Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-07-24

ing thirty-six. Well, Of course, he could
not be expected to think of my feel.
ings."
Marcia, tell me if you were ever in
love, and what it is like?" said Ida,
sitting down at Marcia's feet and cross
ing her hands upon the old woman's
knees.
"It is the dreadfulest condition." and
then she bit her silence off at her Begin
ming.
81 see you have had acquaintance
with it," said Ida quickly. "And why
is it you never married. 1t seems so
right for you to be unmarried, never
thought to ask you before
~ suppose there are many men in
this world, some one Of whom / might
have loved and married." Marcia returned
finding comfort in generalizing thus
I" but providence never threw us into cir
cumstances which compelled love and
marriage. 1t is all happening, any
how, you know. The man chance had
in view for me married another woman,
l suppose, without waiting to see me /;
and the man might have loved did the
same"
"Oh, Marcia, how cold blooded :"
cried Ida. / believe it is all destiny-all
meant to be, and as sure to come around
right as the sun is. wouldn't think 9th.
erwise for the world"
"That is all very natural" said Mar
cia, slowly.
"Well," exclaimed Ida, after pause,
"if here isn't Herman coming back
again" Then she futtered like bird
about to take win, and oscillated from
one side to the other Of her perch on the
step. "Yes, l think had better 60 ii"
she said hastily, after watching him a
moment. Don't you come, Marcia !;
maybe he's come back feeling that he
couldn't wait to tell you." Then she ran
away.
"Very WE'LL" Marcia thought calmly,
she couldn't wait, as Ida says, and has
come back to ask my consent shall
give it in as few words as possible, and
hope he will make as few words Of it.,
too"
But she began to tremble when he sat
down beside her.
The afternoon was falling to a close,
now, but Herman was either very warm
or somewhat agitated.
81 will wait for him to begin in the
way he pleases. OF course, he can't ex-
pect me to Begin Marcia said, silently.
"Ihave been here before this afternoon,
Marcia" he did begin, presently; but
he stopped there somewhat uncertainty.
"Yes, saw you sitting here with Ida,'
she said, with sudden resolve to help out
and have it over.
"Ida is a pleasant little girl-and is
pretty, too, don't you think So" he
asked.
The interview was painful to Marcia,
under the circumstances naturally very
painful, and it could not fail to be dis
tressing when he praised Ida so openly.
So she answered nothing to this.
BY some imperceptible motion he was
coming closer to her and in less than a
minute he sat almost next to her.
She raised her eyes to his face and OBJ
served him with clear gaze. Then he
put out his hand and grasped her fingers.
His touch was very grateful to her, and
pleasant warm feeling passed up her
arm to her shoulder, but she rigidly re-
pressed it.
"He thinks Of me as a sort Of mother
in-law, and he is seeking to propitiate me
by taking my hand. I've heard that men
try every means to win over their mother
in-law," thought Marcia, bitterly. His
mother-in-law !"
She was still looking at him with a
hardened gaze, and she saw that he put
off his usual manner, and had assumed
an intense earnestness which she failed to
be en- rapport. Nevertheless she determ-
ined he was much in earnest, and some
what embarrassed. f"I t.
She thought she ought to help him
again, so she said: .''
"You need not 60 on, Herman. I
give you my consent without you asking
forit. God bless you" ..sls.
"My dearest Marcia. You do. How
good Of you to anticipate me! y he ex-
claimed, and Immediately threw his dis
engaged arm about her.
She drew back alarmed at this strange
outburst.
81 think" she said, Ida would not
like to have you hug me that way"
She felt it was hard that he should, af-
ter all, think she was SO old there was no
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