Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-09-13

much to me, and II you don't get q
chance to work in the factory right away,
i. may be a great deal Of use to you.
Needn't thank me-youre as welcome
as the flowers in May
{" Ten dollars calculated Mrs.
Rayne,ford. who had witnessed this lit
tie episode from behind the curtains OF
the milk-room window. "Is job Raynes-
ford crazy! TO give ten dollars to a
poor s,rolling vagrant If he don't get
piece Of my mind" she FASTENED
out, her cap.border fairly standing on
end with horror.
Job awaited the coming tempest with
philosophical coolncss, his hands in his
pockets, and his. lips parted in a good
humored smile.
"She means WE'LL" he said to himself
when the volley Of wrath had been dis
charged on his luckless head, and Mrs.
Raynesford had returned to the butter
making, "but she's got the greatest fac
ulty for scoldin' of any woman ever
saw"
The years fitted by, sprinkling the
steep old farmhouse roof with crystal
drops Of April showers, and tha,ching it
with the dazzling ermine of January SHOWS,
many and many time. Gray hairs crept
in among the raven locks Of farmer Ray
nesford; care-worn wrinkles began to
gather around his mouth and brow.
Alas Those swift footed years brought
troubles innumerable to the kind old
man.
Twenty years" mused he, one bright
June morning lit don't seem possible,
Hannah, that i, was twenty years ago
this very day that | caught that ugly fall
from the hay-rick and got lame for life. y
and he looked down at the crutches by
his side.
Hannah stood in the door, throwing
corn to forlorn colony of chickens.
Twenty years had not improved her in
any respect she was gaunter, bonier,
and more vine gar faced than ever.
"les," said she slowly, land perhaps
you don't remember tina. it was twenty
years ago this day that you threw away
$40 on that woman and her child. !
told you that you'd end your days in the
poor house, and don't see but what my
prediction is likely to come true. Didn't
| say you'd repent it :"
II won't deny, Hannah said the old
man, "but I've done many things I've
been sorry for-but that is not one Of
them. No, never for a moment repent
being kind to the widow and fa,herless.'
Hannah shrugged her shoulders. but
made no answer. Didn't you say you
were going up to see that lawyer about
the $4,000 note to-day: :" she asked.
"Yes, but | don't s'pose it'll be Of
much use. If he'd wal, little, Id do
my best to please him. Jones says he'll
b. sure to sell the old place from over
oar heads, however they say he's hard
man. mean to tell him just how mat
tiers stand now
~ told you how it would be long ago"
calculated Hannah, unable to restrain
her vexation. "Whatever possessed you
to sign for Jesse Fairweather
al s'posed he was an honest man, and
wouldn't see an old friend wronged.
"Fiddes,ickS that's just your calcu-
lation. job, There, Zeke has brought
the wagon; do start of, you'll be too late
for the New York train" And Job
meekly obcyed, only too happy to escape
from the endless discord Of his wife's
railing tongue.
The rays of the MONDAY sun s,reamed
brightly through the stained glass case
ments Of Mr.. Everleigh's superb gothic
library. The room was decorated with
appur,enances of wealth and taste. Vel
vet chairs with tall backs Of daintily
carved rosewood, were scattered here and
there; marble vases occupied inches be-
side the doorway, and the rarest pictures
hung on the paneled and gilded walls.
But the prettiest object of all-the one
which the rich lawyer oftenest raised his
eyes from his writing to contemplate
with an involuntary smile of pride and
affection-was lovely woman in white
cashmere morning-robe, trimmed with
white velvet, who stood opposite, arrang-
ing flowers in bouquet. She wore q
spray of berries carved Of pink Neapoli.
tan coral at her throat, and tiny pendants
of the same rare stone in her small, she'll
ears, and the slender waist was tied around
with bright pink ribbon.
There, Walter, isn't that pretty =
she asked, holding up her completed bou-
quet.
"very pretty" he answered, looking
not at the roses and geraniums, but di-
rectly at the blue eyes and golden curls
of his beautiful young wife.
"You are not even noticing it" she
said.
because l see something so much
better worth looking at" he said, play
fully.
do you really love me so much ?"
she asked, throwing down the flowers,
and coming round to his side. "Oh, Wal