Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-05-08

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or less all day, but the doctor gave him
another small dose of morphine, and he's
resting easier now.' She hadn't more
than got the words out of her mouth
when he turned his head on the pillow,
and opened his eyes.
"Is that you Me'svine?'
"Yes, sir" said |, going up to the
bed.
"Mirandy," said he, you go out and
sit by the kitchen fire till | want you
again." and to humor him she went.
Just as quick as she shut the door he
clutched me by the arm and pointed to a
heavy black box that stood on the bu-
reau.
"There There it is !" says he /; ats
clutching at my throat as if it had fin
gers Take it away: Take it away" he
almost shrieked.
"Yes, yes, presently said to pacify
him.
"Why don't you take it The key
hangs around my neck. Here unlock
the box and take away the-package.
It's clutching me tell you Be quick
BE quick ~
81 did just as he told me you've got
to with raving man, you know not
expecting to find anything important. |
unlocked the box, and the first thing | see
oh, | pretty near let it out that time,
but you've guessed it like as not. | de-
clare, | don't know when | shall get
over the scare it gave me :"
Flo and Nettie exchanged quick,
startled looks and drew nearer to Miss
Melavine, while the molasses bubbled
unheeded in the porcelain kettle.
Tell them," he says, "that I've not
had an hours peace since locked it up
there. Their fathers sudden death put
it in my head-the temptation came like
whirlwind then, oh, the misery! You
know the rest. Afterwards | could not
confess. They are good girls-good girls.
John Randalls daughters could not be
anything else. Tell them to keep it all
all. 1t is doubly theirs. l have so
wronged them, do not want them to
pay another dollar on the old account II
is the only reparation can make. Beg
them to keep my secret. | don't deserve
that they should have mercy on my good
name, but oh for Mirandy's sake and
little Joe's beg them to show it. They
are good girls. Now call my wife," he
says and drops his head back on the pill
low without another word There, I've
tried to tell it, word for word, just as it
happened-and, you dear things, nobody
could be sladder to put it into your own
hands than my very own self-but that
miserable mans looks and motions will
haunt me to my dying day, verify be-
lieve."
She drew from the bosom Of her calico
dress packet which she placed in Net
ties hands. The lost money as the
reader has doubtless guessed.
From Loren Sackett of Ashfeld to
Caleb Stone, $1,000, payment for live
stock Sent by kindness of John Ran
dali"
For two years, hidden in Caleb Stones
strong box, while two heroic girls, turned
out of their homestead to crafty his
greed, were working their young lives
to make good it's assumed loss
Flo and Nettie wept silently at the
side of their good friend. Mingled with
the inexpressible relief at their good fort
une was pity (such as few in like cases
would have been able to feel for the
wretched, guilty man who so used them,
and sorrow for his innocent wife and
child, that this gain must come from
their grief and loss All John Ran
dalls daughters were indeed good girls
"After all said Flo, finally jumping
up and running to the stove, 81 don't
believe its good economy to let the candy
burn"
They kept the dead mans secret faith
fully, compassionately. They made the
remaining payments to the heirs, as if
nothing had occurred, then went to Bos-
ton, Nettie to take thorough course in
elocution, and Flo as an art student.
There were not wanting numerous Paul
Prys of both genders who couldn't for
the life of them see where John Ran
dall's girls got money to fool away on
such doings ~ To such Melavine dis
creetly replied that, as far as she could
say, it was a present from very kind
friend called DESTINY"
1t was Persian philosopher who
when asked why he named his son John