Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-09-03

| SinpcS Neio BAoNibk IuOoht ohu pun PiN
against the sunny wall. the ripened ap
pies were dropping hour by hour, ant
gay autumnal glories embroidered tht
garden borders, and the atmosphere
possessed that indefnsble sweetness
which we call melancholy.
81 could almost wish To be an invalid
forever. and walk these pleasant garden
alleys alone with you" he said. Blythe
way, if that lucky shot had ended my
existence, very likely they would
have called it suicide because Mis-:
Hardacre refused me-" They walked on
together in silence for little space
then, why don't you ask mo il she did ?'
be persisted.
because il is none of my affairs"
"Oh, isnt it7 Do you know, | must
have seen you somewhere-in some pre-
vious state ii not in this ?"
Yes; you saw me, or rather / saw
you. at Mrs. Cores garden party. You
were walking with Miss Hardacre in the
grove, and Mr.. Vane said it looked like
a match. and turned to sac what match
resembled, aud saw you"
Il remember We had just been
speaking of you, as aforesaid. Miss
Hsrdacre had been trying to paint the
lily, and had made wretched daub OF
it. Perhaps she was conscious OF her
failure, as she omitted to point out the
original
Somewhat later Mr. Erskine received
a motto 10 this effect
DEAR MR. ERsKINE,-If you are able
TO move, papa will DO happy to send the
carriage for you on any day you may
signify. We fear that you mnst be dying
OF enRiH in that dungeon keep and il
seems as il you should be with friends
instead OF strangers.
LINDA"
He passed the note TO Laura. "Shsll
so'r he asked. She waited so long be-
fore replying that he began TO think that
she had not heard. shall goP he re-
peated.
"She must be in love with you, or she
would never have written like this, )" said
Laura, rehoctively. "She would have
left ii for her father to do. Yes-You-
had oeiter-Go."
"Then l,9+l ara tired OF me ?v
Tired? What makes you think so |
should never be tired. l mean-I don't
know what. It doesn't matter. Bnt
you had better 90 to Miss HsrdacEe."
because she must DO in love with
me And what il 1 love you, instead !;
must go then p
"But you mustn't love me-you don't"
she cried.
81 know it is wicked TO contradict.
like TO vndicate my manners-but do
love you
IL don't know whether 10 DO sorry or
not. she said, passing her hand across
utT UIOh. OubHs " Do oviAJ'
Sorry because love you ?" he said,
reproAchiully.
Yes, because-don't look st me-be-
csuse-oh. turn yonr eyes away, Mr..
Erskine. or canos tell you-because l
AN already married.
Married." The word sounded like a
knell.
Married GoOdby" lie rose and
staggered across the room. 81 could
wish that you had told me earlier" loi''-
lY. Then, melting, "Oh, why did you
keep it from moP why did you let me
love you' Married."
81 did no, suppose it would interest
you. There was no occasion TO tell 1t. l
have never told it. Ii happened when
was very young, and romantic as Miss
uardacre, when Cousin Jack Loring
came down here before his. voyage TO
Calcutta. He was sailor, and very
brave and handsome. and WAS sixteen,
and q happy fool-lhat was sixteen years
ago, too-and we tell in love-i mean,
we thought so, when he went 10 the city
to Join his ship, | WAS allowed TO go with
him for the day, just 10 see the ship and
say good-by And then-we hadn't
thought OF it when we left homo. but 1t
seemed a good idea to be married; ct
least Jack said il WAS. and it seemed
very nice and romantic 10 have such q
great secret TO cal.y about with me, and
nobody the wiser; for had read all the
novels in grandpa's libralJ. Ii l hsd
had mother, you know, it would never
have happened; but l couldn't see any
wrong in it, I'd go we found out c)er'
gyman, and were married and sait
good by in the same breath; aud | Wa,
still Laura Loring,you see. Poor Jack
the ship was lost. only mate and two
/ hands were saved. who reported tha
JACK and others had taken 10 rait anC
though we never heard from them, hi
may be alive somewhere such thing:
hare happened; and l hate Enoct
Ardens-and, you see, | am married al
the same-and it was very wrong Tor m'
TO let yol love me, but It WAS so piessan
and then it was too late before
guessed. Now you will 90 away, o
course, ana forget me, and make Mis-:
Linda happy"
"Mr. Erskine had drawn nearer while