Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-01-03
The Old Arm Chair.

l. NC SlIt xAx III $haiAs
"Yes, there they got" said Miss
Pamela, lifting the corner OF the win
dow curtain TO look down the long per
spective OF the winding road. "Four o.
'em. In two cutters, with two wolf
robes and two sets Of sleigh bells. AND
it's the third time that Ruth and Bessi,
have been asked ont sleigh riding
within the month, and nobody evel
thinks Of me~
And il was little strange, too, wher
one came to think OF il. Miss Panels
Pirely was plump young woman o.
three.and.thirty, with rosy cheeks
swapping black eyes, and figure a.
trim and straight as a sapling- pine.
She had not Ruth's melting, almond
shaped eyes perhaps, nor the peach,
pink of Bessie's radiant complexion,
but she Was universally acknowledged
to be the best hand at picking anc
preserving in all the country around
She couldn't quote S sinburne or Jean
Ingelow, but she managed he: widowed
brothers, household with firm yei
gentle hand, and had q chestful O
patchwork, bedquilts and crocheted
tides, in the big old garnet upstairs.
In fact, Miss Pamela Pipely would
have made FIRST class wife TO any mar
living-if only the bachelors arounc
Gray George could have been brought
10 perceive fact which was SO mani
testify TO their advantage.
So Miss Pipely sat bet>re the fire 81
blazing logs, all messed over with silver
gray fringe, and bubbling out their
resinous hearts beneath the fiery ordeal
OF the flames, and knitted away at
Squire Sans gray-mi1ed stockings, as
il she were on a wager against old Time
and was resolved to conquer at all haz.
ards. And the dragons head that was
carved on the old mahogany chair OPP
posite. and the clawlegs and the queer
little brass knobs scattered all over il,
seemed 20 wink soberly at her, in the
pleasant light as she worked. 1t was
M heirloom in the family, that old chair,
and the Pipelys were proud OF it.
Just then there came the merry jingle
Of sleigh-bells up the road, like peal
Of miniature laughter.
"Some one else ont for sleigh-ride,
thought Miss Pamela, without turning
her head.
But to her infinite amazement the
tiny pearls ceased to chime; the sleigh
had stopped.
GOOD gracious !" said Miss Pamela,
taking a hurried observation from be-
hind the Melted fringe of the curtains,
"it's Mr.. Hedger. And he's coming
here, tool"
Mr.. Hedger came ina stout, middle
aged man, with light blue eyes shining
behind his spectacles, brown hair just
sprinkled with gray AMI seal muller
buttoned up to his very nose.
GOOD morning, Miss Pamela" said
he, pleasantly.
GOOD morningl" said Miss Pamela.
"Tve called on business" said Mr..
Hedger who was one OF those uncanon.
lied social martyrs, bashful old bach.
elor.
Miss Pamela, to be sure, was an old
maid but she wasn't in the least degree
bashful, so, perhaps, the two were not
evenly mated.
"On business" repeated the lady
"l'll call my brother at once"
"Oh, don't do that, Miss Pamela r
said Mr.. Hedger, deprecatingly.
"No?" Miss Pamela raised her jet
black eyes in some surprise.
Because my business was with You
especially" he explained.
"Ohp
Miss amelia sat down again, mechan'
ically crinplng the borders of her apron
with the finger and thumb Of her left
nand, while q very pretty blush crept
over her face.
1--WE been thinking it over for some
time" said Mr.. Hedger, rather ab
ruptly.
"Have you?" said Miss Pamela.
And the crimping operation went on
faster than ever.
"Of course / know it is taking greal
liberty" said the gentleman, apologetic'
ally.
"Oh, don't speak Of it," said the
lady.
"And then, You know, we are almost
strangers" he added.
"Oh, that makes no difference !" sale
Miss Pamela, hurriedly.
81 can hardly music. courage t
! ask.s said he.