Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-03-02


2 know what men have been thinking Of 4
let such . specimen 60 uncaged.
, John Ashurst laid down his knife sns
! fork and listened.
Thus encouraged bis nephew continued
She is tall and slender. as graceful as
, wand. Her face is like q Madonna 8
but its beauty is in expression rathe
than feature. She wears lovely whit
dresses, with few worldly tucks ant
ruffies. and her thees and thous are beau
tiful to hear
! John Ashurst's face was very grave
BE careful, Fred was his warning re.
ply.
Such women are not false, surely,
said Fred, watching his uncle closely.
They may be tickle and unjust re-
piled John Ashurst. sternfy.
i would swear Miss Russell is neither,
exclaimed Fred Ashurst. passionstely.
John Ashust's lip twitched and he
beat his foot nervously on the floor.
Miss Lily RUSSELL explained Fred
Ashurst, emphasizing the first name.
John Ashurst resumed his usual man.
ner at that. BE careful, Fred, my boy,
he said kindly. Il don't want your ship
to 20 down as mine did
That day John Ashurst was restles and
nervous, almost out of sorts, he said
of himself. He could not forget his
nephew's description Of the woman next
door. Nonsense! he would exclaim,
half aloud, in an impatient way. This
is woman with anothers name. The
other one forgot me years ago. Suppose
she had not forgotten"
John Ashurst's face was lighted with
the wonderful smile Of which Mrs. Cur
ney spoke; then it faded out, and the
mans restless mood came on.
There came childs rap at the door,
and moment later Lucy Quincy en-
tered. See! have lot of books, she
said with great glee. Il have come over
to study with you, where the boys won't
bother. l took them out Of Cousin
Lily's trunk when she went with mamma.
This is verses, and she laid down VOL
ume Of Tennyson; and this As she
lifted the book there dropped some with
cred flowers, lilies-o the-valley and a
cluster Of forget-me. nots.
John Ashurst took the book eagerly.
1t was Bible. On the ay-leaf was the
name Amy Russell. As he turned the
leaves he came to more withered flowers.
and on a slip Of paper the prayer, For
give US our trespasses, as we forgive those
who trcspass against US.
L must always pick up trash, mamma
says remarked the little girl, as she
stopped to pick up the withered flowers.
Trash John Ashuist touched
them reverently, and put them back in
the book. His face was radiant with
that wonderful smile. She had not for
gotten.
us your cousin Amy home:' he asked
of the child.
"'Tisn't cousin Amy; it's cousin Lily"
answered. the child.
John Ashurst looked puzzled; then he
put on his hat and walked straight to
his neighbors.
"Is Miss Amy Russell in" he asked
of the servant as he gave her his card.
Miss Russell is in; think it is Miss
Lily" answered the servant.
Il would like to see her" said John
Ashurst. To himself he was saying:
.She must be 4 relative. II Amy is
dead | will have her Bible and the faded
howers.'
But she was not dead. The sweet
faced Quaker woman, with just touch
of worldliness about the tucked and
ruffled dress, who entered the room, held
out her hand to John Ashurst as an old
acquaintance. Her face was very calm.
but her hand was trembling. John Ash
urst took it in both Of his, as he ex-
claimed, Forgive me, Amy. Twas unjust
to YOU, and cruel to US both. You hav"
not forgotten me- BY this token know
it; and this prayer makes me bold to
ask forgiveness
He opened the Bible to the faded
flowers and prayer for forgiveness.
Tears filed the eyes Of the Quaker
woman as she said, I forgave thee long
ago. It was miserable mistake, she
said sadly.
But there is no reason why may
not spend the rest Of my life in making
atonement," pleaded John Ashurst. eag-
erly.
III have never ceased to love thee,
John" was the simple answer.
Such commotion in the houses ofthe
two neighbon. Old Dinah's equinim-
lity was quite upset. ! declar ! don't
know how I'm standin. on my head or
my feet. Dey look Jess like widdinen,
| fur shore and sartin. An jess to tink
| il all cum fru de new folks: don't lend
'em a scrap, Dinah; drive of de chill.
dren an all sich!
Dinah's hearty gufaw at the remem-
brance might have been heard next door.
Was allurs s'pectin suthin was comm
from de day Mars John drug de boy dar.
continued Dinah. Miss Gurneys nice
woman, but dis is heeps better. It's de
penooine old lub. Talk bout young lub-
bers! Land! Dey can't hold a candle to
de lub OBJ haff lifetime.
Mrs. Gurney went about with tears in
her ewes and smile at her mouth. The
tears were for her past romance, the
smile for her cousins present and future
romance.
| The children were discussing IL. Our