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

overlaid with gliding but partially des'
, troyed. What chance bad left 1t In this
state, as If plague had fallen on The
family and one and sll were extinct, we
could not imagine.
WELL" sighed Lucia, 1--WE must make
the most of this storm. suppose ma VI
have some of her absurd scruples sbou!
staying even over night, and she's bound
to go tomorrow If she has 10 be carried.
know her. If only the others had all
come too, and we had our trunks, just
think OF the masquersdes and .hea.ricals
we could get upi What a house for a
runaway matchF'
The Black Prince OF the Forest,
watching his chance, steps in behind
Theodolinda from a Withdrawing panel" f"
cried Belle. land clapping his shapely
hand across her lovely lips, bears Off"
and there left them 10 their n onsense.
began speaking of these capabilities
OF the house to Miss Murray when re-
Joined her. And it doesn't affect the
romance for them at ALL" | said. "thst
all these secret passages were only for
the handy hiding of smuggled brandy
kegs and bales OF silk"
To my CONSERVATION she looked up
with smothered cry of horror. felt in
the midst OF an unknown tragedy. And
that was true, then?" she exclaimed.
Concealed doors, dark galleries-at no
moment safe ? Oh. they were tightening
before-the tolls. But now but now!"
and she paced the floor like q Gagged
animal.
Certainly this Is a msd-woman, and
this is a mad-house, was saying to my
self but learned what her self.control
was when, at Mrs. Cameron's awakening
moan in the opposite room, she sprang
10 her side, quiet as a nun; and learned,
too. what Miss Murray's possibilities OF
beauty were. with tha, dark hair. usually
bound so severely away, dropping now
In rolling lresses about the cheeks where
on crimson stain seemed crushed. An
hour afterward. daring which we both
composed our toilet,a servant announced
dinner, saying she was TO stay with Miss
Cameron In our absence. II can't GO.
Indeed. indeed, can't" whispered Miss
Murray. lit would" Her words
were cut short by Mr. Bsssett himself,
who, tapping on the door. entered. took
Miss Murrays hand and placed II on his
arm, and she went along as il to avoid q
scene. II was, perhaps, 20 everybody's
amazement that be led her 10 the head OF
the table, and sat her in the place opOo-
site bis own. But il really made no
difference where aaybody sat, except for
the right and leh Of the host, as there
was no carving TO be done, and the SER
wants handed every thing. Mr.. Bassett
had. thought, sent into Desbars, storm
or no storm, and enlarged bis household
according TO his needs. Certainly a more
princeiy dinner than that is seldom
served, although with our wet weather
gear we were motley crew, and | could
fancy Dame Howison lamenting that she
dared not take her diamonds ont Of the
cnamois-leather bag round her neck. and
| IA, nF,gotAa ~ hnr SnnfOh tnna1
MIsanthrope was our host. He knew
how TO assume other roles; with lew
light sentences he had set US all at our
ease at once. and he spsrkled with jest
and brilliant speech, drawing also from
each some fit return, till we forgot tho
raging tempest without and that we
were strangers within. Nor was he, IS
he sat at the table after all the exertioDs
OF the day. almost every moment Of The
latter part OF which had been spent in
making arrangements for our comfort,
the shaggy and unkempt fellow who
came out to give US shelter; dark and
black-browed still he was, but gentle
man tnsqn'au bout des oHgles, q gentle
man with perhaps Just dash of the
gypsy. AS for Miss Murray, her color
coming and going cruelty, she lived
through the dinner, playing with fork
and spoon, but not tasting morsel. Az
we rose informally from the table, and
were passing out, he came TO her side
II have something TO say TO you" said
he. But she turned, and caught my
hand.
No, no, you can have nothing to say
TO me" she gasped, and drew me swiftly
away with her.
John Cameron followed Us, finding his
mother rested and refreshed and begin
ming to fdget, and as Lucia came fitting
in, Belle directly added herself to the
party.
did you ever know anything SC
queer" cried Lucia, 'as his putting Miss
Murray at the head Of the tablep And
he treats ner as If she were really-real.
ly- Oh. beg pardon, Miss Murray; ]
didn't see you"
But Miss Murray did not vouchssfe
her glance, moving into the other
room, still holding my hand, closing the
door and boiling it. And l confess
trembled. al shall never sleep wink
in this house, l thought. She dropped
uoy hand and wslked TN tho fro xphare