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

Nealy glanced quickly around while he
was talking of the moth. He saw her
riding down the road, a tall, soldierly
looking man beside her.
That is Henry Shiras, said Uncle Pc
ter, following his eye, "a cousin far re
moved. There was some plan when Miss
Shiras was a child of bctrothal between
them But the young people settle such
things altogether for themselves in this
country. No, no. DIR. Nealy, you are
quite mistaken about this moth. Look at
It's antcnnT
Then it was that DR.. Nealy first knew
what had happened to him. He went
home, promising to come back later IN
the evening. Ii was a very comfortable,
even luxurious, home to which he went.
\ little money could command much in
that cheap ncighborhood In city the
house, with its slopes of lawn and forest
about il, would have been reckoned a
stately dwelling Nealy went rcstlessly
up and down the halls and chambers, try
ing to reason to himself. What had he
70 do with the Shirascs, or their marrying
and giving in marriage: He had filed
mp hi, thoughts and life with them lately,
but he was apt to be vehement in his
friendships. lie had even furnished this
house as he fancicd Priscilla would have
done had it been hers, but that was be-
cause she was the only woman Of her
class that he had known. and he wanted
TO raise himself to her level
Was that what he wanted:
No. thousand times no. lie wanted
hcr-h.r-thc woman herself Soul and
flesh and blood.
He saw his abjcct folly now, and the
extent of IT, Presently he went down tc
hedge bordering the road where they
must pass. When he saw them coming
he crossed it and stood out on the wagon
track. 1t seemed to him As if he could
wrench the secret from her by look, and
know what he was to her, whether all ol
nothing. He could not wait an houl
to know it. Other men might WOO gently
and slowly the women they loved, but
Nealy had the instincts of his progenitorS
who carried off their wives by one fierce
assault. Besides, he never had loved be.
fore. and there was all the force and depti
in his passion which other men spend IL
fancies and tlirtations from their school
| l.... ,,,, e. ,,,;l H., ,,,o
Miss Shiras. as she came up. was look
Ing down, shyly listening to her cousin
She glanced at him when he paused, al
admiriag smile lighting her delicate face
"Shc has listened TO me with her hcaC
dropped in that way thousand times,
muttcrcd poor Ncaly, land smiled in JUS
that fashion when | had done. Wha
does it mean
Il only meant that Priscilla was well
conducted young woman; dctcrcntial t'
all men as her natural supcriors; Of al
ahcctionatc, dependent disposition, too
and apt to cling to the last person wh'
talked 10 her.
Mr.. Henry Shiras naturally was startle,
by the appan,ion of this stout, haggar,
Young man in the middle of the road
who took of his hat as Priscilla passed
and forgot to put it on again. Zack wa
torn and controlled by this feeling whicl
had broken bounds as absolutely as if h
We're a boy of sixteen.
Most extraordinary behavior" ex
claimed Mr.. Shiras. WHO is that per
son. Priscilla"
Miss Shiras hickcd her horses ear ner
ously with her whip. "Oh, that l. DR.
"A man whom papa has noticed goo,
deal lately. \ very nice person indeed
Henry" in a stronger voice. Uncle Pc
ter thinks him an admirable judge O
moths.
Better judge of moths than of man
ncrs, suspect. What does he mean b
staring after YOU like a maniac: Anothe
specimen of that insolent American IA
miliarity which YOU all seem to relish 5
much,
II do not relish it, Henry" said til
gentle Priscilla.
"Why, You were commenting this fel
low just now
"Oh no. | said he was very clever a
to moths But his manners, of course
He IS an American, you know. He ha
had no opportunity of discovering the dii
ference between himself and a thorough
well bred man" Her soft eyes wer
fixed thoughtfully on her cousins face
They gave the meaning to her words.
They stopped at the cottage just ther
, and when the soldierly young fellow lifte
her from her horse, she smiled conhdingl
back to him. Yesterday Nealy had LITE
I her from her horse and received the smile
Not that there was grain of coquetry /
the girl. But her cousin Henry was 5
, soldicrly, so friendly, so English, Will
p Nealy-yet really Nealys only fault wa
that he was out of sight.
Not out of hearing. however. The hot
= headed doctor had followed them dow
! the dusty road, and heard much of the
criticism on himself. 1t did not hurt nc
g even surprise him that Priscilla spok
thus of him. Wasn't it true: What wa
he but bound boy, drayman aping tn
gentleman: She knew it-she, standin
on her height As for Henry Shiras, h
did not think for a moment of the mar
= Heal other men were nothing to hin
The world was empty but for himself an
this girl.
. Nealy stood hidden by the lilac bushC
e while young Shiras took leave of her an
, cantered down the hill. She stood ire: