Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-05-04

wv tsS WAY Ap ulIit }ApHhtA1NS to"hS'
O!i Benz ,min Walker Ised to DO ist
that he had never seen au engine nor
steamboat; land never wanted TO,
either" he said. llis sou Samuel had
once been TO the great city, and Jane
might have gone when she was girl.
only she couldn't make up her mind 10
leave home. In consequence of so much
experience, Slmuel and Jane were lead
inS people in Dilpworth. Benjamin
would have been greatly disappointed ii
his eyes had ever rested on the iron-
horse. lie was spared that great sorrow,
for Death came to him before the rail-
road.
Mirabeth had learned to read and write
well. Her mother had used TO teach
school down in the valley before she
married Joseph Ilaines. and her few
books were in the child's possession
Joseph had small opinion OF learning but
great opinion of his daughIsr; so he had
never prevented her doing what she
could to improve her mind
She knew as child all the flowers
and Lerbs that grew about, and with 4
clear piping little voice could answer the
bird.cails. She liked to~ander Oft into
The woods and lie among the grass aud
leaves, singing softly to herself, and
thinking she knew not what. When She
was fifteen, the old woman who lived at
the house died, and Milabelh went no
more into tue woods, but s,aid at home TO
care fOt her fathers comfort, and became
demurc Quaker maiden. fair and pure
as a lily, but calm aud passionless.
One day the coach drove into Dip.
worth and deposited, beside the five
papers, a strange young man and this was
80 curious n thing that the people first
stared after the relrealing stage TO make
sure that il had made no mistake. and
then they looked at the Young man. lie
Was tall and bread shouldered, with
golden beard. and he carried n portman.
teau in his hand. lie stood for moment
iu the middle OF the road where The
stage had lett him. and then strobe into
the store. This was Philip Harper, and
be had come as the herald of the railroad.
The great Swan and Mogul liuc was in
course ol construction; and 10 save tun-
neIing Lofty hill, Harper was to nego-
Iia,e for thoroughlare at Dilpworth
Valley. lie go. what he wanted. longth-
ened the road by ten miles. saved the
company five hundred thousand dollars,
and know that he had done well. But
this was still 10 the future.
lie was taken to meeting on First day,
and there he saw Mrabelh Iiaines. She
entered 10 her plain. gray dress. looking
90 peaceful and cool, aud besides. The
girl was really beautiful. Harper was
something CT an artist. and knew that
she was fair to look upon.
Mirabelh was tall and 1.-The, her hair
black aud smooth over the temples, and
her eyes large and wondrous dark, with
long curled lashes. Harper could look at
none save her. and when the women
came out OF their respective doors, he
stood bareheaded in the path as Mira
beth passed by. Then busy John Gruby
began his introductioDS.
Philip. I'll make thee acquainted with
our good Samuel Walker aud his wife
Hannah; and this is Jane. Here's Joseph
lIaines, Philip. Where's thy daughter,
Joseph2 MiratetL," be called. and the
ghl turned, "thee must know Philip
Harper. the new Friend who has come
among us
She held in one hand blue cotton
umbrella aud little bunch of field flow
ers she had picked BY the wayside; but
she gave him her other shapely brown
baud, saying only, IL am pleased 10 meet
thee. Philip Harper and he was i'm
pressed anew with her beauty.
Ia another week. Harper had bought
the land for the company. surveying was
begun. and in q week more thirty hands
were at work on the Dilpworth Valley
Branch.
But thee sees, Miss Mirabelh." said
Philip, half adop;ing the Friendly speech.
.thee sees The hardest work is just here"
This vas more than q month after his
coming, and the two were examining the
work he had done in the valley.
Thee means a bridge p she asked.
Yes"
There was one curious feature about
Diipworth--the river. as thc.people called
il; the brook, as Harper thought, though
iu truth it was neither Though rocky
gorge. about fifty feet 10 width, ran
mountain torrent. The walls we're high
on either side. and at the point where
Mirabe,h stood must have risen some
forty feet above the apparently harmless
stream that flowed below.
1t looks quiet enough now, she said;
..but iii the spring time it is often fearful.
Why, Philip, l remember one great
storm, long ago, when trees were borne
mast here ike straws. aud then it was
Impossible to cross anywhere"
How do Yen cross ?' he asked.
Oh. there is a ford somewhere above
/ here. l believe; but we have never