Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-03-07

photograph-two Of emf A box Of
cigarettes do hope Elsie hasn't got
the nasty habit Of smoking, like those
dreadful Cuban ladies one reads about.
A red silk smoking-cap and pair OF
Turkish slippers"
"Stop, Aunt Pheda |" said Mr.. Sun
fold, who had grown very pale. 1--WE
have no right further to pry into
another persons belongings"
Aunt Phedra turned upon him like
an enraged ioness.
"She wrote to me to look into her
things" said she, "and I'm looking.
And I'm glad looked; for, as sure as
as you live, Ralph Sunfold, Elsie Ben
nett, my adopted daughter, has got
married on the sly, and these are her
husbands things, packed in among
hers"
"But that is impossible" said
straightforward Ralph Sunfold. "She
is engaged to mel"
"Oh, Ralph, Ralph" cried the old
lady, bursting into the slow, agonized
tears Of age, as she lot her head fall on
her nephew's shoulder, "dont think
any more Of her. She's iilt-a heart
less coquet Oh, my boy, my boy she
never was good enough for you'll"
Mr.. Sunfold turned silently away.
he would have pledged his life for the
truth and purity of little Elsie Ben.
nett; but what did these mute witnesses
mean-the testimony Of the laughing,
handsome photographs, with the silky
mustache and the dark, audacious
eyes2
"What are you doing, Aunt PhedraY
he asked, with his attention at last
attracted by her quick, sudden mo-
lions.
Shutting up the trunk" said the
old lady, brusquely. "I'll send it
back TO her at once. I'll have no such
brazen-faced doings in my housed"
"No, Aunt Phedra," said Ralph, reso-
lutely. "If either OF us leaves the
house it must be me. Elsie has right
to the shelter Of your roof. She is
your adopted daughter"
Prom this moment" said the old
lady, sharply, "she is nothing more to
mer
A cloud had come over the soft star
light Of the autumn night; sad wind
moaned among the yellow leaves that
had drifted along the roadside; and Mr..
Sunfold, sitting sadly by the fire, felt
as if his whole life were darkened over
and changed. Aunt Phedra, opposite
to him, was knitting mechanically
away with compressed lip and omi-
nously grave vissge-and neither spoke.
Sweet and sprightly laugh sound
ed on the frosty silence outside, merry
footstep tripped up the three stone
steps, and like a gale Of fresh, pure
air, in Auttered Elsie Bennett herself
Elsie, with cheeks painted the soft
est carmine by the brush Of the great
frost artist, brown tresses escaping
from under the brim OF her black straw
hat, and eyes sparkling like blue
jewels.
ST thought I should take you by
surprise" said Elsie, looking triumph
antly around. Zone Of the school
trustees is dead, and we've got vsca-
ton until Monday. So took the first
train and here am. And, dear me,
what's the matterT' as for the first
time she perceived the inscrutable
change in the faces Of Mr. Sunfold and
Aunt Phedra. IT'S anybody sick' BIAS
anything happened%
"Oh, Elsie, Elsie !" said the old
lady, chow can you stand there looking
us in the face so calmly"
"Why shouldn't I, Aunt Phedrs p
said the girl, glancing from Ralph to
the old lady and then back again.
Sunfold stepped forward and took
her hand.
Aunt Phedrs," he said, II would
pledge my existence on her truth and
sincerity"
"But I don't understand you" said
Elsie. 81 don't know why"
At this minute there came resound.
ing tattoo on the door.
"Who's that ?" cried Aunt Phedra,
who had worked herself into state Of
nervous excitement 30 great that the
appearance Of fiery flying dragon on
the scene would scarcely have been
beyond her expectations.
Mr.. Sunfold went to the door. There,
in a tapping felt hat and o dingy
bottle-green suit. stood the individual
who combined the three professions Of
stage-driver, e1pressman and mail-car-
rier to the village of Bri1bury. He
might at one time have possessed last
name, but no one knew what it was,
and he was universally known as
"Simeon."
Give make a mistake" said this gen.
tleman, taking off the felt hat to scratch
his head. "Tve left young Squire