Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-02-07


back like white wings, until she looked
like an angel in a picture. only more SC
stood in the passage and said: I" Well,
then, Patty, give some one my room,
and will 60 with Cousin Emily" And
Patty, with natural instinct Of attrac
ton for the pretty curly-headed Mr.,
Ned Burton" went straight to him and
said: Would you please take Miss
Dollys rooms and I'll show you the
way" Mr.. Berton, without uttering a
word, but looking, as Patty said after
wards, lust caught up and hu,tered," h"
did as be was bid.
Then there was supper and by the
time the clock struck twelve, good nights
were said, and the guests were all locked
in their chambers to seek the slumbers
that should make them quite fresh for
the delightful morrow
And at midnight, Fred Berton, in sort
of awe, stood in Dolly's room, with his
hand upon his heart. looking about him,
and saying, beneath his breath, This
is hers, then; and given to me am
glad no other fellow has it. l believe |
would knock down any other fellow
who had this room, who dared 20 sleep
in it, or who dared TO take long look
at it. Dolly, my darling angel |
hardly dare to sleep in it myself, it is so
sacred-I suppose she fixes her hair
| there; he glanced at the blue and white
toilet, land suppose she kneels down
and says her prayers there y; he not only
glanced at but kissed the blue and white
coverlet. Dolly was Ned's first love,
and he adored her. - don't think |
shall sleep tonight, or if do twill be
TO dream of her, like one who looks on
life when he is dying; for | know very
well-and surely tonight have better
reason to know il than evsr-my love Is
hopeless. What is this my card
His eye had caught the crested card set
against the PIN cushion. He approached
and read j, without lifting it, recognizing
his own hand writing. "Ah," he sighed,
II remember the day | gave that to
Dolly. more than year sgo-yes, for It
was at Christmas time, and now II Is
February. | slipped it into her hand as
she passed through the hall. at the Da-
mois breakfast, with that de;estable Eus-
tace Hurd. | saw her blush quickly be-
fore she took it. How well she knew |
had something for her : believe Dolly
and could make each other understand
anything without a word or whisper
A word to the wise they say, is suffi
cien,'; look is enough to the loving.
And wha, eyes she has Well, must
learn to forge, them. But not to nigh,
not tonight, Dolly"
He took up the card and mechanically
turned il over. IN. b." Her writ
ing and my initials, as she names me
Ned, Ned Berton. 1t must be for me.
She knows that am here What else,
then. could the card. my card, be here
for: N. B. to any other eyes, and in
case of accident, simply nota beRe; but
to me. ah, will note well, my angel
N. B.-Ask mamma tonight, and if
she says no, ask papa; and if he says no,
make him say yes. Tonight, without
without delay. February TO-
FEB ruary 10; that is tomorrow.
Ask mamma Oh, Dolly, can you
mean il: Your command is law but
Mrs. Derwent will say no. That is II
foregone conclu,'ion since have no pros
poets, no immedi ate prospects at least,
and here is Eus,ace Hurd worth half a
million. There is no hope for me there.
Then ask papa and if he says no. make
him say yes Can meke him: What
arguments can bring to bear upon this
intelligent, kindly, but thorough man OF
the world, in this age of high living,
when sentiment rates at so little and
money rates at so much, TO show myself,
a young lawyer with an income OF barely
$1,000 a year, a just rival in claim for
the hand of Dolly Derwert, of Esquire
Eus,s ce Hurd, worth half million
What argument, how shall | express
myself to reach his heart, for | suppose
that under oil his jovial worldliness he
has q heart Let me think.
And he thought. Alone there in Dol
ly's room, with the light lowered to
spark, sitting in the arm chair, with his
head leaning upon his hand and his eyes
downcast. he thought. The wind that
had arisen with sunset died l'own; Its
wild sobbing across the hills an IN the
tree tops ceased; rain fell; then harp
fine sleet beat against the window pans;
that, too, ceased. The little porcelain
clock upon the mantel struck four, and
still Ned Berton thought. At last day
light glimmered on the walls, and then,
wearied to the soul, he flung himself up
on the sofa and fell asleep.
Some one awoke him late. He was
the last one at the breakfast table, and
sleighs-eight dashing little cutters, with
"just room for two" were at the door.
The eight had been procured with some
difficulty; but this Ned Berton was not to
know; politeness would not inform him
that he was the odd one of the party, the
seventeenth, who had not been provi ded
for. having been invited 10y Mr.. Dor
went on the supposition that "of course
Ned was included "a supposition
which Mr.. Derwent found emphaticslly,
afterward, had not been founded upon
fact.
Mrs. Derwent, however, not to be re-
miss as hostess. made the best of an en-
barrassing blunder, and in spite of her
L. 49, al, Aln ,.n,,nn r,aonla caran