Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-09-21


Lumley was busy reading his letters
aud thought had better stay outside.
lie was that intent at first, that he seemed
not to have heard the Others words, but
after moment he lifted his face with one
ol The proud bright looks that were Lum.
ley's own. "Ay, comrade !" he cried,
cheerily; land don't tell me it isn't all
your own fault. Don't dare to envy me
my wife and child"
There was no reply but looking over,
| saw such a bitter, sorrowful look on the
face OF Lumley's Pardner, that, scarcely
knowing what was doing, stood aud
watched aud pitied him. heard Lumley
read aloud words OF love and trust.
watching and waiting. and OF happiness
tor him aud the child. | SAW his iace as
he read. He might he weak man, but
he loved the woman and the child. From
the last there dropped out a carle de
ri>tc. Lumley caught it up with boyish
eagerness.
"Old pard, he cried, ''you shall see my
two treasures. Here they are-Lulie and
the boy"
He tossed the picture across the table.
Tie other picked it up. saw a man die
once, stabbed through the heart Just
such q look came into the face of Lumley's
Pardncr, rs he glanced at that picture in
in his hand. LumleY. bending over his
letter, never saw it. When he mad finish
ed reading, he held out his hand. The
other did not even raise his eyes. but kept
them iiSediy on what he had.
al too once thought to have 4 wife and
child" be mlttered presently. less to
Lumley than to himself,
The words, following that look, were
whole book OF revelation to me. Hap.
PLY, Lumley did not notice. His face
showed some surprise, mingled with that
placid satisfaction the successful man
always weals.
All" he returned, shaking his head
knowingly. lis that The way the land lies
| knew you were always close moulhed,
but a dis.ppontment--l never suspected
That sac. whoever she was. had
precious bad taste when sh, looked the
o.her way !" and he ran his eye almiring
y over the others splendid proportions
and manly, handsome face.
"Sne never refused me, broke in Lum
Icy's Pdrdner. in low, smothered tone.
his eyes still fastened intently on the pic
tufe. "I-never asked her, but she knew
my mind, and thought knew hers.
MAS sure she would wait lor me uutil !
came back 1t was Tor her went away.
But you wrote to her ?" questioned
Lumley, with genuine interest.
Not wori-not 4 line. am poor
scribe. But she knew me we'll enough to
need no written assurance of my inten
tious. Every day would be lived Tor her.
There could be no doubt Of that in her
mind
Lumley made has.y gesture of dis
sent. And there. old man, was precisely
y here you failed to connect! Il don't do,
you kuow. lor women to take too much
Tor granted. They LliAe to be well forti
fed. aud then you are the surest to win il
YOU take them by storm. Why, my
Lulie-"
She don't look as though she ever
walked over a true heart with her dainty
feet, and that glad little smile Just cury
ing her lips broke in Lumley's Pardner,
his white face still bent on the picture
His deep voice trembled little over the
last words.
"Lulie is truth ITSELF" answered LIm
ley, quickly. "She never loved anybody
but me. To he sure she had admirers
how could she help that and be what she
is?-but she loves me truly. You can sec
it 10 her eyes !"
Lumley's Pardncr turned deathy pale.
lie caught the table by one hand, as if to
steady himself, and fairly hurled the pic
ture across to Lumley. 1t missed its
mark and fell to the door. As he saw it
fall, all the fierceness died out of bis eyes,
and frightened look crept into them.
'Pick her up" he said, with timid ap.
prehension, as though it were huma n
being to whom. in a moment of passion
he had committed some act OF violence,
Il didn't mean to do that-poor little
mother that last word seemed to give
him n stronger footing with himself. Il
was thinking how my i0ife married au.
other man. aud never let me know"
Come. come, old man. don't take it
so to heart" said Lumley, soothingly.
"There'll be pleasant home, dear little
woman, and bright eyed children in the
future for you yet"
NEVER"
Lumley's Pardner brought down his fist
like sledge-hammer; then he leaned
Forward in his seat, with feverish eager
ness in his manner which he tried hard to |
keep out Of his voice.
Tell me, how would you have given
up your Lulie?"
Lumley laughed with easy, careless
good nature. lyon put me in a tight
place." he said. "Bnt, supposing the
case, the first question should ask wonld