Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-05-14

No one could Low have looked in his
face and doubted his occupstion.
Gradually. too. he assumed swagger
and buster, and Annie soon found that
cold looks and soeeriag words were not
the worst that could beiall her.
IL was his seventh wedding-day, and il
had been seven years OF restless misery.
Annie was sitting with her children,
and thinking OF the folly that had wrecked
her life, when she heard q sbufiling noise
and confused talking on the stairs.
She vaguely wondered about ii, but did
not turn ber head until the confusion was
at the door of Der room.
Then she rose to face it-her husband
stretched upon q shutter, stabbed TO the
heart, aod dead.
There's no one to b'sme bat himself,
ma'am. He was playing. and did thing
no one'Il stand. Very sorry for you,
ma'am. all the same"
And they bore his dead body to his
chamber, and Annie tot,ered back into
the loom, buried her head in the cushion
OF her chsir and sobbed aloud, while her
two children clang TO each other in sur
prise and terror.
Annie sold her last few lrinkels TO bury
he, husband. end then wrote an hum
bic, piIitul letter TO her parents.
Her fsther answered il by coming for
her aud the childten.
1t was no happy homecoming.
doubt II the black sheep is ever loved
as people say-we love best those chill
dreo who do Us credit or bring US wealth !;
and Anuie had brought nothing but
shame and annoyance to the Martyr
hUnsehold.
Beside ner gry youcg sisters she was 8
dark shadow; very few OF her old friends
reno mbered ber, still lever asked her
out.
Her children were no; pretty, aud they
were ireilul and mischievous, and Anaie
ielt keenly enough that they were two
perhaps three-too many in the home
wnere she had once queened it so
hsopilg.
She vent out one day, and came home
so white, hsggard. and wretched looking,
tnst iof ouce her condition attra;ted at
tentiou. and she was advised to rest.
But both her children were crying. aud
she knew everybody was tired OF them
1t would not do to rest yet.
She lihed them almost aDgrily, and
went ups.sirs, and her aunt followed her.
When they reached the latter's cozy,
blight room, she said
"Annie. come 10 here want to speak
10 yod, dear"
The tone and words were so sympa-
thelic tnat the poor. weary girl could
have c,ied.
Sre lifted her eyes wouderi glY.
"Oh. sunlie. how bright and pesceful
THIS room is! it is good TO rest few min.
uIes here"
"Ahuie, have watched you closely
the asst year. dout love you any the
less 70. it. What fresh trouble have you
had to-day? lam yout friend. Annie.''
Il saw Robett Walcolt.'
did he speak ?"
"No. doh'I believe he knew me un-
ii had passed He bad lovely girl
with him.
1t was his wife"
"Wnom did he marry''
"Grace Loling."
"Ahr'
Annie sat looking dowo SO hopelessly
tnst her aunt could no longer restrain
herself
''Anuie, she said, II have had, tor
some little time. a project that want 700
to joio me in"
What is il, auute''
Il waut 10 go TO the country and have
home Of my own. want 10 have a
beautifp' garden. and large, cool, hand
some rooms. / want to see you happy
and merry agsiu, aud do some good with
my money before die. Shall we go ?"
oh, sunt, aunt II you would Ifyou
wonld I"
"Weli, we will. / have been thinking
OF this country project for some weeks
and last week, when cook struck little
Classy. and no one would correct her tor
il, | determined upon ii. Classy isn't
pretty yet, but she is good, and am not
goiog to have her struck or put upon any
longer. She is my pamesake. you know,
II rsther astonished the Martyrs when
Cassy announced her purchase OF u lovely
place 10 he counrry, aud carried Annie
and her babies away with her.
i tbiok she got her reward For though
i, was an unprecedented effort for Miss
Classy to break up the routine of quar-.
ter of century and suddenly assume the
responsibilities OF householder. she
gained immeasurably by it.
Lite became a different thing to her.
and she found that even at fifty years OF
age one has yet much to do and enjoy.
Nay. she took to investing and making
money. and Annie. as her prospective
heiress, soon found herself 10 a very diff