Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-12-31

for my visit aud that OF my Trend. L
had begun to do so in few hurried
words, when my attention WAS suddenly
arrested by an exclamation from Mr..
Pycroft, who had followed me. The
second occupant OF the room, whom he
had at first seen but imperfectIy, had
now risen 10 his feet, and stood with the
light iull upon him, strainiDg bis eye in
TO the shade where my companion stood
behind him. turned hastily round and
met the stern gaze OF my old friend.
IF this is trick, Mr.. Broadhead. he
said, speaking very thick and with chok-
ing utterancs, II can tell you that IL
does you little credit"
What do you mean ?" | asked in utter
bewiderment.
Il mean if this has all been a planned
!hlng to bring about reconciliation be-
tween me and my son"
"Your SON" | gasped.
81 can only say" continued Mr.. Py-
croft, '1hat il shall meet with the success
1t deserves"
He turned ms he spoke and made for
the door, but | was beforehand with HIM.
Stay, Mr.. Pycroit ~ cried. "It you
choose TO retain this feeling OF snimosity'
which so i'll becomes you, you must. but
you shall not gu away with false inn
preston of this matter so far ns | am
concerned in ii. swear 10 you that your
suspicious OF me are islse thai when
we came IL this room had no more idea
Of who were its occupants than you had.
and that meyer knew your son was llv-
ing in this abJect misery; though, II |
mad, would certainly have done my
best to rouse you to a feeling OF what
under such circumstances, you owe to
one who bears your name"
Mr.. PycrOit had glanced once search
ipgly towards me when denied his i'm
putation OF having been concerned in 6
plot TO trick him into a reconciliation. and
now his eyes we're directed towards the
place where his son stood before hun
He was fine, manly-looking fellow,
and as he stood there holding his wife :
hand in his. aid with the refining inhu-
ence OF recent illness showing on his
worn but handsome face, | could no
help feeling that surely this picture must
complete IN, ork which the shadows
had SO well begun.
Look at themf' said-"look at TINS
room-look at that meal Can you see
such wretchedness and not DO moved |?
Ii your son has dIspleased you, has te
not sufrered' Ii hs has disobeyed, ht
has paid the penalty"
looked at my companions face, and
| thought tha. saw some shadow oi
compunc,ion working there.
"DO not" said, "let the sympathy
which you bestowed on the shadows
be wanting Tor Inc realities which cast
them"
The little wife Mt this moment leit her
husbands side. and advancing TO where
we stood, laid her hand timidly on that
of my old friend looked at him once
more, and then, beckoning the poor en-
graver to his fathers side. passed qui-
city from the rom. where felt that my
presence WAS no longer needed.
About an hour afterwards. | was sit
ting dsconsolalely in my room, r,tect-
ius on the loulelness OF my position, and
rather enVyIng my opposite neigboors,
when | heard my own name shouted 10
o CHEEKY voice from without.
looked in the old direction, aud saw
my friend, MIR Pycroft, standing Ht bis
sons open window.
We want you TO como over" said
The old gentleman, land spend what is
left OF the evening with u.s."
I
assented gladly, and in few min
utes | was sitting one OF q comfortable
party in the room opposite.
do you know what is one OF the hrst
things we intend 10 do now ?" said the
little wife, smiling as she looked at me.
Il have not the least idea." was my
answer.
"Why, we are going to nail up the
thickest curtain we can get, in order to
prevent our opposite neighbor from see
ing wha, we ara ABOUT whenever our
lamp happens 10 be alight."
You need not be afraid" l said
land you may save yourself the trouble
of putting up the curtain, for the oppo'
site neighbor hopes henceiortb to see 80
much OF his new friends in their Sub
stance, that he is not likely to trouble
himself much about--their Shadows"