The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-01-31
SQUIRE PAINE's CONVERSION.
lCONCI.IDED. |

| T
CONCLUDED
So matters went on year after year. In
spite Of sweets and spelling. Louise grew
up strong and healthy, thanks to the open
air in which it was her royal pleasure TO
| live and move and lave her being. \
city mother would have wept over the
brown complexion, in which living Grim
son burned with warm splendor I'M
known to milk and roses. and any board
ing school phalanX would have shrudder-
ell at the well-tanned slender hands that
we're SO dett at nutting, fishing. picking
berries. and digging roots. But Bassctt
people were not fine. They only laughed
and nodded, rs Louise tore down the
wide street on the squire 5 ancient horse.
dashed to 4 hoTrid gallop by an old trunk
strap whanged about his sides, and the
thumpS of stout country boots when he
dared relax this spirited pace.
Byand-by Lucy, quite ashamed of her
self in all these years of mild motherly
bliss to think she had never given her
husband Il son. began to fade and fail a
little. and at last declined into her grave
| as gently as late spring snow drift melts
into the brown grasses. Louise was fiji
teen now, and knew no more about house
keeping than a deer in the forest. though
successive seasons at the academy had
given her fair education for a country
girl who did not need or intend to teach
for her living. She mourned for her
dear patient little mother far more than
she missed her, for Lucy was too inert.
too characterless, to leave a wide vacancy
in her home. There are some people
whose departure takes the sunshine of
our days, the salt of our food. the flavor
of our pleasures, yea. the breath Of our
lives, away with them: whose loss is a
wound never to be healed. always bleed
ing, smarting, burning into our very
souls, till time shall be no more And
there are others whose death. after the
first natural burst of feeling. fails to i'm
press itself deeply even on their nearest
and dearest: the selfish. the exacting. the
tastelcss, timid natures that were scarce
more than vegetable i'll their humanity
these are lightly mourned: and of these
last was Lucy Paine.
1t became necessary. it is true. to put
housekeeper in her place. for the :" hired
girl whom Squire Paine had unwill-
ingly consented to install in the kitchen
when his wiie's strength began to fail
could not be trusted to manage the house
hold: SO Mr.. Paine bcthought himself of
a second cousin living in small village
up the country, of whom he had now and
then heard incidentally. and happened to
know was still unmarried and pursuing
her trade of tailoress about IIermon and
the vicinity. So lie wrote 20 Miss Roxy
Keep to come down at once to Bassctt
and see him, as IIermon was too far FOR
him to 90, taking time from his business
which lie could not spare. 1t was made
very plain i'll Squire Paine letter that
business, and her answer was as business
like as could be desired. She could not
she said. afford Il journey to Bassett un-
less it resulted i'll some purpose of good:
if Squire Paine wanted to see her enough
to pay her fare one way, she was willing
to ''resk the other half. This curt and
thrifty note rather pleased the squire.
for though he did not want to risk his
money any more than Miss Roxy. still he
thought her proposition showed her to
be of his own frugal and forehanded
sort, and lie at once closed with those
terms.
1t might be curious matter of inyes-
tigation to note the influence different
occupations have upon those who pursue
ways incisive practical, full Of resource
acute, fearless. and even snappy? Did
anybody ever see meek woman useful
with cloth and shears? Do the maScu-
line habiiiments which she fashions i'm
part Il virile vigor, and the implements
of her trade 4 man like strength, to the
mind which plans and the hand which
wiclds themo But we have no time for
inductve science here. When Squire
Paine met Roxy Keep at the door. he
was at once struck by her compact as
pect and entiIe Self-posseSsion. Her
gown of dark home made gingh ham and
thick plaid shawl were simply the most
useful garments that could be- Beauty
did not excuse their being, much less
that OF the severe Leghorn bonnet. with
out flower or feather, tied down under
her chin with Il sturdy greenisll ribbon
that must have been her grandmother
But over all these the sensible face the
keen dark eyes, firm mouth. and domi-
nant nose forbade any idea of ridicule or
contempt to be associated with Miss
Roxy. whatever she chose to wear The
squire was as urhane as he knew how to
be.
set down, Cousin Roxy. set down.
| II take ye over to the house i'll i Ininnit.
I've had to put in Il new clerk. We see.
John Bliss lie th"'t he could do better in
the city, 50 he up an left NE sudden
too sudden. re lily. corSidern' him an
me he'd ben together SO long: an now
Lisha S4uires has took his place. LiSha
is likely young man. for what know
well dedicated; fathers a minister o the
gospel; got run down a-preachin: his
wife had meanS-not much. not much.
but 'nough to buya farm; SO they traded
with me for the old humstcad. an he's
alarming on il, and Lisha he is gil up
going to college, and took John Bliss
place here. Hes ruthcr high strung. to
be sure. but he's smart, real smart. an
| don't know us | could ha' did better
He's a-onheadin some barr'lS now. All,
there he is.
And handsome y,ppo fallp,y