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

tions," and he did not gain a glimpse o
her.
At noon the next day the mother o
tlaxen-baired Nettie, pet of the baby
class, came with Nctlie's luncheon, &C
companied 10y the indetatigable young
man, who was then formally presented
to Miss Thatcher
From that time they met daily on the
way to school and The way from school
walking slowly along the high-road and
the pretty wood path that closed it, anc
giving each other gradually, with all the
trustful facility Of youth and irresistible
attraction, the confidential histories oI
;heir Young lfeiimes. At evening be
came 10 see her.
And then, what happenedP All at once
the dismal interior of the old house
where Louisa boarded became as rOsily
transligured as its exterior had been by
the glory of the western heavens the
hour of Miss Thatcher's arrival. In a
moro magical couleur de- rose. the
funeral parlor blushed into a boudoir
the low-wiudowed bedroom blossomed
into beauty, not only with all the buds
/ and branches brought into it as memeu-
tos of darling walks aud drives, Int with
the subtle etllorescent unfolding of love
| dreams.
One evening the Young couple were
seated in Mr. Seaman's parlor by the
dim lamp, disniied into "an extra"
looking together over the mil manu-
script.
Il find it so duh, said Leonard Mans
field. "Were it no. tor one considera-
lion and one conviction, should new er
be able to finish. The consideration is
TOR your sake, becauseyou like it, Louisa;
the conviction was the foundation of my
coming 20 claim the record When my
uncle's will was read seven years ago,
one clause struck my imagination.
"lt any OF my heirs feel sufficiently
interested in me to icquire into my per-
sonal history. they viii fad my diary in
the old mill where It was written. al
Red Cedar Pond, twelve miles from u,
J-Couuty. Connecticut. Personal ap-
piication to be made to Deacon Treat or
Squire Wells The heirs noted this di-
rection with indifference.
My share OF the legacies took me
through college--as my father, one OF the
dearest and noblest Of men. but never
fortunate in money-making could not
airord-and furnished me with 4 small
capital 20 commerce law practice. |
/ had more than one compuncious thought
about my beneiactor. 1t seemed to me
a shame to accept such benefits from a
man in whom | had rot sufficient interest
to acquaint myself with his personal
history. This year, when became for
the first time encOuragingly established
IN my profession, determined TO COM
mencc my vacation by looking up the
neglected diary. | confess do not lind
myself inspired by its revelation. What
/ did YOU find, dear Louisa, to kindle you
into The request that has huanted me, i
hope you will lore him little?'
Il found worlds in IT," said Miss
Thatcher, sighing SO sorrowfullY, as she
had not done since she had entered
her new world of love and loving.
Worlds of chat, my dearest'' asked
the light hearted young lawyer He was
clasping her haud in one Of his as he
spoke, aud with the other he turned
absently the leaves OF the time stained
book that las on the table A little bit
of handwriting that he knew struck his
vision; it was the line on the margin,
NO one TO love, none 10 caress."
Miss Thatcher saw it too. Yes,
know she said softly. al wrote i,
there. could not help it. Twas Tho
tribute OF my sympathy"
He turned TO her very earnestly
Something in the tremuloas scnsillyeneS:
OF her face smote his heart painfully
Tears started to his eyes. He folded hi
strong arm around her with q sense o
infinite tenderness.
LET me tell you" she said disengag
iug herself from his embraces, ""hat ;
strange thing | found, or thought
found. in that diary. First OF all, yo'
know, | was drawn singularlY int
rappOrt with the writer By my own sa'
loneliness. felt the depth OF meaning
in bis complaint.
Yes" she said. trembling, al mus
confess, and l do repent, even in hi
complaint against Heaven. Alone in tn
world Sometimes that happens"
And here let it be explained TO tn
reader that by an accident in the cradl
tho writer OF he diary had been mad
physically repellaut. and his sensiIiv
soul exaggerated bis misfortune into
barrier between himself and the lovin
sympathies of all mankind. As 10
womankind, he knew motor his moti
ar died at his birth-0veI its materns
tenderness.
Leonard dear" Miss Thatcher wer
on, .'you will think me, perhaps th
most supersliiious being; but | think
and the idea has gathered some reasons
ble pleas-I cauno. help trinAins th'