Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-08-01

reasoning Is sulEclently plausible 10 ue
serve TO be tested, and so il shall be
But first promise me one thing promise
me that il this miracle ofintuition proves
true, you will be my wife to morrow
My darling. you shall not say No" He
prevented her. indeed in lover-like
way from saying anY thing. And silence
is Eyes" to love.
The last day of August the whole vii
lage OF Red Cedar Pond was thrown into
a torment of excited curiosity.
The excitement began in one of the
twin houses on the Meeting house
Hill" at five o'clock in the morning
Miss Tabitha Butts stood in her night
dress peepiug through the blinds of q
dormer. window. She never could tell,
AS she declared aitcrward, what made
her peep.
She saw the back door of "Dck Sea-
mans" open, and Louisa Thatcher look
mysteriously out Then she saw Tim,
the miller's boy, creep stealthily around
the porch with pickaxe and spade,
which he gave to Miss Thatcher, who
disappeared with them into the house.
Then Tim, stealing back again as far as
The lilac bushes. and cautiously survey
ing all approaches, put his hand over his
mouth and gave low whistle. lmme-
diately from the horse shed by the
church man came out very quickly, and,
nodding to Tim as be passed. FASTENED
to the high-road Miss Tabitha was
sure, although his cap was drawn over
his face. that this man was the young
stranger TO the village who had been so
infatuated with Miss Thatcher.
Then Miss Thatcher came 10 the door
again and beckoned 10 Tim. and whis-
pered; and be went, around by way of
the church, down the plum orchard, to
the mill.
A pickaxe and spade Miss Tabiha
had cold shivers; she could think oil
nothing but grave. When, two hours
alterward, the coast being clear. she
sped across the garden patch TO the
"meetin' house she'd" her fancy lost
none OF its horrors. TOR there, in the north
east corner was q space OF tresh-,urned
mould.
Miss Tabilha went home, put on her
sunbonnet, and was"down TO the village
In no time"
The next excitement was at the som
nolent dwelling OF old Squire Wells.
Mr.. Mansfield had been closeted with
him an hour. And when the squire re-
appeared he nearly upset his ancient
wiie in the hallway in his haste to get
| bis hat and coat, and choked ill he was
scarlet, screaming into her wrong ear
that he was going to U-"on bizniss !"
on he went AZ such 4 novel pace
that the poor danes feeble faculti es
aroused themselves to concentrate upon
one fatal remembrance "Ween an OLD
horse that has alters walked takes to
runnin' away. theirs no ind o. damage.
Excitement third was sealed letter.
dropped by Mr.. Seaman's Err into the
post-oflice at ten O'Clock, the hour OF
general delivery, directed TO the trustees
ot the district school, which body, being
in quorum on the spot. opened at once
the resignation of Miss Thatcher in favor
of the highly recommended candidate
for the winter term. TO whom they had
Kindly given her the preference.
Excitement fourth attacked ilaxen-
haired Nettie's mother plessant-!aced
little widow, whom Tim, who had rid
den to U-and back again at break
neck speed brought q note from the
Congregational minister OF u, say
ing he would sup with her that evening,
Ill agreeable" as he was coming TO Red
Cedar Pond lin virtue OF his office" q
sentence underlined ike pleasantly
that so. upset the good widow 's.brain as
to spoil the count of her one-two-three
four cake.
Last OF all, and the grand excitement
of the day, was the ringiug, Mt ioui
o'clock in the afternoon, of the meeting
house bell. "Who is deadP" every ont
asked, as the first few slow stroke
were counted but once fairly set going
The old bell tripped up all calculations
fifty, eighty, hundred; still on; quick
ly, jubilantly-ringing not for the dead
out for the living; ringing. fora we'd
ding!
Such scampering as there was VI
The Mill-Bridge Road There was NJ
lack of witnesses TO the simple. solemn
service, and OF the coming down tn
aisle, on the arm of her proud youni
husband, oil delicate little bride, wit
mourning laid aside for purest white
and day -lillies on her bosom.
Not married in haste to repent a
leisure were the two loving people VIII
took the evening train at U-ior ia
commercial city, preceded by their goo'
fortune in shape OF a strong box file
With Spanish doubloons and Englis
sank notes ipgeniously bequeathed by a.
eccentric mislpthrope, and discovered i
IS hiding place by a woman's wit, kin
d.ed by woman's sympathy.