Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-06-27

somcd, and would be the happy, humble
shelter Of her parents closing days.
One night in spring, when the apple
trees were beginning to blossom in the
orchards and sweeten the airs Of Hillside,
and the weather. classes OF New York
were beginning to plan and prepare for
the usual summer exodus, an old woman
who hal become familiar to the passers
on a certain beat as the bearer Of tray
of excellent and always fresh candies,
which sold as fast as she could replenish
her stores, took her stand, with her last
trayful for that evening, near the stage
entrance of a theatre. She had found
that she could generally clear tray to
the players as they came out in tired
yet generous and jesting mood.
The occasion had been especially bril-
liant, for it was both the first and the last
appearance in months of the great popu-
lar favorite, Mile. Bland. The actors
began to come out. Several Of them
spoke to the old woman, and purchased
from her tray, which was attractive with
a scattering Of fresh-cut flowers. AT last
Mile. Bland appeared. A tall and re-
markably handsome young man pressed
forward, with an air Of privilege, to hand
her to her carriage.
In the same instant Mile. Bland saw
the old woman. Breaking from her COM
panions with an excited exclamation,
Mile. Bland grasped the old woman by
the wrist. The latter stood transtixed
her tray fell to the pavement, and the
scene being misunderstood, she was some
what rudely handled before Mile. Bland
could prevent, and her hood and wig fall.
ing back, the disguise was evident to all.
The wonder was rebuffed and the gath
ering crowd kept off by the quick-witted
action of Mile. Bland. Forgive me, my
dear" said she to the candy woman, so
that all could hear it, and to the crowd,
ats all right" and helped her into the
carriage, the young man following, which
rolled away while the bystanders were
still gaping. The next morning Mrs.
Bird received an early call from Arthur
Lynd, the young man in whom she was
most interested of all her large circle OF
acouain,ances. She admired his charac-
ter. believed in his future, and had oflate
begun to think in the secrecy of her soul
that she could not do better thing than
| to bring about an acquaintance between
him and her lovely niece. But how to
accomplish this with the intractable So
phronia.
"Well, what is it: :" said Mrs. Bird, as
she received the young man.
"She's found :" he exclaimed, in an ex-
cited tone, as he tossed his cap aside.
"Who is found -
1.-The old woman-the young woman,
I mean. that Mile. Bland told us about
las. fall. Don't you remember: And
she is the most beautiful young girl | ever
saw in my life For all she was in an
old dowdy brown dress, and her face
stained, she had the air Of princess,
and such noble features, and the most
proud and modest eyes "
"Why, my dear Arthur, you have lost
YOUR head. Where is she, and who is
she :"
"That's just it Nobody knows where
she is, nor who she is. It's just as Mile
Bland told US last fall it isn't possible to
ask this young lady anything that she
doesn't voluntary tell. Mile. Bland
pounced on her as she came out of the
theatre, and her hood and wig fell Oft
and it wasn't an old candy woman at all
but the loveliest-
"Where is she : What did they DC
with her :
"Mlle. Bland whisked her out Of the
. crowd and into her carriage so quickly
, that we were at her apartments in no time
, Then we asked her if we might bring
her to you, for Mile Bland was wild tt
, have YOU see her and help us to prevail
! with her to give US little Of her conf
, dence. But she just thanked US so quiet
| ly, and asked that we would place her ii
a the care Of a policeman"
"You don't mean to say you did it.
{ 1--WE couldn't help it. | tell you
wasn't possible 10 question or detain her.
"And that's all you know! cried Mrs
Bird. "Well, would never have let he
off in that idiotic manner-never
Q "That's just why we wanted your help,
said Arthur, looking at her despairingly
"You would have known how to fin
o out all about it. and you would have bee
y a friend to her"
A few days later Sophronia called o
It her aunt to say good-by her class wa