Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-03-11

groaned and turned away, when she
struck the keys again and played an old
Highland air. He stopped he had heard
it once before. 1t was the music which
had long ago seemed to say "Come up
higher" to him. Zack listened, hesitated,
then it seemed as though new blood had
rushed into his body. Pushing through
the bushes. he entered the house.
If Nealy had wooed Priscilla after the
conventional fashion of Mr.. Henry Shirss
and his like, he would have failed. He
could not speak any alien tongue. But
the poor fellow. being desperate, barred
his heart to her, and what was more,
barred his life. The Irish hoyel, the dray,
the barefoot boy on the wharf, the long
struggle upward-he told the whole story,
and, as we know, he could tell a story
we'll even when his life did not hang as
now upon his words. Priscilla was gentle,
afectionate. She had, too, little cool
spark Of imagination somewhere; It kin
died and burned. This was no ordinary
man; it was a hero. This was the old
story of Cophetua and the beggar-maid
reversed. The idea of her marriage to
DR.. Ncaly was not new to her. She had
considered it frequently in her calm, sys-
tematic way. In all probability she must
marry an American; DR.. Nealy's present
position was equal 10 her own; his house
was very handsome, and he himself
She glanced at him, and blushed in a way
that maddened him afrcsh. Henry Shi-
ras: But Henry could not marry for
years, and she was not, indeed, at all GER
tain that he wished to marry her then.
All this while Zack poured forth his
honest passion, his humility, his alteration
of some goddess of woman.
Docs he really mean me- thought
Priscilla "He will always regard me in
that way, our social positions being 50
different"
Then it being time for her to speak, she
told him, with proper shyness and blush.
that she preferred him to all other men
a, friend, but that if he wished for more
he must talk to papa, though this with
an arch smile papa is 50 involved IN
business with the ancient Greeks that he
will not be likely to oppose our wishes. ~
When he caught that emphasized word,
Zack took the cool little hands in his and
kissed them, and could have cried over
them. his heart was so full
Two years later DR.. Nealy sat, one
warm evening in July Of 1882, on the
porch of his house His wife was beside
him. Her chair was placed so that the
vine of pale pink roses trailed over her
delicate head, with its neat crown OF
chestnut hair 1t was Zack's fancy to
always place it there.
$50 absurd Priscilla said to herself.
Just where the bugs can drop on to my
collar But TO him she said nothing.
These whims and fancics, even his hot
Irish affection, were the product, she
thought, of his vulgar condition in boy
hood. She would not waste her witely
authority on trifes. When the vulgarty
showed itself more Extensively, it would
be time to interfere. She was very fond
of him, but she was always on the watch
for it to show itself.
As for lack, his boyhood or his old age
troubled him very little just now. lie
had just eaten good dinner, and begun
a new pipe; his eyes were on his wife
his home was comfortable, his pocket Wa.
full: in the village he had all kinds OF
friends and jolly companions to make his
life secure and happy. There, according
to rule, we ought to leave him. But
there is one short chapter more to give
and it began that day on the porch.
Il don t see, he said refectively, "how
God could do any thing more for ne
Priscilla, or bring me any higher up
Unless-well, | should have liked to sec
little fellow skirmishing around here
} I've often thought if could only see q
baby's head on your breast, Priscilla, a:
, on other womens-' There was grave
eager longing in his face.
His wife pursed her thin lips. "Yor
often make strange choice Of subjects
DR.. Nealy. This is especially distastetu
to me. suppose Providence orders Oui
lot for the best.
"Oh YES, Providence - BY George
there Lloyd. | thought he was in Viz
, ginia Ill 20 to the gate and meet him.
He hurried away, glad that Lloyd ha'
appeared Just then. His burst Of enthu
siasm usually received little dashes o
cold water such as this.
I'm a rough brute, after all, h'
thought. but God knows mean well.
Lloyd, who wa. physician in Linn
! burgh, did not come in. The two mel
, stood at the gate talking long time
? so long that Priscilla grew uneasy.
The dew is falling, and he has NJ
hat she said, and found it to take t.
: him. As she came down the path sh,
l saw that both men looked grave and anx
r ious.
r Not a word to my wife" muttere'
= Zack; and they turned smiling to NEE
5 her.
: You are discussing some serious case: ::
: she asked, putting Zack's cap on his head
: "Yes, Mrs. Nealy"
Then you do not want me. Come il
soon"
When she was out of hearing, Zacl
said, "There is no doubt as to its beinl
5 genuine Asiatic cholera:"
| None whatever. 1t has swept througI
: the lower part of the town. You know