Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-01-04

| huHt heSOlNe KrOaneu anu HeI nauus
fell from her task.
"Child. child" she cried. show in the
world came you to find it,"
81 was busting the cabinet. 1t was be
hind the panel that fell down. did not
dare to touch it at first. Now | have
read it all, and know what it means
what I have to do, auntie." And now
the girl stood up.
"Your father gave it to me for safe
keeping. never meant for you to see
it, Adelaide"
That would have been very wrong,
auntie."
mo, no, dearie; you must marry and
be happy"
The girl did not speak. She stood
looking around the familiar room, and
her eyes grew dark with agony. Evi-
IDENTIFY her resolve was taken.
1.-The dear old place-it seemed part
Of my very self 1t never before was
so beautiful and dear as now, when it
was to be my home and his. 1t seemed
lonely and irksome-it never would any
more. And must give it up
This was as fixed as an unalterable
law in her mind. The condition being
| fulfilled which decreed it to another, the
jumpers must forthwith pass into other
hands.
There could be no doubt that Ade-
laide was heart broken. She looked as
if some terrible illness had settled upon
her. Aunt Resolve was utterly shattered
by the girls state, but now Adelaide was
the stronger OF the two in maintaining a
settled purpose.
The latter had a guardian whom she
saw annually. She wrote to him, ac-
quainting him with the message from the
deceased. and briefly relinquishing the
property, as she wished him to take
steps to discover the former owners OF
the Junipers-a process which Aunt Re-
solve thought would not be difficult,
though she did not know them.
Il would not have done it, dear" she
said, sick in bed. Il would have you
live and die upon the old place. fear
-ah, | fear you will miss everything
now-for Captain SomHrs has no home,
and he will rove from and forget you.
1t is human nature. These long deferred
marriages never turn out well. You
know YOUR marriage to him must be de-
ferred, don't you >
Yes
The sirl uttered the one sad mono
syllable and said no more.
And now the time was flying. Cap
tain Somers she expected daily. for he
said he would return to her in less than a
month. She finally brought herself to
write him. and told him what had hap
pened. He made no reply.
This added pang. She saw plainly
what it would be. He could not pro-
vide for her adequately. Such support
as he could afford her-and which she
would have gladly accepted, sweet if
shared with him-he would not offer.
She must fnd a home in Florida with
some Of her mothers unknown relatives,
and they would drift apart finally forever.
Aunt Resolve was right.
A storm sat in. Day by day the rain
beat about the house, and the sjghing Of
the wind filed the girls heart with dread.
At last there came a letter from her
guardian. 1t read as follows:
MY DEAR ADELAIDE Il have been unus-
uslly fortunate in finding the rightfnl own
er OF the Jumpers. He will make his ap-
pearance there Thursday, after which
will see you at an early day.
LUTHER MESSENGER.
Not word of sympathy or regret.
1t seemed to Adelaide as if the whole
world had suddenly turned her enemy.
And still another day the storm held.
The jumpers tossed in the rainy wind,
and the wild air had voices Of cruel sig.
nifcance. Or was Adelaide's mind CIV
ing away under trouble: She had so
anticipated such a far-reaching result
that she seemed already deep in years of
suffering.
Alone. on a mournful evening. she
was suddenly electrified BY coarse voice
demanding:
"Where is this ere woman that's
been a.keeping me out Of my lawful
rights. just want to set my eyes on
her."
Was her home to 60 to such people
Her heart sank, but the heavy step came
on.
Suddenly the door was flung open, and
smilingly there stood Captain Somers.
Dearest, have come"
He caught her hands and drew her
to her feet. She uttered cry Of de-
light, then broke into a sobbing sigh
as she felt herself clasped to his breast.
"Oh, only to part, my beloved!' she
ciied.
"Not at all. my dear one; for I am
the master of the jumpers. BY your
grandfathers decree, which bestows it
upon the poorest member Of the de-
frauded family, it becomes mine, and
the coming month sees our wedding"
And it was even so.
WHO'S Got the BuTToN On the