Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-08-27

tDlOuuo tuo1 Notc stcu cNoiJ T" ""'" W
gether, and report said be WAS TO marry
hor
1t is lieP said to myself; he
promised to come back TO me- AND
then said again. Why should be an
gry' why should | believe him hard
ly knew him, and most men are false.
| was such silly girl, l thought. Then
father was always speaking OF the baron
/ could see that he was sorry | mad not
accepted him q. once. And Aunt Jane,
she had 10 talk TO me about Ii, and say
that she couldn't last long and that father
was getting old. and that | ought 10
think about getting married, and-well,
you know how women talk TO each other
about marrying Considering that Aun,
Jane had never thought OF marrying
herself. it oughln't to have bad much
weight with me. but Ii did.
The year wore on OF course though,
a great deal about Arthur, but thought a
good deal about the baron too. The lit
tie bird was no longer lonesome and as
she and her mate had built themselves 5
nest, and had domestic duties 10 perform
in rearing brood OF young ones. they
were too much wrapped up il their own
, affairs 10 be very companionsble. But
when autumn came again and the lesv es
were falling and the cold winds blew
out of the north, ihsl foolish little mate
! few of 10 the south, and the little for
saken thing came back into the conserv-
story and wanted 10 be comfor.ed. And
we did comfort her as best we could.
All the winter through she was In and
out from the conservatory to the dining.
room. becoming very friendly and ans
wering TO her name instantly: papa had
named her Niobe.
In due course OF time the carly spring
came round again. and ono April morn.
Ing there cage letter from the baron.
lie asked HE for my answer should he
come and take me- with him 10 his Ger
man homer showed the le.ter TO papa,
and all he said was
My daughter. he wonld make you an
excellent hus5and-such a one as your
poor mother would wish for you were she
alive. | hope you'll consider the matter
we'll before you say No.
!hought il ali over. Why mott Yes.
| would wriie TO the baron and say Yes.
Arthur was away he'd never come back
be was in love with tia. pretty blonde.
Was ii likely was going to ruin my life
/ for him had too much sense Tor that.
| would just e and throw his old glove
into the fire and sll thoughts OF him 70
the winds. So went for the glove. and
kissed it-ioOlish thing and put il back
10 my .reasnre-bo1, and went on think
ing of Arthur more than ever. Then |
demonstrated with myself for my foolish
ness, and took my writing-desk 10 my
lap and sat down in the conservatory 10
writo 10 the baron. began my letter,
MY dear Arthur and then had 10 begin
again and started fairly with My dear bAf-
on Thon | tried TO frame proper SEN
.ence 10 start with. but that desolste little
bird came hy ing to my shoulder. and
chirped and talked with purring song,
which fancied 10 say. oh, my poor
heart poor heart ! poor broken heart
Alas 7 and 1t WAS such strong impress
sion that pot my hand TO my own heart
and held on there. while ! laid my head
on one side till il touched the feathers Of
tho bird on my shoulder and so we sal
silently musing
What do you ihinS reused usP There
was a quick tiuttering in the bids breas
She flew away from my shoulder; she
flew to The top OF the highest szalca. an
she sung-oh, how she sung Joy. vic
tory over doubt, faith crowned glimpses
OF heaven in the spring sunlight, they
were al in that song. knew in q min
ute what had come. | threw open ihe
sash, and ouI OF the sunshine. borne IL
with the odors OF the new grass and
budding trees came little brown bird
tired as from a long journey, but with q
song OF greeting that oVer-topped even
the song OF welcome that awaited him
watched them moment as II In d
spell, and then / tore up my letter to
the baron and tossed il among the fow
ers; and the tears came in uy eyes, and
/ said alouo, On. Arthur, do love you
i know | do II you don't come back
l shall die
Then, dear. you shall not die, for
sm here > and the foolish boy-for II was
Arthur come Dack and stolen upon me to
surprise me-put bis dear. strong arms
about me, and | was ready 10 faint, and
cried little on his shoulder, and he
kissed me, and We went in 10 papa and
talked it all over; and he. told me al
about his finishing his studies and hurry.
ing home, and all about the blonde, q
cousin of his who was out in Leipsic
with her mother studying music, and
they'd made home for him, and said
should know them and they should know
me: and it wss al lovely. And the re.
suit of it ali is, here We are. and we love
birds, and we love each other. And do