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

pauseu 10 listen 10 tue IeVeTpeIhtion VI
tho report. which seemed prolonged far
up the wooded height, and then went
slowly on, saying, echo. sweet echo,
with thee let me de-" till suddenly the
delicate notes were succeeded by cry OF
fear, as she spprC ached the PROSTATE 6g-
ure OF Mr.. Erskiue. That gentleman
was naturally insensible when be was
taken up By some brswny woodcutters
and carried TO the nearest dwelling. He
was never himself enough. throughout
The day and night, to wonder why he was
! lying there helpless, why there were un-
familiar faces about him but by the fol-
lowing morning it flashed upon him that
no had been out or had meant to go out,
shooling-or had ne dreamed itP Had
he oversight bimseli for the September
sky was full OF no early light. Then be
let his glance escape from. the diamond
shaped panes OF the mullioned windows
20 the great mirror with its remnant OF
gliding, TO the quantity carved chairs
with the cushions that had once been gay,
/ 20 the wide firoside with its glittoring
dogs, behind which handful of embers
glowed. and back to the bed upon which
ho Law. with is high, cufiously wrought
posts and its hangings of faded lus,re.
Had ho been lored away into some en-
chanted prison And was that woman.
or some cunning piece OF sculpture, IN
the big armchair "a woman fallen
asleep as il after long vigils, with her
dimpled chin upon her hand-a very fair
woman. he thought, with a mobile mouth,
and shadow beneath the closed eyes,
cast, perhaps, by the long brown lashes;
and maybe a line too many about the
brow; but very fair woman tor alisthat
and how unlike Miss Linda And then
be essaTod 20 lift himself up, and sharp
pain drow him back, and the spell broke,
aud the sleeping beauty in the antique
chair came to lite with start and shlv-
or, and Just at that instant tho door
opened softly. aud medical gentleman
entered. MIR Ershine must have expert
enced some sensations similar 10 those OF
SIgismund, ia Caideron's romance OF
LitC'S Il Dream, when he wakened IN
"sumptuous palaces. Not that there
was anything bul tho "Reminiscences Of lux
ury in this new silGation the liuon upon
which he lag was darn5d, tho carpet upon
the HOor was patched; everything was
dim and worn with ago and use-eyery-
thing except tho appariiion in the arm
chair. with the great sleepy brown eyes
looking straight into his.
And how lares our patient this morn
ing ?" said the newcomer.
He has been very quiet siLce you left
him. But perhaps be can speak tor him.
self. think had dropped asleep
You are not used to yigils. little girl;
you are pale yourself. All "-Qurning
10 Erskine) -"our patient looks AS il he
would ike 10 ask quest ons. So, so.
But not to-day-nOt to-day they keep
That was no tedious convalescence Of
Mr. Erskine's in that quaint old room,
into which the sunset stole. rosy red aud
gold. and touched the isded roses OF the
cbinIz into moments youth, aud lent
magic light to the soft eyes watching be-
side him. What a tender hand vas this
which smoolhed his pillow or bsthod his
aching head how divine after the heed
less touch of hired nurse! And what a
tuneiul voice was this that read from the
poet and novelist, and filled their pages
with new revelations What delicious
twiligbts were those, when the young
moon glanced in through the easement q
moment, and they let their fancies wan
der into the future, betrayed by It's beams,
aud told each other "iairy tales OF SCI
ence," and giew confidential and per-
sonal, and found that they loved the same
creeds, and often anticipated each others
thoughts When he had first been al
lowed the privilege OF speech, 81 shonld
be happy to know all about it, he said.
Iii it were in the days of witchcrah. !
should believe myself under some Gu
chanlment A! least, / should like 10
know who il is that works these spells"
~ am Laura Loring." said she, smil-
ing; land you are just as w.se as you
were before"
you are an angel, whoever you are"
NOBODY ever calls me one. Perhaps
you are premature; you don't know me
well enough"
"Don't know you Doesn't sick-room
reveal character? Don't know you |
believe know you when you were star
in the constellation of Cassiopeia and l
was nebulous point in the heavens
Hush! I'm afraid you are wander
ing again
Not tar away from here, II dst. And
so you are Laura Lonng! Well ! hoped to
make your acquaintance sooner or later,
but hardly expected TO bring it about in
this way. A gunshot wound is an ugly
affair, but everything has its compensa-
,ious. Aud 80 you Sre Laura LoringP y
he repeated. smiling quietly.
Did you suppose was any one else p
IL never supposed you were Laura
Ioring | once asked Miss Linda Hard