Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-01-24


face and figure are plainly visible the
germs of that dread disease consumption.
the disease that makes the Landsmeres 4
short-lived people.
Miss Goodwin enjoys society; SC for
her sake l.andsmere frequently entertains;
for her sake he gives ball tonight,
though to him all gayety is intolerable.
He watches her walking with Monroe,
clingiug to his arm, looking up into his
face with sparkling coquettish eyes, list
ening to his words with that fattering
attention suggestive Of interest in the
speaker. Still she cares nothing for
Monroe, absolutely nothing. 1t is only
her way.
Miss Goodwin is pretty, not so much
so through positive prettiness as from
lack of positive plainness. She has a
bright intelligent face, that sometimes
lights into actual beauty, and again sinks
into utter common plainness. At pres
en-, she il looking her best.
You, who have so devoted an admir-
er, Miss Goodwin" says Monroe, stud
iedly, must find the TEST of our sex
dull"
my admirers are obliged to be devot-
ed. or they Gel ase TO be my admirers, she
answers.
Devotion to Miss Goodwin must be
happy slavery" with a look to enforce
his meaning.
Bu, even sls es require heads she
answers.
Very good" laughs Monroe, duly !;
though somehow, fully diges,ed, the good
uess rather decreases.
Thought, develop slowly in Monroes $
shapely head, but once rooted. bear fruit,
such as i, is. ten thousand fold. 1t
gradually dawns upon him that he has
been the .por, of Miss GoOdwins wit.
The idea rankles in his mind. He, the
winner cf the Tali.manic walking match,
,ruke oar in the rall'manlc rowing crew,
the b,s, wrestler, boxer. and Jumper Tor
miles around No head, indeed
Mouroe's nature is peculiarly vindic-
tly. ore. He never forge,s or foreives
an injury. aud ian eye for an eye Is
the only tex, in all the Bible whose
truth comes home TO him. he has but
one mode of pointing argumen,s-grea'
brute strength. Miss Goodwin Is lady
of high social standing, thence not TO be
conquered by superior muscular develop
m, nj. therefore beyond his reach.
Clifford I.andsmere /. rich, and has
won Miss Goodwin. Robert Monroe Is
moor. and cove,s her. Thus runs his
credit and debtor account, and Monroe
intends settling it in such a manner as
Landsm,re will remember. His love for
Mis-, Goodwin is the love Of q sensuallst
and an ego,ist. He wants her simply
because he can't get her, and 10 win her
from Clifford I.andsmere Is his one de-
size.
A curious place the haunted house,
with a curious history. Judge Hare, the
former owner, had b.queathed the prop
er,y TO distant, cousin. with strict inJunc'
tions that none but male descenden,
should inhabit the place. His own two
daughters. thus turned admit, left the
village in which they had been reared,
and IN which they had hoped to die, and
iourneyed TO Tar oil lands. The place
wa, dear 10 them. and they could not
81, with folded hands watching i, 60 to
ruin.
The distant cousin. bachelor in the
,ixties. and q resident of India. found the
property bore, cursed the glver, and de-
clsr.d at might 20 TO the dogs for oil
him"
II, took him a, hi. word. 1t had gone
there fast.
The place, from becoming neglected,
bscame Stunned. Now the gates have
rus,ed on their hinges; belsted travellers
tell Of lights fitting 10 and fro; the ivy
,,d poisonvine in,ertwine their tendrils
,r,und the house, fast growing damp and
mouldy: trees in,erlace their branches
over q rank underground Of shrubs and
bushes, while the fruit in the orchard
,;nen, and falls 10 the ground unheeded !;
even the school boys, proverbisl revelers
in stolen sweets, leave the pears, hanging
low on the boughs, untouched.
Lands mere wonders in his imaginative,
non practical manner if the ghosts Of the
haunted house are actually spirits from
another worltt. or band of de:peradoes,
As had lately been reported.
"Clfford :" The voice recalls him to
himself, and he :urns TO smile down on
the face of his pretty sweetheart. A per
SON seeing him low would not know him
for the Clifford I.andsmere OF five min
u,es ago. His face softens into INFINITE
tenderness. The very tones OF his voice
be,ray his love as he speaks her name.
"Why do you stay here alone' have
looked for YOU everywhere" says Miss
Goodwin.
And he answers as he draws her to
him. Il canno, stand by and watch You
Air, with such men as Dawson and Mon
roe"
..Jealous ;" with quick contraction OF
b.r pretty brows. "CliH, dear, wish
you would trust me.
II do, but don't trust the men,
Her frown de-pens, and she says, With
some coldness &" | zee Mr.. Monroe look
ing for me now; l am engaged to him
for II ,is dance. stole second for you,
Cliffo I'd, but you evidently don't wish it."
"of course e"-bitterly-" some one
is always engaged to you. never see
you. How long i this to last