Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-09-10
StltettS StOrp.
From Ha,per's BazAr
A NEWSPAPER FILE.

IL was two days after Aunt Priscilla,
funeral, aud sue and l were sitting TO-
gethor by the kitchen fire, with THAI hush
over our spirils Sill which follows = death
and burial. AL the afternoon ws had
been busy getting the house to rights. moi
meddling yet with the things which had
been hers, aud were not ours, but by dinl
OF open windows, Sanshine. and furniture
busted aud re-arranged, trying TO restore
To the rooms that familiar look which lhoy
hsd lost during those weeks of anxiety
and trouble. A few days mote. and We
must face future which was full OF ter
rors. Meanwhile custom as well as in.
clinstion accorded brief respite in which
TO think of her who was gone. and OF
each other, with the cliuging fondness oI
those whose lives, never before parted,
were about TO separate.
She sat on low stool, her head against
the chimney lamb. 1, was the chimney
OF Aunt Priscilla's youth; she never
would sllor il-one of the wide 0ld-fash-
Toned kind. with pot hooks, and blazing
logs, aud a hake-oven at one side The
SCOT. t.blsckened bricEs and faint red glow
made s background for my sisters head
with ~ grea. twist OF fair hair. and lily
like slender throat. Sue Is very pretty,
prei,ier than anybody | ever saw. !
recollecied picture OF Cinderella sitting
il such an attitude by the chimney side.
She vas equally picturesque s. that mo-
menl; 50 far as looks 90, equally worthy
OF prince, ~. alas no fai:y godmOsher
y IS likely to emerge from the appleroom
/ tor her benefit. Aunt Pris, Rho in s.
small way had enacted thai parI toward
Us, WsS gone, snd hor blk rocking chair,
which We had 90 heszt 10 Ell in, swung
empty in It's accustomed place. type OF 8
ike emptiness which we were conscious
Of in other things. sad would ieel for a
/ long time 10 come.
Neither Of Is spOAe for s. while. We
wers tired anu spiritless, aud John Sisde
vas coming presently 70 talk over things,
50 We saved our words.
DR.. Slade-John - was Sues lover.
Their poor little engagement had been
formed two years ago How many years
il was likely 10 iast, nobody could guess +;
5ut they held on 20 1t bEsvoly and were
content 10 wait Pretty soon. rs we sst
waiting. his step sounded without on The
gravel, aad with little tsp-courteOus.
but unnecessary, for the door was never
locked-he entered. gave Sue gentle
kiss, me another. and sat down between
u in aun,y's rockiaG-chair. /; was a
Comfort to have nim do thsi. The house
seemed less forlorn q. once.
We'll. children. how has the day
gomez" be asked
Pretty well, replied Sue. 1--WE have
been busy, and are tired tonight. | think.
l sm glad you ere come, John dear. We
we're getting lonesome and dismal. Cree
and l.
Lucre,ia is my name; bat Sue and Aun,
Priscils always called me Cree
John adjusted stick on the embers,
and with one dsying poke sen, the sparks
upward before he answered. Then he
took Sues hand in his broad palm and
palling ii gently said
"Now let's talk over matters. We
ough, to decide Whist We are to do, we
three"
That three" was very comforting to
me, out John always is a comfort. He
was made So Aunt Pris said. And he
certainly carries on. the purpose OF his
cresiiOn.
"Did your aunt leave any will ?" he
went on.
"Only this ;" and brought from be.
tween the leaves OF the big Bible, where
we found Il. half sheet OF note paper,
on which dear sunty had stated in her
OWE simple form, tina. she left sll she had
q be equally divided between her neices.
Susan and Lucre.ia PvuI,X.c-. Squire
Packard's name and Sarah Brackets 5,
our Old washer womsn'S, were written
below IS witnesses.
Very well, said John. That
good in law, fancy; or II not. you are
the nearest relations and il's yours any
way. What property did your aunt own
besides this hOuse?'
'Sae had an arauity of two hundred :
year. and fifty dollars more from some
turnpike stock. That's sll. except the
house and furniture, but there's mort
gage of three hundred dollars on that
Squire Packard holds il. The annuity
stops now, doesn't iI7"
JOhn looked as though be wsnted tC
whistle. bat refrsined.
Your aunt was = clever manager" be
said-"a capital msnsger. She msde q
very little 20 great way, dido I sdeF
dor. znow any one else who could live
so nicely on three hundred 8 year, wiki
mortgage interest taken out. You have
always seemed cozy and eOmiOrlAb.e.'
I'VE always have beer. 81. ~ Lad
tre garden. you know. sud lie COW thE
| gave Is :wo-thirds Of our hyicr. Aln;J
was d wonderful housa1ceUer. though
Isn't its great daA. ,hespsr 10 ICED womel