Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-06-13

L
oil sudden one day 10 marry him.
confess | thought for minute how nice
my tombstone would look with Mrs. De-
sire So and-So, beloved wife of Sc-and-
So on ii; but then thought of that
worthy woman who lived with him so
many years here. and perhaps is waiting
ior him now in the other world"
What did you tell him, aunt?"
Il told him | would have had him in a
minute If he had only thought OF it fifty
, years sooner"
"Bu: you didn't know him so long ago
did you?"
"Oh, yes | did, and had no thought Of
tombsiones then" A rosy flush stole
over Aunt Desires sunken checks. and
took st least twenty years from her age
for one instant.
! Now tell us about the first offer" said
Mrs. Obenreiser.
That was the iirst-and last" said
Aunt Desire, laughing a, Mrs. Obenrei-
ser's e1pectant face till tears ran down
her cheeks.
"fou have proved my doctrine. that
girl does wrong to herself down through
all her best years"
No. have only proved that every
womsn has at least one chance to get
married"
II, Ssdi's chance doesn't co me till she
ia seventy it might as well not come at
al"
81 don't think so," said Aunt Desire,
with faint, sweet smile, that reminded
me OF the perfume OF flowers long pressed
10 book. LET Sadi sit iu her chimney
corner, and make smooth the way tor my
Old fee, and the little ones to tread. She
is fitting herself to be a good woman,
which is a better thing. (becausO less se!-
tish) than good wife. Her lover will
come sometime"
Il wonder how he will look. - said |.
al be is the right man." said Aunt
Desire. "he should have light hair and
blue eyes. because yours are black. He
must be of hopeful and sanguine tenn
per. because you are inclined to look on
the dark side"
III he comes with the glass slipper in
his hand. you will be the fairy god.
mother said l.
The prince did not come" said Mrs.
Obenreiser. "till the godiuo,her had
taken Cinderella TO the ball. He didn't
see her frs, in her chimney corner"
"Oh. thou of little faith" said Aunt
Desire. "Sadi's lover is TO be thrown
from his horse, or likely his carriage, in
front OF the house, and brought in on
board and laid down at her feet. When
he opens his eyes and looks into hers,
lull of sympathy aud sublime pity"
The rest OF the story is 10 be found in
the next number" said l. suddenly put
ting out Aunt Desires prophetic fire.
'Matnmony is the one god OF women,
and you are its prophet"
When Mrs. Obenreiser was gone, Aunt
Desire sat long time smiling over her
knitting.
Fifty years was long time to wait
said, after while.
L was not waiting at all. | was hard
at work all the time. had my little dis
appointment. and buried it decently, and
from that time took more interest in
mems wives than in themselves. Those
few pleasant weeks. when the sight ot
nv wrinkled face began 10 stir up the
embers Of his old regard for me. were
sort of reward OF merit-somethipg to
make a little glow in my heart when
thought of it. but it was free gilt from
above, not asked for nor expected"
Have you had happy life, Aunt De-
siref"
Yes, Ssdi. If had to do it over
again. | don't know that | would alter
single thread; but suffered good deal
because of people like Mrs. OOenreisor-
as you do, Sadi"
I'm glad Of it. thought myself the
only girl that ever was silly enough 10
mind it,"
"All women mind it. Il is vulgar
cruelty that has driven many girl into
an unhappy marriage; but don't think OF
il. Go and cut the birthday cake. and
above all, don't pity yourself. Remem'
Der what you read to me about Calharine
II she was too proud TO be unhappy.
"I sm not unhappy" Isaid. with some
scorp.
81 know you are not. but it is very
fascinating habit to fall into"
After the cake had been cut and eaten,
and all the children laid away for the
night. some thoughts came back to me
,bs, made me blush. did not need Mrs.
Obepreiser to suggest that it was time
for me 10 marry il meant to do SO at
all. only my own thought had not taken
precisely that form. l hungered and
,birsted for love that should be wholly
mipe--not shared by q dozen others.
had enough to do in my orphaned family
20 occupy all my best years. but the sore
spot which Mr'. Obenreiser was always
probing, was The TACT that no one had