Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-08-22


the modest little Rose, living her secluded
lie. had never had the remotest sort OF n
loveri he knew now that she was living
all IN white. wrapped in her innocent
dreams and thinking OF nothing less,
while he was marauding up and down
the garden paths. lie was very much
mistaken; she was hiding behind the
window at that moment, watching him
between the streaming courses OF her
tears, Us he went up and down and tor
tured himself with angry thoughts and
passionate emotions. Why had late fixed
him 500 he was asking. Why was there
10 chance FOR him? why would no open
iug offer that he might enter and gain a
promise OF sufficient income to Justify
him in telling Rose what ho lelt-all
these Wild wishes and bitter longings? !?
Now u moueyles clerk in village store,
be had no right to bind her fortunes with
his. to b:ing upon her, even il she would,
The weary cares and heavy weight OF
marriage with man so destitute.
For look, even should she be kind,
should they marry-ah, what lhrobs his
heart gave ut the fancy they would
have no more than they had now, and as
the years came and brought their bur
dens, i, would simply bow Rose into the
grave And she knew it. Ttat was
wha, this desire TO get out into the world
nean;-,o break up their way OF lie. to
bc of and away from him. And then
Roger groaned and clinchei his fists. and
asked himself the whole round OF ques-
iions over again. Yes, why was he, OF
all men, so placed that nothing coud
ever accrue TO him no hep reach him ?
no one hold q hand 10 lift him up? Just
suffered to plod along from hand to
mouth when little capital would put
him into such heaven? II he had but a
couple OF thousand dollars 10 start with.
he could open second store here. He
knew the whole structure OF trade, there
Was quite business enough Tor another
without robbing the first; he could even
make new business. He knew Just where
he would plant his stock Of goods and
put up his sign. And then in spite OF
himself. came the picture OF the blessed
time when, work done. he should go
home 10 Rose. iair. Joyous, his, by her
fre, or looking out for him, springing to
meet him: the scene grew so real 1t
seemed to Roger be could !eel her sweet
breath on his face, her warm arms about
him; he held her Just one daring mo-
ment in this waking dream, and then he
sat down upon the step and his lace in
his hands as il he would hide too the
scalding tears that mus. have way.
Two thousand dollars-he might just
as well wish for silver mine Just as
be said the words 10 himself, . solt
clear radiance was yelling up over the
dusky garden. aud be raised his head
a...;n. after a while, there came the moon
softly lloating up above the horizon OF
the long interval below. /. cheered him
inexpicably. like au omen, q promise !
be stood up and struck one palm into an
other. al will have her YETI he cried,
and went In to his dreams.
"Can you think OF ANYTHING. Rose
where We can economic ?" he said, next
day.
Economic :" she repeated, gayly.
"For what? In what? With what?'
80 that We can raise two thousand
dollars" he answered grayely.
She sat down as suddenly as If some
gigantic hand had been laid on her mead
and had crushed her into the seat
Two thousand dollars" she gasped.
1--WE couldn't economize it in thousand
wears. for don't know where We waste
a cent now
IL must get it some way. them IL
have to go out saving wood alter hours. u
why. Roger ?"
For capital 10 60 into business"
The house would sell for five hundred
more than you want"
The house !" he said. That is not
mine"
Rose stood up, moving one thing and
another nervously about the table; her
lips ,rembled, and all at once she ran out
OF the room. "Oh, he cares nothing Tor
me; he despises me; he disregards me
he would take nothing from me Because
il i, mine it is not his. and he wants moth
ing Of me-"
"She takes no interest in it; she doesni
care whit whether | go into bushes;
or not; it matters nothing to her," he
siobed. "She flashes out OF the room
about her business as indifferently a.
though | were the merest stranger at the
gate" And he jsmmed on his hat anc
went to his work, bead down, hands IL
pocket. and gloomy as the grave. Al
day long that rosy, dimpled face fitting
be,ween him and every customer; al
dsv long the awful figures, $4,000, writ
inc themselves on the wall before hin
like 2 Meme, Meme, tekel, npharStn; and
when. late in the day, a cloud slowly
rose and hung over the fields and marsh
es. till sll the sky was purple and all Int
land was IN shadow, and low thunder'
-. L., and ebarY