Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-02-04

and then acted as a youth in his circum-
stances usually does. He intended to re-
main with Mr.. Long until he was of age,
for he knew that be could be of great
service 10 the farmer in the two years
that interviewed between the present and
that time. And he wished to repay the
latter for his kindness to him.
For the first two months OF these two
years, he was apparently quite self pos
sessed in his association with Jennie, but
that is all tha, can be said to his credit.
He broke down-utterly succumbed-be-
fore six months had passed, proposed,
and-told Jennie he did not blame her for
not caring for him. and hoped she would
forgive him for Offering such poor crea-
ture ss himself to one like her; that he
could not help il; that be felt he must
know what he was to her. and now he
did know.
jim had discovered Jennie the evening
when 20 asked that question, sitting on
the bench under the great maple. back OF
the house. There she lett him and went
into the house; and there for long time
he remained after she had gone, sitting
iu her place, with a sensation at his heart
unlike anything he had ever before ex-
perieuced. Not conteuled TO lot "well
enough" alone, he had gone from the
negative comfort of conjecture, into the
positive pain OF certainty.
The next morning he entered upon his
lsbors with less encouragement than
Jacob did bic, after Lsban's second prom
Use. Less by as much as refusal is less
than promise.
And Jeunia II her nights rest had
beon less refreshing than usual, she
showed rc iSns OF it. She appeared to
90 merri,r Ihan she had been for some
time. EIrly in the day, when she and
her moth were engaged in the labors OF
ID household she surprised the latter by
a season Of laughing season Of very
violent laughing.
'.Jcnuier' exclaimed Mrs. Long, at
last, dropping into chsir. What does
all you?'
why mamma, it's the funniest thing
I've been pgcp, sed to-"
"Propo,ed TO? BY whomP"
by jim"
by our jim, Jennie"
"OVr Jim. mamma"
The FOOLISH boy OF course you told
him kindly. mat you were both TOO young
TO think Of marriage. Your father wac
twenty-si1, ald was twenty-five. when
We were married. What did you tell
him, Jenuie?"
Il told him no.
"Thst was right only | hope you did
no, hurt bis feelings more than was nec-
ossary. trust 10 will forget it soon"
What. mamma ?"
Il mean, Jennie, that | hope he will
see how foolish he has been, and forget
all about you before he goes away"
20 certainly II hope he will-will
forget -snd-see how it is before then.
He's pCU!, you know-very poor. /
told him so. wanted to-help-him for
forget rs you say. and so | said in case
| married in the course OF twenty or
twenty-five years. should probably wed
a very rich man; aud then | shouldn't
be anY trouble to my-hus-husL and
but that | shouldn't do for poor man at
all"
"Well, jennie, do sincerely wish that
ne may soon care as little tor you as you
do for him"
As the months passed away, Mrs. Long,
watching jim. concluded that he had not
suffered much by the rejection he bad re-
ceived. Tho kind hearted woman was
glad TO think it was so. Considering all
things the less attraction her daughter
had for the young fellow the better
Jennie. also. hoping. as we may sup
pose, that Jim, for the sake of his peace
of mind, would outgrow his affection for
her, after little while decided that he
had. She was very glad of il. And yet
there was linge OF melancholy in the
discovery. She was glad for his sake,
because be had suffered so but i, was
abstractly considered-a very solemn
thought that so strong an attachment was
so short lived. Not that she would have
it last longer in this particular case-O,
no; but there might come a time when
she should want to know that the one
who had so great regard Tor her was to
have it forever. Bu; what was she to
expect P-Wss Jim iair sample OF man
kind in this respect?
II Farmer Long had been an observing
man, during these days he would have
seen coming into Jiu's face something
that could not have failed TO remind him
of the time when the youths mother and
Mrs. Long were girls. and the best look
ing ones in the village. Tho fathers
strengh had come into Jim's body and
limbs. but he was getting his mothers
face, By installments. These were to be
his possessions when he was OF age
AS his 21st year drew near its close. he
could not tell whether to be glad or sorry
for it. His reason told him TO go; and