Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-10-24
Rosamond was in her usual place, neat,

z hOSamOnu was Ill HtI usual PioSe, "N"
graceful, smiling even, but studying he
face with awakened attention, Astle
, thought that he detected effort in tn
, smiles and the cheerfulness. Tho swee
face was little thinner; the wild ros
bloom, which was its characteristic, ha'
paled to fainter pink, and Ashley hearC
his mother ask, "Headache, again, m.
child" And caught the patient answer
"Just little"
With increased remorse he execrateC
, his carelessness. What ought he TO do
What could he do
Long and deeply did he study over the
question. At last he took half manly
half cowardly resolution. Confess hi
delinquency to his sister he absolutely
dared not, but that night he wrote q
full exposition of his fault and enclosed
the family blotted scrap which said SC
little and meant so much.
This done, he set himself to wait for
the moment when he could produce evil
dence that, so far as in him lay he had
made amends for his misdoing, and till
then he resolved TO be silent.
Ashley was right in his guess. Dwight
Edgar had gone to Europe deeply dis
appointed man. In the letter, TO which
RcSamond's was an answer, he had writ
ten, Don't say No. | could not bear
that, nor could | give your gentleness the
pain of utteTing the word. | will wait
two weeks, and if at their end you have
said nothing, | shall 90 abroad and
travel until can bear to come home
again"
Not wise arrangement this, consider
ing what chances and changes, includ-
ing post.offce laxity, are involved in this
mortal life but lovers are not always
wise.
The two weeks passed without sign or
token, each slow day deepening his hope
lessness. and at their end he sailed. His
final arrangements were made in a hurry
and he had been glad to accept a friend 5
benevolent offer Of half state.room on
the over. crowded steamer. IL was be-
nevolence very poorly rewarded, for Mr..
John Blagden found him very dull COM
pany.
For the first few hours he made some
little etfor, at conversation. and then he
dropped all pre;enses and sat in moody
silence, staring at the dim backward ho-
rizon from which each stroke of the pad
dies carried them farther and farther.
1t was no better when they reached
London. The two men took a set OF
rooms together at the Lansham, but to
all plans for pleasuring Dwight turned q
deaf ear.
"Go by yourself, that's good fel-
low" lie said. ~ won't bore you with
my dullness. III just 81; here until it is
post time and read the American news
papers.
And that is what ! left him at, ex.
planned John Blagden TO a mutual ac
Quaintance whom he encountered in the
coffee room. Poring over an old New
York Herald. twelve days out, what al
occupation for a man to take up in Lon
don"
Poor Dwight, | never saw a fellow 81
changed in my life. He is all cut "
about something, and | wish | knew
what, for really, have no notion what
ought to do about him. Nothing Cal
say makes any difference"
And nothing did make any difference
till a week after this conversation, Mr.
Blagden returned from an excursion t
Hamden Court to find his friend bus il.
engaged in cramming his belongings int
his portmanteau. with light in his eye:
and a color in his cheeks which made hin
seem different man.
"Helloa I'm glad you've come, oil
fellow. I'm off at once"
"Ohi Where to-
Home. Liverpool train at min
o'clock and catch the Bohemia"
"Home, The States Why, wha
does it mean: You were going to Pari
with me on Tuesday, you said"
2 "Well-so did intend. but I've ha
l letters and must get back as soon as pos
sible."
Nothing wrong, hope.
Not at all quite the contrary. Ev
Z, erything is right"
a Marvelling greatly, John Blagde
: turned 10 the table, where amid new:
r papers and torn wrappers, and other de
: bris of just arrived mail, lay she'
of closely written paper with lttl
/ heap of something odd and blotteC
e "Wnat's that :" he asked with natur
II curiosity, STOPPING to examine it.
e Dwight Edgar snatched it up. cit
L.