Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-09-04
AFTER MANY DAYS.
BY MARY A. p. sTANsBURY.

Dl hAht y.
1t was opening day at the Academy
The regular chapel services were owe
and we iwere waiting while our seats
were assigned us according to our rank il
scholarship. Nearly all the last year
boys and girls were there-except, In
deed, the fifteen graduates, whom We
missed from the front row-and there
were many new faces, some eager and
self-confdent, others wearing timid,
shrinking expression, the tell-,ale of sti-
fled homesickness. One by one the
names had been called and their owners
had responded. Al length, Jasper
Langley" said the Professors clear Incl
siye voice. There was a moments pause,
and from the shadow of pillar in the
extreme rear of the room rose an odd,
misshapen little fgure-,he head of a
youth Of fifteen or sixteen get upon the
narrow. bumped shoulders of child OF
Of ten. As the new conner walked slow
ly up the long aisle, between double
row Of curious gazers, his own eyes cast
down and a red hush burning in each
thin cheek, could think Of nothing but
the white captive in an Indian story
had once read" Running the Gaunt-
let"
The seats usually allotted to the boys
of the school proved insufficient for their
accommodation. and several had already
been placed in the girls division. 1t
seemed cruel mockery Of fate that set
Jasper Langley at the elbow Of Lily Bar
ton. the prettiest girl of the Academy.
But, as if the physical contrast had not
been in itself enough, the spoiled little
beauty, with a swift, involuntary lifting
of her round shoulders, and pout Of her
red lips, moved to the farthest end OF her
seat, in evident desire to avoid her new
neighbor. Poor Lily was more thought
less than intentional youth and beauty
so rich in themselves, are often intoier-
Grant of lack in others; but with the
morbid sensitiveness of the deformed. the
boy saw and comprehended the gesture.
In an instant he shrank away in his turn
"A look of sharp pain in his face, min
gled with bitter, almost defiant humil-
iation, very sad to see.
Instinctively glanced at Margaret Lee
=" Queen Margaret" we used to call
her-the dearest girl in all the school.
the noblest, and proudest, too. with that
grand, fearless pride which could have
gone to death rather than stoop to
mean act. Tears were trembling on her
long lashes, her cheeks famed, and hel
sweet, firm lips were pressed tightly to-
gether, as If to hold back the indignant
words that struggled behind them. When
we were dismissed from the room, saw
her pause at the Professors desk, speak
ing in low, earnest tone. He bowed
as if in assent to request, and fanciec
what the next morning con6rmed-tha
she begged to exchange seats with Lily
Barton.
MAY walk with you, Margaret
asked, as we donned our hats and wraps
that afternoon.
She stopped to kiss me-she was tai
| for her sixteen years-and whispered hur
riedly: :,
mot this time, my dear; you vii
understand why"
She went out of the door with quicl
step.
miss Margaret called handsom
Ned Gray after her. aren't you goin
to stay and arrange for our archer
match"
II cannot. Ned" she answered. Jas
per Langley, who was quietly shppin
away. looked up at the sound of he
voice, and as he did so she gave hir
one of her rare smiles like sudden sur
shine.
Nobody needs an introduction {
school," she said to him, in those cies
tones of hers which always commando
every ear; "and since l learned yor
name at roll-call. imagined that you al
one of our new neighbors in the cottae
in the grove. Father told us that Mr.
Langley had taken it,"