Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-07-08

was agitating the world beyond: by
newspapers, of course; but women dc
not often read the newspapers carefully,
and the two women of this narrative sell
dom looked into them. Especially did
they. in their Puritanic rigor, neglect the
amusement columns. After all, why read
of operas, plays and concerts that one
cannot see or hear; When. anything was
going on in Rockdale itself, all the vii
lage was on the alert; but no one cared what
fashionable folk stared at through their
opera glasses in the great cities. So tins
year, when al. NJ. ). Pinafore' sailed
jauntily, with colors flying, into American
waters. many of the inhabitants of Rock
dale rocked not of it, and this simple fact
brought CONSERVATION to the house OF
| Hill. The "saucy ship found It's way
to l.. anchored there long enough to
set few enthusiasts to singing Little
Buttercup" and ''The Merry Maiden and
the Tar" Incorrectly, of course. and not
finding quite so warm a welcome as
in some of the larger cities, soon set
sail again for more congenial haven.
But the mania for quoting the hbretto-
especially the hardly ever epidemic
spread in that region, as it did every
where.
Our friend Jack Arnold went to see the
performance, and of course he thought OF
Salhc all the evening, and cnvied young
Hill. whose lady-love was in the party.
The two young men were mcditating a
brief visit to Rockdale, and hence 1t was,
perhaps, that Jacks thoughts were too
far away to allow of his giving full APP
probation to the incompatible little OPP
era. All the tender music filed him with
thoughts of love, from which the ire
sistible jingle of the merry choruses be
guiled him only for the moment. There
fore. when the day came for the journey
to Rockdale, and he found himself at last
in the presence Of his beloved, his mind
was quite absorbed by the JOY Of it, and
he had no leisure for such trihing matters
as the discussion Of pretty new opera.
So SalEc was left still in her bcnighted
ignorance; she knew nothing of Pima
fore
They began to talk of mundane mat
tcrs. however. on the second evening,
" hen they were all seated together.
THAT poor Laura Beamis!" said
Auntie Tnb, compaSSionately. Did YOU
| know she'd got back, Free
Laura Bcamis," uttered Free, with a
laugh. and glancing at Jack, who looked
trihe conscious "You had hirt-
"Yes," interrupted his mother; land
they do say she's been Tilted by some
town Young man to a degree that's made
her poor, brokcn-hcartcd consumptive.
Dear me" exclaimed Free. Heart
and lungs gone at one fell swoop. That
is going into the dying business whole
sale"
This irreyercnt comment was received
bv Auntie Trib with much reproachtu
indignation; but Sallic sat mute, with q
withdrawing heart Gossip had carried
70 her cars the tale that Laura Beams
had claimed a former acquaintanccshil
with Jack Arnold. The unfortunate cir
had gone to live with her aunt in L.
and had returned in serious ll-health, tn,
result, it was said, of disappointment
in love Frees look was peculiar. CoulC
it be
MY grief! its an awful thing con
tiuued Auntie Tnb. ''She was engaged
to him. | think. and he went off some
where's and came back engaged to som'
other girl My, the poor thing looks a
if she had one foot in the grave Already
Its really drctful, amt it, John witt
a sudden appeal to the silent listener.
"Very-vcry, indeed said Arnold
II knew her
..You did: Well, want to know :
said Auntie Trib. why didn't YOU sa,
so before: Wasn't she pretty, poo
thing. before she got 50 low-spirited:'
.Who was the man." asked Sallie
suddenly.
VERY pretty, | think, said Jack, an
swering Mrs. Hills question. He did no
mean to ignore Sallie's, but Free broke il
with torrent of lively nonsense, and th'
conversation drifted away from Laura
, Beamis and her troubles. Sallie was slight
, " uncomfortable. but she had confidence
, in her lover. and did not allow herself Il
E indulge, as vet, in causeless suspicion
Auntie Trib, however, recurred 10 th'
former subject, which had distressed he
simple, sentimental old heart. She ex
, claimed, meditatively:
MY. amt it dishonOrable for MAJ
! to behave so.'
!, If | knew him. said Sallie, lookinl
like a youthful prophecies, in her swee
: austerity, Il would never touch his han'
again-no, not if he had been my bes
; friend. -
, "What! so severe:" asked Jack, witt
half-amused remonstrance.
"Whew! Look out, Jack, crieC
Free. You never did anything dishon
orable, did YOU
Never" answered Jack, readily ant
2 quietly enough.
! This was irresistible.
".What, neyer: asked Free, with in
tense significance.
! "Well, hardly ever, returned Jack
nervously rubbing his chin, apparentl
the very embodiment of guilty confusion
0 Then they both uttered cold little evasiv
. la,obs and Frae cbanoed the subject.