Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-06-25

whom my step.fa.her had deirauded. de
WAS q person from the South-sea Islands.
Think of IL Just think Of ito such
man-to sell me Oh, / rebeled. you
may be sure; cried, 1 implored. Every
day 1t was held up before me that
would be the cause OF my mothers dis
grace. of the disgrace of her children, oil
her husbands threatened suicide, OF their
ruin and beggary and broken hearts.
They did not hear me. They carried on
the affair by letters. They would not le.
me see him. les. he should learn my un-
willingness. | had reason 10 be unwilling
Oh, what Is the use ?" she cried. starting
up and going to the window. where the
rain and sleet beat So furionsly. "Whas
is the use Yet-it my heart would not
beat so! II IL would cease beating alto
gether Miss Twombly, IL had lover.
/ will not say much about him. l can't
she said, coming back to the freside.
They knew nothing OF II at home, ior
we met accidentally in O wood, and love
seemed like spark struck by mere con-
tact, for loved him from that moment
loved him !" she cried again, as she
saw nv amazed look at this breaking
down of ell her barriers. Yes. yes; l
iced not be ashamed of it. loved him"
She waited looking into the blaze. "All
at once they precipitated the matter, "she
said hurriedly my stepiather Che had
always been kind 10 me; had known no
olher) stood before me the color Of death /;
nv mother hung on my neck. sobbing
her soul out, the little children huddled
together in terror at the unknown
trouble. And I-oh, fool IL grew cold
or and colder. like q corpse. 1t seemed
10 me that neither did / breathe nor my
heart beat. What would my happiness
be when bought by their misery cried
out to bring him quickly before repent
ed. | never looked up when, half
hour af.erwaId, he came in. l never
spoke during the swift marriage, nor did
he, for there were no words to repeat !
we only bowed our heads in reply TO the
minister's questions and TO receive his
blessing. Blessing Blessing! i could
not see, not even the glitter OF the ring !;
the lights were swimming before me; in
q stupor, all | could think OF was that /
could not breathe either. Before the last
word was well uttered fell insensible.
| On. il had never waked!" she cried,
wringing her hands. When l came to
| myself," she went on, after moment,
"the room was but dimly lighted; a
physican at the door was saying some
thing about congestion OF the brain.
NY mother followed him out. 1t rushed
over me, all thai had done, the bondage
of my life, the desolation Of my lover-oh.
terribly AS my mother closed the door
behind her,I sprang from the lounge, and
caught up such of my clothes as had been
removed, and in q fever OF strength
dashed cut OF the window. made for
the river; but when | saw its dark tor
rent grew full OF anger toward those
who had driven me there. | seemed TO
hate them too much 10 drown myself.
Bot dropped my shawl there. 10 hurt.to
mislesd them all. Oh, well, well, no
matter about the rest. i found work at
last, found this plscel afterward with
Mrs. Cameron; except for seasons OF
suffering, have been In the main at
peace. And now-now-do you under
stand am the wife of q man whom l
have never seen; but this man-this 9th
er-he will never let me 60 again. He"
Miss Murray Do you mean
"Oh, mean that Mr.. Bssset was my
lover ~
Just then at the door on the other side
of the room came the imperative tap that
l already recognized. sprang 10 ans
wer Il; tut as opened the door, mean
ing to make excuse, and so refuse
entrance. 1t was gently pushed ont OF my
grasp, and Mr.. Bsssett came in. lie
walked directly to Margaret; but she
rolled the chair between them, and stoo !
leaning ON its top, her head thrown back,
her color high. the picture OF besutitu'
defiance. His own face was radiant
"You are making last stand" he said,
holding out his arms.
Her eyes fell; she became pallid and
tremulous; her voice shook. IL am
here" she murmured. "because l can
not help it."
"And you think will take no sdVsn'
tape of II pp he cried. margaret When
| saw you in the storm, and q thunder
bolt seemed to have fallen at my feet and
the grave TO have given up a ghost. and
my heart stood still-when saw you
fall out there on the sea-weed, and
spatched you in my arms, and had you
held against my breast, do you suppose
there was no wild plunging and rocking
of that waking heart. no hot surging ol
my blood. after all those years of terror
and torture, when you came like the
resurrection of the deadP Do you sup
pose l would forego the fierce joy ol
those moments, as l walked up to this
gate, for all of heaveuP Do you suppose
I will ayer let von 90 AGAIN p