Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-01-10

ney up the mountain side was cheap
which could procure day of those covet-
ed services.
1t was the affliction of unexpected COM
pany which had overtaken Judge Hol-
combs wifeless home and refractory SER
wants. Mary. with rare frmness. estab-
lished there in day her universal rule
Of peace. Among the other guests was
young actress fiom New York, the
judges niece, blonde, handsome, mag
ni6cent. At evening. as Mary stood,
before her return home. waiting an In
slant in the hall. so quiet and demure,
with her hair parted in an old, old fash
ion, and her dark eyes and her face
breathing that inefable refinement which
the calm endurance of some hidden and
exalted sorrow alone can give. the dash
ing young actress advanced upon her sud
denly. and folded her with an impetuous
gesture in her strong white arms. |
love you! - she whispered, Il love you .
love you desperately! J!
The Judges own wooirg was less
impassion0d. when some weeks after
ward, he lef, his smart horse and buggy
at Marys gate and entered the house.
d" formed a very favorable opinion of
you. Mary" said this grandiose person.
age. "a good many years ago. and I've
never had any cause to alter that opinion
Ia fact. came here to say that should
like 10 have you come down to my house
in the capacity of [. ,cye.
Tbsre was a grace, perfect sclt-reli-
ance in Msry's old-fashioned manner,
which relieved it from any imputation of
stiffness, IS she answered IN much the
same words that she had used in address
ing Sam some time before, but with such
different tone in the ring of her clear
voice II thank YOU. but that can never
be-" And the Judge drove away, amazed
and disappointed, bat most of all sorry
for Mary.
Sam was the next caller. He had
seen the smart buggy at Marys gat:
He entered, timid and hesita,ing. and
"a, for some time shifting uneasily about
in hi. chair. At length: III never
cared for any other girl but you. Mary.
II never could" he repeated, earnestly.
And Mary answered, as she had done
before, NO, Sam, l don, believe you
ever could
Sam drew hi. sleeve quickly across his
eyes. You-you amt goin' to leave
the mountain, are you, Mary he gaSped
You ain, goin ,oleave the cid mountain,
Mary"
Never" Mary answered, and, as be
fore her ton. quieted and conSoled him.
After what seemed long time, though
the tears were still standing in Sans
blue eyes: Il forgot, Mary" he said,
meekly. "Icame in to say-youre young
ve., and handsome. Mary-and if you
hal better chance don't know what
what we should do without, you-but
if vou had a better chance e-you-you-
mu.tn't-you know-Mary-
Then he paused. Mary did not smile,
but her heart yearned over Sam as a
mothers might over child who has
tried in vain to be good and brave and
un.e'f,h. And Sam went away com
forted.
I, was the third bleak winter since
Sans return to the mountain, and he
meanwhile growing weaker and sII'er
with each successive season, but ever
faithful in his inquiries after his pension
a. the Bloomington post-othce. The
Bloomington boys thought it rare joke
70 impress upon his mind that the only
reason why Miss Mary deferred giving
him her hand in marriage was his con
,inued inability TO obtain his pension.
Jest wait till YOU get your pension,
Sam" said Ned Hemingway. the store
keeper, delicately limiting on this point,
" and then see,
And Sam doubted utterly at first
away down in his heart doubted always;
bu. as he lent himself more and more to
to the erratic fancy, it fred and consumed
his brain.
One night, from the alternate chills
and fevers which shook his frame, Sam
fell asleep. Instead Of his lone dark
room. the road winding from the noun
tain to the village rose before his eyes.
The road usually so tortuous and long,
was straight and bathed in light. He
traversed it. At the end a palace gate.
and at the gate white winged angel
stood, his pension in her shining hand.
Sam eazed. Above those peaceful wings
was Mary. face. She smiled as she had
smiled upon him long ago. He woke and
slept no more that night.
With the morning he put on his we'd
ding clothes. No doubt or hesitation
possessed him now. There was a terri
ble exultation in his eyes This time he
did no. stop as was his wont. at Miss
Mary's house. The road down the
mountain side was tortuous and long.
There was no palace al the end; no pen
sion. Those who watched Sans face in
this last instance Of ever-recurring dis
appointment say that look came over
i. which had never been there before.
He rested on the counter and drowsed,
and almost tainted, but would not drink.
This provoked unbounded astonishment
Sans dying flesh craved the cup with
an awful thirst, but Mary's eyes were
stronger, and Marys eyes seemed to be
upon him and he would not drink.
1T would choke me, boys" he tried
to say, turning away weakly.
He manifested desire to make his
| Ill IL xraa q "a 70 ncc a sinn M The Rlnonn-