Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-09-21
Harriet Deane was standing under a

bert Armour lounging on sofa, where
lie blue silk curtains swept over the
ralrance TO n bay window. As John
Carlyle pressed forward Miss Elphin-
stone laid her hand on his arm softly.
Mono" she whispered, archly,
don't you see it's an understood mat
tsr with Gilbert and Harriet Give me
your arm home, for Gilbert will never
think of me again"
John Ga. :, turned silently away
with white sad clenched teeth,
blind 20 O. ul glance that shone
through Han, lashes. the uncertain
Quiver of her lips.
Bat TO Lis horror aud surprisc she
burst into a storm Of passionate tears,
through which her violent eyes flashed
with omnous sparklcs.
Don't speak TO me-" she sobbed;
don't come near ne. Gilbert Armour!
] wish you'd 20 home, and never come
ncsr me again"
"llarrietw
How dare you call me Harriet,
Ler.t, ant Armour? Not anoi her word;
It.u't WIN, to near what you are go-
irc 20 say"
She held open the door. imperially
disniheJ, although the tears hung on
hrr ash.s. and the auburn braids, &C.
Gaping from their pins, swept her
shoulders. aud Lieutenant Armour
walked out crcsUtt'a.
Vel. I've So; my dismissai, "quoth
he 20 himself. biting his long mustache
in impotent wrath. But who would
ever have thought she was such con.
founded little vi1en7"
"You Nigh, take of the upper arm
jus; here. without
What's the use? He won't last out
the day any way, ana we might as well
!c, him 70 easily, ever If we had time TO
waste in Unnecessary operations"
I'm not so certain about that Give
the man chance for his life. Where's
the ether3"
"You want no ether; he is totally in
sensible"
The words fell like meaningless jan
giles Of sound on John Carlyle's ear ~
he lay. one in a multitude of dy ing men,
in a wcAiher-beaten o'd shed. The busy
doctor and the kind-hearted young
cadet made no impression on his fading
mind; hc heard what they said rs il
they had been talking OF some one else.
The. was no volition, no intellect.
Lie seemed ebbins away from him as
the sparkling tide 'es creeping, creep
Ing from under the stranded boat.
All Il once there came sudden, sharp
pain. rs the surgeons keen instrument
cleft the arm, and then followed insen-
sibiiity.
Ten 20 one he will die" said the sur.
gcor, irdGerently. as he replaced the
glrteling tools There's no use OF
uandeging il SO carefully" But the
young cadet knelt down TO fasten the
wrap ngs, wondering in his secret
hCMti tile time would ever come when
&c.. TOO, should speak so carelessly OF
fe 20 y-CrcaiuIe's life, God-given.
John Carlyle did not die, the grim old
surgeon 10 the contrary notwithstand-
ing.
There had been glorious thunder
shower. Along the west hung heavy
draperies OF vio' black clouds. edged
with Disabling fringes of gold. while tie
blue zenith, smiling through its briei
tears, seemed Literally TO swim in liquid
light.
And from far-ofl apple orchards. pink
with billows oil tossing blossom, and
sunny slopes AL enpurpled with wild
violets, came sudden sweeps of fra
GRANGE on the city winds, carrying the
Wall street jo5bers and shriveled
money makers back 10 the time when
they were boys, looking for the frs,
strawberry blossom under the rosy can
opy OF the old apple trees.
The fresh breeze. oddying into the
wide open hotel windows, lifted the
damp masses OF hair on John Carlyle's
wasted forehead. as he sat in the easy
chair beside the easement, and passed
its cooi fingers softly over his burning
temples. rs if il fain would whisper:
Don't repine any longer, Look out
on the glad blue sky, and feel heavens
healing sunshine on your checks"
As il man ever needed natures silent
monitions! John Carlyle was no ex-
ception TO the general rule.
"A common private! Those were her
very words" lie murmured TO himself,
with a faint crimson spot burning on his
wan cheek-"and crippled now TOR life!
All, it was well that l drew back into
the shadow of the curtains when | heard
her step in the corridor Why did they
bring me here, OF all places in the
world? Must | drink the bitter cup of
humiliation TO the very dregs' They
should have let me de that dismal
night in the hospital when the ligature
slipped of and the red life. stream
drained slowly from The Vita sources
that night when fever thro5bed in all
my veins, and / madly fancied | could
fee her tears dropping on my cheek.
If ] had died.-never waking from the
delusion! But now n common private
with only one arm!"
He laughed bitterly as the perpetually-
recurring conviction pressed itself upon
his mind-a laugh that was almost
sob. Only twenty-six, and weary Of
his life; il is not often that heart and
hope die out of mans breast at twenty
six.
And the clustering domes and spires