Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-05-29
had taken pride in her work; what would

i - ~N---"p H
ed with pleasure; had the same kindly
measures for old or young, rich or poor,
and had come to seem part and parcel
of the otherwise somewhat dingy and un-
attractive post office.
She walked slowly over the uneven
plank sidewalk, her eyes cast down,
looking neither to the right nor left. She
took no notice of those she met, until a
young man raised his hat and spoke
pleasantly to her. Then she looked on.
A tall, fair young man, only year or so
her seenior. stood smilingly before her.
"How do you do, Mr.. Gray?' she re-
turned, in answer to his salutation.
He noticed her look Of discomposurs.
"Why did You resign at the postofiice''
he queried, with the familiarity of an old
Acquaintance, as he walked up the street
beside her.
Her first thought was to give him an
evasive answer. 81 viii tell you ths
truth, Mr.. Wynne wishes more respon-
sible help; in fact, wishes gentleman
, assistant
The young man whistled softly. 81
! was given IN understand that YOU were
leaving of your own accord, though not
in the same words" he returned, "or i
should not have accepted the majors
offer"
She laughed, triae forced and un-
natural. "You are not at all to blame
hoqe YOU will succeed, and am conf
den, you will give satisfaction With
these few words she left him, tripped
lightly up path to door and vanished
while Allan Gray mused to himself 81
don't understand this matter. She Is
certainly more competent than am, full
IL understands the work and will work
for 500 year less than the salary ne
has offered me"
For the mex, month Kitty Marble and
Allan Gray labored together sorting let
ters and papers, filling mail bags and
waiting upon the rough crowd who came
from out Of town, for Uniontown had no
rival post-ofice for miles. And Major
Wynne took a vacation during this
month, returning with smile even more
afable than usual.
And Kitty, failing to find anything
more promising, accepted the school in
district No. s, and stroye with commend
able zeal to instill some enthusiasm into
the thick heads of the stolid crowd over
which she was installed ruler.
The school house was but four miles
from the village, and during the fall term
she visited home two or three times
week, meeting always warm greeting
from the business men and others who
remembered her bright face and cheerful
ways so well. And the village gossips
noticed and commented upon the fact
that Allan Gray was frequently seen
driving Major Wynne's spirited colt
with Kitty Marble seated in the buggy
beside him, for the major seemed well
pleased with his new assistant, and was
disposed to favor him in all ways possi-
ble.
But when the bleak New England
winter came and the snow lay piled IN
deep drifts, poor Kitty had a lonesome
time indeed, for somehow the major had
changed slightly toward Allan Gray and
no longer rendered him the use OF the
colt, nor gave him so many holidays as
formerly, though the young man could
not really say that Major Wynne Ill
treated him in the slightest degree.
The winter term of school was two
thirds over and in another month Kitty
would be at home again. The commit
tee had praised her, as she thought. more
than she deserved and one of the village
schools had been offered her, and the
thought of being once more daily resi-
dent of Uniontown, to say nothing OF a
largely increased salary, helped her tc
bear the monotony Of her present life.
She sat talking with the woman of the
house where she boarded the evening at
, ter the welcome news had been impart'
ed TO her. Her heart was light and hel
= whole being was thrilled with happl
| ness.
SWELL" said the woman, whose hus
band was away in the lumber woods
y "Tm mighty glad for your sake, though
f we'd like to have you here agin. You "
: done more good to these young ones
mine than all the other teachers put to
|. pether. Zach, here, was always calle'
l.. Ounce till you took him in hand ant
e now he can figure and spell, and lam
o only knows what he doesn't know"
v The rude, unlettered woman smile
proudly upon her awkward, half grow
- ~, a. ,houoh she believed he would b