Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-09-26

ana gwen to understand great deal more
Than he chose to understand. Proud as
Luciier. as 1t was previously stated. he
was going to marry no heiress of them
all and be the thrall OF her money; he
would rot marry a rich woman, he could
not marry poor one. When he married
he was going TO give, not take. and at
present he had nothing to give. Perhaps
be would have been nobler person if
be had not been qaite so strenuous in
this matter OF obligation; but then, as
Mrs. Barne,ts said, he would not have
been Lucian Malvin, and Lucian Malyin
was a very good fellow, after all. and
there are but few OF us but have our
faults.
1t was among these people that he
happened to meet Rosa Mercier. She
bad come from distant place, and was
visiting his pleasantest acquaintance !;
and certainly the house was peasanter
still after her sunshiny little presence
dawned on il. IL seemed as it, for in
stance, there never had been any flowers
in the house before. although 1t had
always been overao wing; 1t seemed as
il there had been no music there, no
light. or color. or cheer; and now The
place was too dangerously delightful for
young man who did not want TO marry
to frequent. She was such lovely little
thing, not exactly beautiful, that is, she
would not have been beautiful in pic
iure. but in flesh and blood. and in Lu-
clan Malyin's eyes. she was exceedingly
beautiful. with her soft color. her clear.
dark gaze, and her bright hair that broke
into cloud OF sunny rings about her
sweet face; such gentle gayety went
with her wherever she did. such a tender
grace OF manner too. in the intervals OF
her buoyant spirits. her voice was such
warbliug voice, her ways were such
winning ways. Lucian Malvin felt that
be must iorswear her presence unless he
wanted TO make lie a burden to himself;
and he ceased going to Mrs. Barne,tas,
where she was staying, almost as sud-
denly AS the day iorsakes the horizon in
iha, dreary season when twilights are
not.
But II he could shut himself out from
the Barueltas, he could not shut Miss Rosa
out from general society; and go where
he would, he met her almost nightly,
laughing gayIy, singing sweetly, dancing
lightly, I'LL he declared to himself that 1t
this was going 20 last be must indeed
cease going out at all. But this was
little too much; be did not know how
positively to deny himself the mere sight
OF her. Yet things were growing very
precarious when he could not take =
book but he saw that olushiug, golden
ringed face slide in between the pages,
wheu be could not make out q writ will
out being in danger OF slipping her name
into the blanks. when he heard the de-
licious voice murmuTiug in his ears when
he walked. and walked all night with the
little spirit when he slept. he made
compromise with himseli-it was all he
conlL and declared that at any rate he
would not dance with her again. 1t was
an / lie effort. He might almost as wei.
have danced with her as as TO have s'ood
looking at her, quite unconscious OF his
general air. and all the lover in his
glance. Mrs. Blrnetta beckoned him to
her side; he stood there just AS R'sa
came up from her promenade and LETT the
arm OF one cavalier to be carried off by
another. You are not dancing. Mr.. MAJ
vim" she said "Oh. would you hold my
fan and handkerchief He followed
trem with his eye again as the music
crashed into dsshing galop.
What right had that other man with his
clasp about this darling' Why did she
suffer il? What decency was there in
the society that command s such sacri-
fee? In his whirling wildly
to this wild music.
"You do hate him, don't you?" said
Mrs. Barnelta. 10 his ear. "lt looks
could slay y" he started. Was he
carving his heart upon his sleeve, for
DAVIS to peck at p "Oh, l don't pity you
a Bit. laughed Mrs. Barnetta, low-toned;
and. putting out her hand, she took
Rosa's fan and opened it as she talked.
Anybody. said she, with such power
to make misery ought to enjoy it,"
IL beg your pardon, Mrs. Barnstta.
but if you read me riddles must ask you
also to be their sphinx"
"Oh, no; it was the function of the
sphinx 10 PROFOUND the riddles, not to
solve them" And Mrs. Burnetta laughed
her low, pleasant laugh. You do not
come to US any MORE" she said. "And
as used to be 10 your confidence before
YOU deserted me, | can imagine the
reason. do not like TO say that il is
yery shabby treatment OF an old friend.
OF course, cannot say that it is rude.
But If YOU do not dance with Miss Mer-
cier this evening | shall be feariul!y
offended. am not going TO have my
little treasure made unhappy for the
sake of the safety OF the prince OF all
good fellows himself"
Ipcian changed color SO suddenly that