Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-04-08
THE REWARD OF KINDNESS.

the table at her blooming daughters and
two tall handsome sons. said in dolefu
tone
"Your aunt Ssbina is coming to Lon
don, and has invited herself here without
any ceremony
When asked Arabella, with an in
tonation of intense disgust
'She will reach here this afternoon
Wilbur, YOU will have to meet her
Sorry. ma, but | have promised tC
drive Miss Caldwell to the park. Fred
can CO.
Certainly. | will go" Fred SAID
grayely, though there was hot flush on
his forehead. IL am very fond of aunt.
Nonsense" said his mother, "you
have not seen her for eighteen years. |
never went near the dctcstable old farm
since your father died.
Nevertheless, have a vivid recollcc-
ton of Aunt Sabinas kindness when We
were there.
Dear me, Fred" drawled Lucilla,
don't be sentimental. | wish the old
thing would stay at home. can't i'm
agine what she is coming here for. -
"She is our fathers sister" said Fred,
"and cannot find anything surprising
in her looking for a welcome amongst
her brother children.
Mrs. Gorhm shrugged her shoulders.
II she had spoken her thought it
would have been
Fred i, so odd. Just Ike his father
Bat she only said
Il may depend on you, then. to meet
your aunt, Fred; will see about her
room.
Il was a source of great satisfaction to
Mrs.. Gorham that her children were all.hkc
herself. true Grccrs every one of them
except Fred. she would say, congratu-
lating herself that the plrbian blood Of
"Gorham perr' was not transmitted in
the features of her elder son WiIbcr. Or
any Of the three girls.
The Greer pride meant intense selfish
ness, that Greer beauty was OF cold,
hard type: that Greer disposition was
tyrauuical and narrow-mindcd, did not
trouble Mrs. Gorham.
That the son, who was all Gorham,
was proud TO the core with the true pride
that knows no false shame, that he WAS
noble in disposition, handsome in a frank,
manly type, generous and sclt-sacrlhcing,
she could not appreciate.
Iii, hands and feet were not SO small
"a, darling Wilburs; he had no fashion
able aGyctation,, and no Greer look.
So lis mother thought him rough and
course. and hi, sisters declared that Fred
had no style at all.
But outside of the home, where great
show of wealth was made by many pri-
ylte economies, Fred was more apprc-
c.at,d.
When he became a man, and knew
that hi, fathers estate, though sufficient
to give them every comfort, was not
large enough for the extravaganza his
mother INDUCED in, be fitted himself for
business. and took position in count
mg-hou,c. thus becoming scl-supporting,
though hi, mother declared no Greer had
ever been in trade.
That the money she lived on was made
In soap-hoiling the fashionable lady L.
norcd entirely
Darling Wilbur had studied law, but
his first client had not vet appeared, and
Mrs. Gorham supported him, trusting
his iascinations would touch the heart OF
some moneycd belle.
Miss Caldwell was the present hope.
She was her own mistress, an orphan
hcircss. and very handsome.
That she Wa, proud and rather cold in
manner was only an additional charm to
Mrs. Gorham, and Lucilla, Arabella, and
Corinne were enthusiastic in their admir-
alton OF "Comclia Caldwell, quecnly
manner"
Nobody suspected that Fred, blunt,
straightforward Fred. hid one secret in
his heart, confessed to no living being.
And that secret was a love, pure and
true. for Comelia CALDWELL love that
would shut itself closely away from any
suspicion of fortunc-hunting-that only
dropped and mouned, thinking OF the
heireSs.
At four o'clock, Fred was at the sta
ton, with carriage, waiting for Aunt
Sabina.
What a little, old-fashioned figure she
was, in her quaint black silk bonnet and
large-fgured shawl.
But Fred knew her kindly old face at
once, though he had not seen it since he
IVES twelve years old.
She looked at the handsome face, and
caught a quick gasping breath.
You must be one Of Johns boys,
she said. How like you are to your
father
Il am Fred, he answered.
Dear heart , How YOU We grown. Is
your ma here;'
''She is waiting for you at home
The good old countrywoman had never
had the least doubt of warm welcome
at her brothers house, and Fred certainly
confirmed her expectations.
He found the old black leather trunk,
the bag, the band-box, the great bulging
cotton umbrella, and put them all in the
carriage without one smile of ridicule.
He made his aunt 90 to the restaurant
and refresh herself before starting on the
long drive home.
LIZ Estnned with resnectfnl interest To