hired man.
/, came to light = little later that he
was himself the owner OF handsome |
lam. and had hired himself to farmer
Hill chiefly Tor the purpose OF learning
how 10 run il, having discovered. on leav
ing college, that hc knew far more of
astronomy than oil agriculturei but even
this modifying fact could not restore Ara
bclla's composure.
Father aud mother came home in the
fall. and wc all went back To town-and
al Christmas there WAS wedding. Ara
bella declared that it was disgrace TO
the family; but father. who is quick at
reading men, said Ralph Strong was
worthy OF any woman, and that Frank
had shown her good sens.
They have been married three years
now. and Grace and go every summer
To visit them. Their home j. u little Ellen
and Flank is rs happy rs queen. To be
sure, she has some care. as every wife
and mother must; but | can't see that
She /, one bit more oi drudge than any
city woman; and, as Tor her husband, he
grows uo6ler and better every day. as
every true man must. who has Il true wife
u help him.
Artbeila has not yet been to see them.
but don't think her injured dignity can
hold out much longer; for Frank. with
the sweet forgiveness of her nature. has
named her baby for her, and dainticr
"baby BcliH was never seen. They are
going To bring her to town soon, and
Grace aud feel sure that she will prove
u little peacemsker.
Speaking OF ArabelIa reminds me that
last GUNNER we met farmer Hills nephew
other Ralph. They say he
is .ich : but. poor fellow, he is greatly to
be pilied Tor he not only has weak nerves,
but q week head rs well; and even Ara.
bella-wurdly minded rs she is-could
she see him, would be quite willing TO
acknowledge that Frank had made
happy mistake in taking the hired man
instead.