Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-01-29
NUMBER 3.

that this must be over three hundred
years old. Even Jack 10 forced 10 admit
the art OF making this exquisite porcelain
Is lost to the world forever"
As an appropriate response TO this trib-
ute, Amy looked down at her plate. and.
10 the blue Mandarin whom she had
known from her earliest childhood smiled
up at her from bis perpetual resting place
under the shade OF the Sacred Mountains.
He actually seemed TO open bis sleepy
almond eyes in mild rebuke OF her for
parting with him. There was No mis-
taking it. The dinner-service, from the
big soup toureen TO the delicate egg-shsli
cups, were part and parcel Of the old
china which she and Miss Csr'line had
bargained away for the new silk. She
felt as guilty as Aladdin's wife when her
uncle said; 81 don't see any thing re-
msrkable about this dinner service. my
dear. Up at my old home..at TunXis we
had something very similar TO il when !
was q boy. suppose you've seen Il
often. Amyf"
YES" answered the poor girl. Ismb-
ling on the verge Of exposure.
"Oh, you dear child" chimed in Mrs.
Rossell. "you must show it TO me when |
come to visit you. Only TO think Of own
ing such treasures. stamped not only with
the seal OF antiquity. but Of long family
possession. shouldn't blame you bit
il you were too proud TO speak to ordi-
nary mortals."
But Amy-possibly owing to the TACT
that she no longer possessed the afore-
said treasures was not too proud 10 speak
10 ordinary mortals, and before the evsu-
Ing was over that extraordinary mortal,
brother Jack, who insisted from the hrst
on calling her his cousin Amy. had pro-
vailed on her not only TO talk. but TO sing
his accompaniment. And when her pure
biId.like voice, which had charmed the
worShipers in the village church at Tun-
xis, rose full and clear "in strains Of IN
premeditated art" Mr.. Jack Graham
experienced sensation which was novel
but by no means disagreeable.
The month glided by swiftly. All the
wonders OF the metropolis were unfoldsd
to Amy by the good natured GabbJ. and
whithersoever the.girls went they were
accompanied by the devoted Jack. who
explained that he wished to give them
the benfi. OF his superior age and wisdom.
The happy month ended al .tooasoon,
and the last day of Amy's visit drew to
q close. In the early twilight OF the
November evening, lust befoee tho
lamps were lighted. she slipped down
iuto the parlor alone. TOR she was In no
humor for taking, and she knew her OWN
room was not secure against the inVs-
sious of Gsbby. She WAS ashamed OF
herself to,think that she was saddened
at the idea of returning to her own pleas
ant home. WhoIwas it that she should
missP
Jack came in and tried to counterfeit
the real surprise which Amy expressed
at seeing him. He was supposed to be
down town; but the sly dog had been
watching for her full hour. He was
more embarrassed than she. This is the
compens sation of the weaker sex at criti-
cal moments. He blundered into one or
two inappropriate remarks, and finally
asked her abruptly if she liked TennY'
son.
She answered that she liked him very
much.
Then want to read you something"
said jack. And Amy noticed that he
carried copy of Tennyson in his hand
and that be was using his finger Tor D
boek-mark.
II is what he wonld have called In the
accepted slang of the day. very thin
device. It bore not the remotest appear
ance OF being spontaneous. Moreover
II was too dark TO read. But no read all
the same, this one familiar stanza from
"Locksley HALL"
"Aud / said, MY cousin Amy, speak, and SPEAK
| the truth 10 me;
Trust me, cousin. all the current Of my being sets
70 thee'."
He fung down the book, and, grown
bolder, he said: "If l could write ai
we'll as Tennyson. might pat what
have TO say in verse. But. in the plain
est prose, l love you. my darling LILLE
girl, and want you to be my wife,"
While he was yet speaking (tor, aftel
all, he was an audacious fellow hii
strong arms twined themselves about bel
slender waist, and almost before she
knew 1t she had pillowed her pretty heae
on the broad breast which was thence
forth to protect her. And she could no.
choose but murmur the continuation o.
the poem:
Love took up the glass Of Time, and turned Is u
his glowing hands;
Every moment lightly shaken ran itself In goidei
| sands"