Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-09-03
ures OF Brierthcrpe." he predicts.


dreadtully paSSee. You wouldn't fancy
her at all. She quotes Shakespeare, and
makes preserves. and teaches mission
schools. and is so dowdy. don's be-
lieve that she ever had Irritation in her
life"
"Indeed what misfortune! Poor
misguarded girl, I've halt mind to give
her an opportunity. However, o brother
oi ny '-iend fell in love with her while
Ia. vas Sta 'ying medicine somewhere
here
MOP X ally She must bs gears
older than oul sot You don't ike paSSee
girlsP"
Il like charming girls. past, present,
or future"
"Bul pdSSce girls are not charming" F"
mo? Then am not acquainted with
any such unfortunates," he said, gallant
ly.
mo; they are sharp and thin, with
crows feet about their eyes, and seams
in their forehesds. They are all angles,
mentally and lhYsicaiiy. and they have
tho air OF trying to pass for sweet,
sixteen
They were approaching rustic seat
beneath an ancient pino-tree, upon which
a lady and gentleman sat chatting.
"Let us hasten. please, Mr. Erskine,"
said Miss Linda, suddenly LET us turn
into this path; it is a shor, cut to the
lawn"-ii proved long one. IL am be-
ginning to feel quite chilly. l ought to
have bTough! my wrap.
Let NE fetch 1t, ," he asked
Il wouldn't give yon so much trouble,
thanks. am sure there is sel-iurn.
II you will walk little more quickly,
shall be ali right"
Shall we join in toe waltz as o pre-
vouIivo against chills' By.the-6y, did
you recognize the two people in the rus
TIC seat yonder?'
We're there two people ,hero' Sbad.
dows, maybe"
"It the shadow is a. beautiful as the
lady who turned when we drew near,
what must the substance be that cast i, ?'
Answer in our next" returned Miss
Linda, hippantly. who did not relish the
praises OF another.
On The whole, Mr.. Erskine was well
enough satisfied and employed with his
present friends. without making any
crcat efoyt TO seek q pa,S,e woman. who
might. after all. turn out indilTerently
pleasing At least Miss Linda Was graf
lied 10 see that be took no stop toward
Ihst end. He. however. put tho samo
question to mis- lsndladY on one occasion;
DO you know anything OF Miss Lor-
ing, Mrs Pas.y ?"
BLESS ye. dye mean Laura LoringP"
That is her name, believe
why. she lives up ter Seven Oaks.
It's g putty placc, Seven Oaks is-but
mortgsged-with no end of gables and
p'inted roofs and diamond panes in tho
Sinders. and heap OF stairoases and
passages TO lose yer way in. and that
leads almost snywhcres; and sliding
panels in tho winscot. and portraits in
the halls, out of which the gentlemen
and ladies wslks at dead o night. in their
satins and laces. aud toasls each other in
the big dining hall. But, law save Us !!
they amt 60, much TO brGg OF, them Lor-
lngs ain't, now. but the house and
grounds and the ghosts of their fore
fathers. The hOlp says as how thew live
mighty nigh the wind; and Miss Laura
she'd never wear hoops, and sin't got no
taste in Citing herself up. Old maids
don't mostly hev."
lis she an old maid-Miss Laura"
IL reckon so; never see forty agin, if
I'm siudge; only, ye soc, the Loring
hair holds its own from the cradle TO the
grave, and that's kinder misleading. She
don't hev any attentions from the young
fellows, though maybe that's cause she
! dOn'l live handy-some folks like TO hev
their sweelhearts At arms length. be-
lieye the 'Plscopal rector did take to 60
ing there TO consult some old books, but
he had call out West. LIS romantic
/ ike out 10 Seven Oaks; it ye're parlickler,
Johnd harness up and take ye there any
day it's only matter OF four miles"
But sir Erskine was not particular ;
he intended to 80 there, sooner or later,
before ne eft Briertborpe, Just to please
his friend, but be anticipated no pleasure
from the excursion al old maid in rusty
alpaca, with the airs ot miss, presented
70 attractions to bis minds eye, and he
rather looked forward to the occasion as
81 ordeal, and put off the evil dsy from
week TO week. But Fate was even might
ier than the will OF Mr. Erskine; she
carried him to Seven Oaks 10 spite OF
himself. Il occurred to him one morn
ing when pleasure Jagged and Miss Lin.
da had gone to neighboring TOWN for
shopping, that
"a southeriy wind and clear SKY
Proclaimed it a hunting morning"
de had been advised that be would bag
plenty OF birds in the Deepdcn woods
and be boldly took that direction; but
6ndir0 tha, Tho Deenden woods wara @