Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-10-24
Meanwhile the days were passing

heavily enough in far-away America
where Rosamond bore her secret pain
She had kept the knowledge of he
plighted faith as a choice secret, not tC
be revealed till Dwight should come
When he failed to come, pride kept hel
silent.
The news of his departure struck in
her heart like blow. What did il
mean Il will not be base, or little, OF
suspicious" she told herself; "there is
some blunder. He will come back, he
will explain
But weeks of uncertainty and suspense
passed. She could school her words and
her manner, but not her face, and that
fair face began to look piteous and wan.
Ashley, watching her with compunct-
ious anxiety, felt an ever. deeping heart
ache. Three weeks had passed since his
letter of explanation was posted. Any
hour might bring a response, and he
haunted the post Office with pertinacity
inexplicable to his father.
Il can't stand it much longer" he
told himself "If that fellow isn't heard
from by o-morrow night, shall make u
clean breast of it to Rosy, and confess
the whole thing"
And the next evening, THAT fellow
still not being heard from he did it.
Rosamond spirit fair and fragile in her
white dress was sitting on the doorstep
in the moonlight and sitting at her feet,
he plunged into medias res.
Rose, do YOU recollect a letter you
gave me TO post more than month
ago :"
Yes with a little gasp.
"Well, | forgot II.
80 Ashley
"Yes, it was in my pocket, you know.
| was going straight to the office, but
something interrupted me-lawn tennis
at the Porters' | believe-and then |
sent my coat 10 the wash, with the let
ter still in it. never found it out till
the confounded thing came back, and
some days after, as | put in on, hap
pened to feel it in the pocket, and there
it was-what was left of it"
RoSamond sat perfectly still. Not a
sound came from her lips. Ashley wait
ed an instant, as if in hope Of answer,
then went on
Rosy, darling, you mustn't mind but !
couldn't help seeing who the letter was
for, and that-that-it was something
of consequence. 1t was all blotted and
blurred, but word could be made out
here and there. | was awfully cut up
about it. | couldn't bear to tell you,
and didn't know what to do. At last
wrote full explanation to Dwight,
and put the scraps in my letter.
"Astley"
There was ring Of hope and of dis
may in the exclamation. So absorbed
were both that neither noticed that some
one swung the gate just then.
"Yes, did. 1t went three weeks
ago yesterday, and by tomorrow you
ought to hear from him, that is, if he
happened to be in London when the mail
got in. didn't mean to tell you until
his letter came, but could wait no long
er. Just say YOU forg- Why-wha'
is it, as Rosamond sprang to her feet
with cry, Dwight Dwight"
"She's tainted ~ exclaimed Ashley, in
an awestruck tone, as his sisters hea
dropped heavily on his arm.
But happiness is better restorative
than burnt feathers, and in little time
Rosamond was able to assure Ashley OF
her forgiveness, TO smile and ask ques-
tions, and finally be left on the doorstep
for long moonlight talk with her tru AM
correspondent.
When l saw Mrs. Dwight Edgar a
Newport last year, she were on her wrist
slender chain to which was attached a
locket whose lid was a big moonstone.
Within was a singular little wad o.
what looked like paper which had beer
wet and pressed together. When l asked
what it could be, she answered, evasively
"Oh, papier mache; bit of an old lette
which Dwight makes me wear. There
quite long story about it, but it's to-
long to tell"
Her husband chuckled, and later, see
ing that was curious, he told me tn
story which l have told you.
"And you never saw any one so re
formed as Ashley is, ever since then,
added Rosamond, with laughter in he
voice. "He's the most particular crea
ture you ever saw, always fdgeting an
fussing for fear he may have forgotte
something. If he lives to be hundre
years old, you may depend upon it,