Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-02-07

pIc-pCCuPatioh just SHiNAJ ~ -
down last mouthful and say, with rath
er confused gallantry. " cannot prom
ise for myself. Mrs. Derwent but I vii
promise that no unappreciative animal
no 'untamed fiery steed' shall run ava!
with YOU"
"Then come" said she, gaily, 9 fo
they are all going or gone. Why, Ned
you have eaten nothing. Won't yor
have another cup of coffee =; No, Well
we shall lunch sumptuously at the Blue
Globe; they have been two weeks pre-
pairing for US. That will be deeumer foI
you. Where is Dolly:
All, Dolly! There she stood on The
door step by the side of Eustace Hart
wrapped tight in her cloak, ready for de
par,ure, and her sweet, warm face-not
hooded deeply enough to hide its golden
halo-tuned wis,fully backward. "Good
bye, mamma" she cried; and then she
saw Ned, and the sweet face changed
turned pale for an instant, Ned thought
if such a thing could happen that a rose,
bud should turn pale. She gave him
Just look, scarcely smile. He felt hi;
hearts blood beating answer to her ap-
pealing look
Such a morning as that morning wa.
one of those miracles OF mornings,
when the white mantle of the snow
makes the world like a newborn planet
when nature shows herself in all her ar
,istic renderings a sculptor more than a
painter, exclaiming for the moment, like
the epassionate angelo the palette: " Form
is everything; the outline is the picture.
The slee, had polished the snow, and the
scene was not only nodded against the
horizon in bold and chiseled contour, bat
every detail Of foreground, every stone
and fence and leailess bush, and every
aisle OF perspective, every farmhouse and
grove and oyer-branching forest, was as
if cut in crystal or in marble, decisive
and pure and delica;ely hewn in match
less marvel of curve and tracery. \
white, new world.
To Ned Berton, with one thought in
heart and brain and Imagination, this
wealth Of beauty was as uaught. And
Mrs. Derwen, certainly had no express
sion of admiration on her countenance as
she said spasmodically:
This is really" with an alarmed
glance at the horses ears, "the best-isnt
it, Ned with a terrified gasp as the
sleigh lurched and darted forward -
q sleishing that we"-and an impe,a-
Gus moyemen, of her hand out of her
muf-" We have had and an uncon-
trollablc clutch at Ned Bertons arm -
- in years
Splendid" said Ned, gloomily.
- Glorious :" said Ned, savagely. "Oh,
how wish" he thought, that could
get hold of Eusiace Hurd's coat collar
He would be tossed into that snow bank
before he knew it; how does he dare 10
bend his head so close TO Dolly: There,
now they have turned the corner; they
will soon be out of sight. Whoa, Char
lie, hi. Charlie :" to the horse, which ex-
hibi,ed decided signs Of uneasiUess, de-
yeloping presently into vicious restive-
ness, the unruly beast now leaping fran
,ically onward, now shying at shadow,
and with appearing hind legs bespattcr-
ing the occupants Of the sleigh with bits
of ice and snow. Mrs. Derwent nearly
tainted. and then came to; and Ned Ber-
ton nearly swore, as the sleigh in front
exasperated him with It's silhouette of a
tender couple, and then recovered him
self with a consideration Of pity for his
really suffering companion, and with faith
in Dolly.
So they proceed, having some intervals
Of smooth-going conversation between
long spells of harassing irregularity in
the conduct Of the horse, and of singing
jealousy of Ned, and OF unfeigned terror
on the part of Mrs. Derwent, until, after
a distressing sleigh ride of two hours they
came to ,he Blue Globe and Mrs. Der
went, Immediately after alighiing, rush
ed 10 Dolly and said My dear, can
not possibly go back with him. My
nerves will be shattered. You will have
to, for you are no, afraid of anything,
my darling. will 20 home with Eus-
.ace Hnrd; you must go with Ned.
Only with sudden caution -" You
must promise that you will not speak a
word or let him speak word beyond
place" D"
And Dolly, only too glad on any terms
to return with her dear lover, promised
whereupOn Mrs. Derwents
terror subsided. The young couples had
I dance in the rustic ball room of the
3l1e Globe, and then lunch; and by four
o'clock the sleighs were ordered for home
md Ms. Derwent went with Eustace
durd. md Dolly-silent, blissfal Dol
tucked rapturously into the cut
.er with Ned. On and away again.
The afternoon was superb. Even Ned,
who had been blind all the morning, ap-
preciated the beauty now. The sun
,hone as it never shone before the sky
wa, like sapphire; the icicles melted
and dropped in a million diamonds +; the
shal lows of the fir trees on the FURNISHED
snow were as blue as the blue of the
Grotto Azzuro. The little snow birds
hoped tamely by the roadside, and
chirped musically. And the horse-go'
ing home-was as gentle as lamb.
Ned was able to drive him with one
hand, and so find place for the other
hand under the sleigh robe close to his
Dolly's.
Faithful IN her promise to keen the