Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-03-16


suppose. Clint, bed be taking us TO Hart.
tord to morrow if he had. It's all right,
but it's the strangest thing that ever hap
pened-Tll tell you all about it TO morrow
cant stay long enough now"
Mr.. Ray mond took up newspaper,
and bowed his head over it rs soon rs his
son started for Mr.. Dexter's; but il his
wife had observed him closely she would
have seen lhat he did very little reading,
and that there was troubled expression
on his counteuanc. lie did not raise his
ewes from the paper when he heard re.
turning footsteps. but listened very in-
tently. aud he knew that Philip stole
softly and hurriedlY to the back end oi
the hall and opened the chamber door
before he came over The sitting room. A
look of relief came into his face. and he
Strengthened up rs If great burden had
been lifted from him. lie had no doubt
that the bundle OF clothing had been
brought up from the oat bin and left on
the chamber stairs till Philip should 90 TO
bed That is what he hoped his boy
would do when he asked him to come
alonnd by the barn and get the halter.
| lie had no further fear that he would
attempt to give him the slip that night.
Mr. Raymond and Philip rode up to
Mr.. Dexter's door for Clinton, the next
morning, ust as the sun was peepi ng
over the hills. II vas rs delightful
September morning as they could desire.
as soon rs they were on the road Mr..
Raymond said;
Now, boys. you must keep your eyes
open-see all there is 10 be seen, and get
all the enjoyment out of going that you
can. We don't have holidays very often.
and We must make the mos, of them
when we DO have them. Philip and /
have worked pretty hard, lately and l
guess, Clinton, that you have. believe
a play day will do US all good. ! made
up my mind, this morning, 10 try and
leave all my cares and business behind
me. for once so you need have no fears.
/ if YOU talk TO each other all you please
and ask me as many questions as you
wish. that it will disturb me at all.
1t did not escape Mr.. Rtymond's obser'
yation that his remarks caused the lads TO
glance at each other il blank astonish-
ment. and it cut him to the quick. What
kind of a father have been p he asked
himself, mot to be able to speak a lew
civil and kind words TO my son without
having it received with such surprise.
Poor boy Wonder. pleasure, guilt and
grief are oil depicted in his countenance
TO day. After this. with Gods help, I'll
so manage that he II never doubt my lov.
ing him-uever plan to run away from
his fathers house again"
Mr. Raymond spared no pains to have
the boys erjoy their first tripto Hartford
lie called their attention to everything
that he thought would interest them on
/ the way. He told them who owned such
and such q farm when he was boy
what the land was worth an acre then,
and what was its market value now who
built this house and that; and he pointed
out where General - was born. and
where Hon. - lived till he went TO
college. lie was no less painstaking
when they got to the city. He took them
past Trinity College. The State House. q
high school he pointed out the different
churches, and told them who preached in
them; he went with them 10 the Aihe
naeum and spent an hour with Them
there.
Sometimes Philip looked at his father
In dumb bewilderment and wondered II
they were really 10 Hartford or II 1t were
all dream. How social and interesting
his father was He felt as If he never
was acquainted with him before. What
delightful time he should have had If
he had not been planning to 10 so mean
a thing. Ii his father knew it. how he
would despise him; he looked at him so
earnestly. sometimes he was afraid that
he saw guilt in his countenance. II he
could only get up the courage he would
confess the whole TO his father and i'm.
plore his forgiveness.
Thus the day wore away. and Philip
Mas not sorry when il was time to start
for home. After Mr.. Raymond left the
lads 10 follow on with the heifer, they
talked nver the events OF the past twenty
lour hours together, and they were both
very decidedly of the opinion that they
had had very narrow and providental
escape from committing very disgrace
ful act; and they both agred, after a
little discussion OH that point, that they
would never divulge to human being
that they had ever dreamed OF running
away.
1t was half past nine when Philip drove
the heifer into his fathers barnyard.-
Alter he hap his supper his father asked
him to step out to the shed and get a
package that was under the wagon seat.
When he brought it Mr.. Raymond open
cd it and took from it "Webster's Una.
bridged Dictionary" and sat down TO his
desk and wrote on 6y.leaf;
Presented TO Philip c. Raymond, on
IL 4 l.; Il. Ia