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

had her little nette ready TO sting me.
What is an old maid ?" she asked one
day.
"A happy woman," said Aunt Desire.
"Why ?" asked l.
"'Cause heard Tom tell Mr.. Justin
that Aunt Desire was au old maid, and
you were going to be. guess it's nice.
/ will be one too.
"How long do people talk so about q
girl ?" said to Amt Desire.
They kept it up with me I'LL | was
about forty"
"And am twenty -six-only fourteen
years."
"Just the time that Jacob served for
Rachel, and il seemed 10 him but one day
for the love he bore her. / wonder how
long it seemed to her? But you are
prettier than | ever was. You may
count on five years more"
We bad busy spring that year, the
children seemed TO have outgrown oil
their clothes in body. Ttey could not
spare me five minutes in The day where
in to be disconsolate. il my heart had
been set upon it never so much. went
out Tor walk the first warm day, and as
| entered tho gate on my return ! saw an
unusual commotion about the house.
The front door stood open. and the doc-
tor was just going in. while the faces Of
the neighbors appeared at different win
dows.
"Ohl what is itP" | asked brea,hless-
ly.
He has had his hand torn on wheel,
but it won't be fatal"
"Who? Who'"
Your brother Tom. He went into
the factory and was careless; that's all"
1t was enough, thought. as ] rushed
up stairs, and saw Aunt Desire with
Toms head in her lap. aud the crushed
hand held upright to stop the bleeding.
The doctor was watching for the iainI-
ness 10 60 off before beginning his work
Il shall need two TO help me" he said.
land the res. OF you must go down
stairs, aed keep the house perfectly
quiet"
IL was with him when it happened"
said Mr.. Justin "Will you take me ?"
you'll do" said the doctor. Now
another" But the people had scattered
at The first word, leaving Aunt Desire
and me standing together.
IL want Sadi." said Tom. lsintly
You look delicate" said the doctor
"It will need steady nerves"
''She amt delicate" retorted ION.
shes strong as a horse. | won't have
anybody else. You can stand it, can't
you, Sadi?'
"Yes, Tom"
Stand here, then, and hold the elbow
still as death. If the boy keeps up that
spirit. he'll live through this and good
deal more"
The first five minutes was easy
enough; but when The rel stream poured
ont in great gushes my own blood seemed
to gather about my heart, and Tor half 40
instant my head swan.
Steady !" said The doctor in a warning
tone.
Look straight at me. " said MIR. Justin
don't look down at ALL"
We were both bending forward over
the hand. | met his eyes as they were
within u few inches OF mine. and clutched
them, so 10 speak, as if they were the
anchor that held me 10 consciousness. II
may have been houIs. or only minutes,
that stood ngid in this way.
We'll done. Sadi," said the doctor, at
last; and / saw only neat bundle OF
bandages at the end of Toms arm, lying
on o cushion.
While Mr.. Justin was bathing Tons
head went into the next room and leaned
my tace against the cool wall. A sudden
rain Of tears blinded me, and had the
same effect Ms shower upon overcharged
air. In another minute | should have
been ready to 60 through the same strain
over again.
You need no! cry; he will do WE'LL
said Mr.. Justin. speaking very gently
beside me; 'and you were brayer than !
thought q woman could be-
i was not brave at all only strained
my will; and this is the way ! get over
it. Women cry for great many reasons
besides grief
DO they9 know very little of their
ways
i could not have gone through it but
for your help. thank you veiy much
He smiled and held out his hand, giving
mine q cordial shake. as if were man,
somehow. to whom he had taken fancy.
i will come back 10 the evening and
watch with Tom Then he went away.
and am afraid / thought far oitener in
the next hour Of the way that rare smile
lighted up Mr. Jus.iu's plain face than OF
poor Toms troubles. For Mr.. Justin's
lace was exceedingly plain; at first sight
it tseemed all of one color-hair. skin,
eyes. and eyebrows, of uniform yellow
ish-gray, second look detected the line
between hair and forehead. A peculiar