Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-02-20

leave. Only III say this, that IL Aunt
Helen would marry old Thornton to-day
She wouldn't touch him with walking
stick |"
To our amazement, on the very next
afternoon who should appear at our gate.
with his phe,on and pair. but Mr.. Thorn
ton; and who. bonneted and gloved and
veiled should issue irom the door. TO be
placed in that ph@:on and drive of with
him. but Aunt Helen. Ned chuck1ed
but tho rest of US could do nothing but
wonder. elias she gone to be married p
We gasped. Aud Lii and Harry began
10 cry.
"Well. I'll tell you" said Ned. In mer-
cy. "He said there'd never been day
since he left her that he hadn't longed for
what he threw away"
"Oh, how wicked!"
"She told him so. very quietly and Sc
verely-I tell you. Aunt Helen can be
severe-and TO be silent on that point.
Forever p said he. And ever said she.
1T is impossible said he. And then he
went over, one by one. dozen different
days and scenes when they were young
and if ever fellow felt mean, was the
one"
IL should think you would, we cried,
with one accord.
Now look here" returned Ned. "Ii
you want 10 hear The rest. you keep that
sort OF remark to yourself. 1t was too
late for me to show myself. anyway
And I'll be blamed il I'll say another
word you don't every one acknowledge
you have done jus. as did"
"O1. Ned. do tell The whole That's
q good boy :"
well, she Just began to cry-l never
saw Aunt Helen cry before. Aad then it
seemed as if he would 20 distracted !;
and he begged her not to cry. and she
cried the more; and he begged her to
marry him out of haud-I know just how
to do it now; only it doesn't seem very
successful way-and she shook her head I;
and he implored her. by their old love,
he said. and she wiped her eyes, and
looked AZ him and gave a laugh hate
ful sort of laugh. Oar old love" said
she. Then said he. If you will not TO:
my sake, nor for the sake Of that old love,
marry me for the sake OF the motherless
children who need you more than chill
dren ever needed a mother yet, and who
who are driving me crazyn And then
Aunt Helen laughed in earnest. good,
sweet. ringing peal; and the long and
HE short of il is that che has driven up TO
the Thornton house TO day, 10 look at the
cubs and see what she thinks about them
May be she'll bring them down here SHE 5
great on missionary work, you know"
well. declare - was the final cho
rus. And We sat in silence good hsi
hour; and by the time orr tongues were
running agaip. Amt Helen hid returned,
and Mr.. Thornton had come in With her
and sat down upon The piazza step al
| her feet. but not at all with the air OF an
accepted lover-ipuch more like Il tenant
o. MVhau.meds e. lhI. We thought. And.
rs began 10 tell you, We were all sitting
and swinging there when Aunt Helen
exclaimed about is being scene oi do
mes,ic comfort. AS she sat down, the
big black Cochin hen came 10 meet her,
and Aunt Helen threw her bit OF water
cracker. u supply OF which she alway
carried about her nowadays.
why. where's your husband p said
she to the hen.
There he is" said Ned. He's been
up alone in that corner Of the grass the
whole day. calling aud clucking and in
viting company; but the rest haven't
paid the least attention to lin. and are
picking and scratching down among the
cannas"
"Oh. but he's been down there twice,
Ned" cried Harry; land tried to whip
the little bantam, but it was a drawn
battle"
well. he ought to have little vaca'
ton, and scratch for himself for a while,
said Aunt Helen. "He has picked and
scratched for his hen and her family in
the most faithful way all summer"
And SOS the banty. vssid Ned. "The
bsntam's the best; he's taken as much
care Of the chickens as the hen has, any
way; and he never went TO roost once
all the time the hen was setting, MIR
Thornton, but sat right down in the straw
beside her every night"
"A model Spouse" said Aunt Helen.
"They are almost human" said Mr.
Thornton. Aud so we sat talking unit
the tea bell rang. for Mr.. Thornton was
going to stay to tea, he boldly told US
and we saw that he meant 10 get the
yeung people on his side by the way be
began to talk to Ned about trout anc
pickerel. and deep sea fishing; but " her
be got to eel traps, Ned's face was pur
pie, and he blessed the tea bell fancy
However Mr.. Thornton might have fount
that it wasn't so easy 10 range the younl