Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1884-02-26
Tom Merriam vas unusually silen, ,bs,

took q the tempting meal in an absent.
minded hind Of way and ven, back to the
hillside the moment he had finished. in
stead Of lingering to talk to his wife {.
he generally did.
And ye, this was her ,hir,y'four,h
birthday Tom nigh, have remembered
!, sufficiently TO say . good word OF two
in praise 81 the extra good dinner which
she had given him. Ba, no; there he
was on the hillside again and actually
leaning over to talk TO HermOine Mara
bOu, as she drove by on her way back to
the beautiful little villa which her hus-
band had taken for her dariak his absence
in Europe on imPor,an, business.
The hillside conference lasted near ten
minutes then the pony carriage rolled BY
the small brown farmhouse once more /;
bu, HermiOne'. face VAS Persis,enily turn
ed the other way.
she has forgotten. too :" thought
Mrs. Merriam. bitterly And ye, her
O~n birthday comes only one week after
mine"
She finished washing and putting away
the dinner dishes and s~ep, the kitchen
foor. Her house VAS none the lees
spo,le.. and tidy because her hear, ".
aching.
In the pantry were tiny loave. Of fruit
eAke-one for each member Of the fami-
ly-whieh she made in secret. and the
~he.,en bread. the graham rolls. the
clipped beef and homemade preserves
wer. ready for the supper table on the
shelves.
No work was pressing fOr the after
noon. For q week pas, she had planned
70 secure four leisure hours At this time.
and now they hung heavily and sadly on
her hands.
She wandered around from room to
room a few moments. biting her lips hard
every now and then to keep back the
ua~eloome ,esrs. A, las, she sna,ehed
up her .un.bonne,. and leaving the house
BY the back door she hurried across the
garden and q small neck Of pasture land,
and reached the cool, green shadow Of
the woods.
In the silence and beauty Of the naples
she fang herself down and burst into
tear. Long, long shs wsP,. I'LL the sad
ne. and dlscon,en, which had been max
ing hsr hear, ,Or, all ,hrOugh the day
we're entirely gone.
Raising herself on her elbow At last. .
quick ~hirr Of wing. close beside her
cheek startled her. She searched among
the mos. aud found under the roo, Of
,h-e tiny naples. scarcely ,~o inehe'
high. q lovely little h.ir-hned nes, with
four little warm white eggs IN i,.-,he
lAies, Of the season.
- will no, disturb you. pretty one.
she said TO the small. brown mother.
Who at on q bsrbery bush close by.
chipping Pi,ifally. She rose and walked
on.
The grea, trees rusiled and waved
their green and golden leaves abOu, and
over her head in the sunlish; and fresh
air.
A brilliant red bird. With JET black
head and wings. flashed past; golden
robin eha,iered and sooldei from tall
ash At her. and q red squirrel barksd
himself away. jus, above the robins head.
when he saw her coming, ,wee,-seenied
,histles, hones,-faeed mglle.ns. and the
cheerful golden.rod were IN bloom on ev-
cry side: blaekbeuies. late rasp-berries.
aud crimson seo,eh-eaps" oveuan the
woods, and barberry bushes hung full Of
yellowish fruit. A bird. unseen in the
depth, Of the forest, sang every moment
three fa,e-liks notes half-swee,. half
sad.
Toward the ives; deep bell ,inkled
mslOdiOusly. and the straw bery.rOan Co"
came in sight. leading the rec, Of the herd
10 higher pastures. A ~oodehaek. stand
ing on hi. hind fee, q, the door Of bis
house, bolted down the narrow path a'
she passed by.
All was life. movement. happiness,
sunshine. blue skies and perfamed breeze'
wherever she turned. She stopped tC
wonder n the curious tunnel tha, The
vood.pidsr wOve Tor a hiding place II
the mid., Of her net, the rounded shafi'
sank through the dried grass by the mead
o~ mole. and the busy sn,s carrying ,heil
esgs abou, when q stone CHANGED to b
up,arned. alike attracted and enehainet
her attention.
Two hours passed before shs "" svsr'
Of their flight; and in all that time 'h'
had forgotten to be unhappy.
The woods have tsugh, me lessor
,ha, I needed" she thought s she turnet
back to the lonely cottage home that had
never before seemed half 90 dear; and
| have bad . pleasant birthday. aftel
all"
BY the back door she entered her hom'
again. 0lancing into the pantry a. sh'
passed. she saw With surprise ,ha, ,h'
materials for the birthday fsas, had die
appeared.
A confused murmur Of voices soundet
from the parlor. The dinins-room doc
.-ll- l--..