Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-02-26
Selette0 Storp.
A Centennial ROMANCE.

/ lnls constant agitation Will eventually
Sill you, my young friend, said that en-
inent solicitor, Mr.. Blodgers. who had
charge OF my interests in the great suit
Tor the Stony Point property left me by
my aunt. i advise you to leave the
city, dismiss the whole matter from your
mind. aud concentrate all your faculties
u co. sou cthing else. II you do.not,
marx my word YOU will regret it. You
! have scale, y slept wink for week !;
sou are neryUus-have no appetite-why
sir, your case is purely suicidal Within
six weeks / expect the decision OF the
court and verdict in your favor. You
will be rich man. sir; but what good
will all your money do you il you have
lost yoar healih?'
i don't know where to 60. replied.
i am tired Of the country and seashore.
and all that. There would be nothing
new to occupy myself with, and should
inevitably get 10 brooding over the old
subject, Mr. B.odgers.'
Il have better idea than the country
or the seaShore. want you 10 quit the
city without leaving an address behind
you, so that not even letters can reach
you. want you to go to a psce where
you will be in constant whirl OF novelty
aud excitement, so that thinking about
your private business matters will be ont
OF the question. In a word, want you
to go to the Centennislr
Ny eminent solicitor surveyed me in
triumph. he had delivered his knock
down argument.
The Centennial on the whole the idea
was not bad one. had very pretty
cousin in Philadelphia remote claim
ant in this very suit, but without the
ghost OF chance-with whom | had
once corresponded. She had frequently
urged me to visit her; but the idea OF
avsiling myself Of her invitation had
never entered my head
Il could 60 there very well | replied /;
but | very much fear that not even the
Centennial would drown my remem-
bIance OF Oliver M4ckiD,osn.'
This Oliver Mackintosh ~as another
cousin not Of the lair sex, who was also
a party 10 the lawsuit, but whose pros
poets OF gaining il were much better
than my pretty cousin Maud's, and some
people thought quite as good as my owu.
Occasionally in moments OF depression.
considered them even better than my
own.
L shall be haunted BY he recollection
OF the Mackintosh have left behind me,
said in melancholy tone; and who
knows WHIST lodges be viii be up TO when
be finds am out OF the way p
Leave Mackinto-h TO NE, sir, said MIR.
Blodgers. severely.
Well, The end oi it ~as that con-
cluded to go 10 Phi!adeipLia. l "IO;e
Immediately TO cousin Maud spprising
her OF the fact, and 10 few days came Il
charming letter in reply, expressing her
de.igh, in be mos, enthusiastic terms,
not altogether grsmm.tical.y, nor quite
correct in Some instances. photographic
ally. But The paper Was so pretty and so
de!icately scented, aud the style so cordial
and afIectionate, that orgaye the gram
mar and spelling without pang. And
on the very next day folded collar
boxes aud shirts, and cigars and shaving
utensils, and SO forth, and was off by the
six-fity- five. Bu, l was gloomy, aud
could not disguise it.
Usually enjoy railroad ride, and,
upon the whole there is no music more
delightful to my ears than locomotive
whistle, if the engineman is good per-
former and sounds his signals with free
dom. also relish the periodical inter
ruptioDs OF the brakeman, when. with
! cap on the back of the head. and the
glare of maniac in his eyes, he bursts
! in AT the car door and shrieks the name
I of each successive station. An absent
minded conductor, who makes his rounds
ninety-nlne times in one trip, and de-
mands 10 see my ticket each time, rather
plesses than annoys, because | know he
is ianatically devoted TO his duty, and to
the interests OF bis employers. But to-
day the engineman seemed economical
of his steam, and his blasts were short
and far between, so that | C nsidered
that | was paying very dearly Tor my
whistle, indeed; the brakeman Was as
mild as Sunday school teacher. and the
conductor went round but twice, and then
vanished entirely.
Consequently, when the train pulled
into the depot, was very glad to have
reached mY destination; and after reviv-
ing myself with glass of soda water. |
took the street Car and started for cousin
Maud's.
She met me at the door. had not
seen her since she was about twelve
years old, when she did not promise to
be striking beauty; but time had
wrought it's changes, aud, thought as
she kissed me-for she did kiss me, de-
fenseless as I wss-that she certainly
was the hsndsomest girl that had ever