Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-02-28

vas more manly. Elaine had always
been fond OF him, and so il happened
that one day he placed ring OF
betrothal upon her hand.
She had showed il to her mother who
was pleased, and to Algy Fisher who
said nothing. They were on terms Of
intimacy now, but the servant of God
was working out his time patiently and
gave little thought to other than his
work /; he did look ut the new shining
circlet which was to unite two destines,
and for moment held the fair white
shapely hands in his thin feverish
fingers. Then he looked for one
moment into the dark eyes, and asked in
voice that had not q tremor. docs
your heart go with il, Miss Remicke I"
Elaine was displeased, not so much
with him as with herself, and she gave
a cold answer and left him.
But when they met again she begged
his pardon for her petulance, and he said
gravely:
al was thinking of your happiness
and l had no right-to-forgive mel"
A pang went through her heart with
the words, a melancholy air fraught
with sobs of passion overwhelmed her
spirit, an infinite yearning as OF
thirsty soul for sweet waters took pos
session OF her in that moment she had
glimpse Of n lost heaven and snatched
at the golden hoop TINT kept her within
q circumscribed limit.
A few days after this o great and
terrible excitement broke ont in the
little town on the coast. A vessel had
stopped in the night to put of sick
and unknown man, who wandered from
door to door seeking refuge; it was
Algy Fisher who took him in and per-
mitted him to die in his bed. In few
days terrible raging fever broke out,
and Mrs. Remicke hurriedly packed her
trunks and rode as fast as horses would
carry her TO the railroad station, nc
companied by her daughter and
nephew. These two were not going.
Elaine could not go and Leonard dare
not, but the news at the station decided
him and he was very angry at Elaine's
obstinacy. When she understood finally
his pusillsnimous cowardice, she drew
the ring he had given her from her
finger.
Take it," she said. ~ have no
further use for it. You are free"
When it was known that Algy Fisher
was dying, and Miss Remicke was his
nurse, people were excited, but not
surprised. Death had long marked him
for his own, and no one worried now
over Elaine; she had nursed all the
sick by turns and they were inclined to
defy her. The old minister, who came
from the next village to bury the dead,
performed strange service ono sun
bright even he stood by Algy Fishers
death bed and married this man to this
woman, and there were no dissenting
voices. Again ring, but this time old
and furnished, rested on Elaine's finger,
it had been his mothers. and it bore on
the inside the single word, Mizpah.
"Let this be fora remembrance between
thee and me-"
"And is that the church OF MizpahY
asked my friend. looking up at the
pretty stone edifce which was easily
discernible from our boat.
THAT is the church, and the dark
spirituelle woman who breaches there
every Sunday is the pastor of Mizpah:
her people adore her and you would
never know, only for sad pathetic ex-
preston ever present in her great dark
eyes, that she had passed through 20
tragic history"
''Alizpah! Mizpah, what pretty
NAME" said my friend, smiling, "Nhat
a sweet motto for an altar cloth Mrs.
McRGvne.