Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1888-04-24
rlHis.n ns
His Match.
W. w. NAM


Every one in Hill~ood knew him
They knew he had been the means Of his
hr, wife. andins an early grave; snt
nov be wanted TO break MI. French
heart; pretty. dimpled. broun.eyed Or
phiss. the pride Of the village, aud the
admiration Of all.
How she came 10 choose 'arly. self.
i,h man like Hector Hunter wss a Won
der 10 everybody. /, wAs well kno-r
,hl, blae-ey,d. sanny.f.esd Charlie Ches.
ter stood ready TO Jay down his life foi
her sake. and th., James Singleton bad
offered him.sliio hsr Al lsss, three time.
Either would have been considered a
good match. and ye, IL "a. quite evidsn,
that Hector Hanisr ". the man 'h'
loved. and she had been known 10 watch
beside him day and nigh, when be ~a'
III. and refuse all food I'LL she W. sure
be vas on, of danger.
Yes. Nj. French did love him. She
~N engaged to him. too; ,ha, sunny
morning in June va, to ~i,nrs' her brid-
al.
She ~. to be married in the little
church where she had been baptized. IN
the presence ottho.e Who bad kno~a and
loved her from a child.
So VIA, va. really nobody. bu'ins'.
". everybody. business, aud PrO-ed the
topic Of conversation ihrOushoa, the en-.
tire village.
All her girl friend. pi,ied her; all her
male aeqa.in,anee. snvied Hector Han.
ter. Al the mA,ron. bs-sil-d her fate
al the sire. hin,ed thA, the Bridegroom
wu a lucky man.
Finally came the organ psal.. then the
solemn .eryice-for IL VI. solemn-and
then pretty Orphis. wen, down the aisle
leaning on the arm Of her sOaf.lookins
husband a. .milinsly |. II Der path va.
,rs-n With rose. and her future I. clear
|. lake ., ev,n. when the glory OF th,
setting .an rr.,. upon IL, placid bosom.
II can't sdjii TO take Wedding uip,
Orphis., Mr. Hanier bad said the nigh,
be slipped the sngssemsn, ring on bet
fassr. and listened TO the shy "ye.'
~hi.percd under the tree ,ha, grew bach
Of her home.
I'll, cost, a good deal TO live nowadays
The children need clothes. aud twill
take . i've dollar bill ngh, out Of ny
poke, TO pay the miai,,er. You won''
care. will yoa' You bad jas, I. soot
settle down as sensible woman. h.dn''
YOU That. the way my hr,, wife did
And Ofphis. .sid Eyes. she'd do any.
,hins he liked" like the dear little ihins
she Vas.
50 =. soon a. her gr.y.h.ired pas,ol
had made her Mrs. Hector Hunter. 'h'
walked quietly across the village eommof
TO the large. glOomy-loOking house bull
on i,s edge. and closed the door in the
face. Of those looking after her with
world o. eommi.eis,ion in their eyes.
"She'll regre, this &C, Of hern. OF m,
name !. no, Miranda Hishhysf. said on'
n.rrow.minded spins,er 70 another.
"She'll look liz. a wil,sd rO.e by ,h'
time ,hs ha. lived three weeks With ,ho''
children. said Nj" Dean, the yilias'
dre-msker. TO her customer, Mrs. Flint
III kno- all about them once made
q dress for the frs, Mrs. Hunter. and
had chance 10 see some Of their actions.
We've lO., our pretty ophie. for
ever" said grsy.haired Farmer sloeum
"Rade hand. have picked OUT s~eei.brie
rose. aud there i' none other 20 fair
1--WE are going to have orphies frerei
for q siep.mo,hsr." said the Hunter chill
dren. pressing up TO the window which
command, . ,ies Of Hillwood eOmmoi
snd church. "She'. awful pretty. ba
IL. mystery how she came to mar!
father"
"You know the young folks so well
Orphiss. ths, there !, no need Of an IL
,rodue,ion.' said Mr.. Hunter, s hi
young bride kissed one rosy face after an
other, and "a, down in the dead wife
rocking chair with the yoange', on he
knee.
"when you are rested we will 70 owe
the house aud take look at things. thel
We will have some dinner. dismissed
the housekeeper to-day, s knew "
should no, need her after you came. lie
month va. up. and IS a penny saved
penny earned. le, her 20. Rosa Bel
/. large enough to help you about tn
house. She is sixteen. and tall As yo
are. que. you will pull together hr''
rate"
Pretty orphie. looked At her STEP
daughter qaes,ioningly.
IL hope so" she said quickly. eyes.
kissing her. III an quite sure tha, v
shall"
That k. won Rosa Bell.
"Artkur," she said to her twelve-yeal
old brother. the moment the door close
behind her new mother. "take heart.
do believe there 10 . change eomins
The second Mrs. Hunter is very swe'
and smiling, bu, ! shoald not be 'urprii
ed IL fs.her had found his match. St
doesn't say a gres, deal. bu, there Is
look In her eye which makes me feel fur
ny"
"He'll tame her before long," answer
ed Arthur, with knowing shake OF b
head. "She'll have to knock under q
same as the rest Of us. wonder II he
le, me 10 ou, on the common tonight
The boys are getting up q base ball mattel
Tom Jones was here this morning, ar
made me promise Id come. The ski
fiin,s are going to play against the iro'
aides. ba, Ill bet on the"
"You mustn't bet ct ALL" interrupts
Rosa Bell. tying on her apron and bu
Ting about the poorly spread table In u
room adjoining.
"Ths y fathers wedding day, and