Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1890-12-09

presence Of her stronger friend and ally,
~, when Bette could not b. spared
from her household gods. IL was gruAt
comfort "a quiet little Anna 10 at under
the-e also. and to stay there m~ekly %
long n Detii. could alternately cajoieor
oo.rce the deaf sp.nstsr into permitting.
Dui that ancient and unwinkinS Cerir--
rus had carefully r,connoltsred the sur.
rOundings of the mayofaiiy. Bile had
long sincs concluded that ] was the
property u the lady of the house. and
Tom. t-ing ouly piece of live furnt'
ture. like the cat. was not 90 b. counted
81 little Anna's last yisit had bcen al.
lowed 90 run into mOnthS She could
skate wen. for all lisr fragiliiy. and her
taste anI touch In music were both deb.
cate bat decided. -. after al. Nc male
her useful. though Z fslt oOmpunctious
twingcs When reflected how heavy on
hand abe must te 90 pOor Tom. Tor, be-
sides al Othsr rvl~ons. u was an under.
stood thing am0as "a taai Mlss Dilton
was engaged. IfnOt f0T ally contract
ei a. him sae w..s % far c)minittei Ia .
certain Mr.. Gollwin a. to make that
contamination a mers matter u time.
Not a very cniicing per.On was Mr..
Goodwin. CO In years ani money grub
In nature. bui--as the srnior MiNs Bel.
ton was woat 20 uay grimly-if not .
brilliant man. h. was az le..st a safe QUE.
Twenty thousand year was his all0t
ment q this worlds goO.ls. AMI the very
soul - the spinst.r swellc,l within her
when she reflected what that would do
tor "shadynook-
Yielding In all things. the white
mouse appeared to accept ber tate In this
with perfect composure. bu, she shrunk
with peculiar ssnsitiycnes from any al.
lusiou 10 IL by ons u us. 50. % coure.
none was ever male; bat land was
sure Tom As wcli-lOokci upon her s
on. % the least interesting % the VIC
tins to the Moioch Of oonyensncs.
Hence fully Appreciated the unssliish
friendship that oansei him % become Q
martyr 20 her stupidity. tha, ] might 10
lcfi tets-a.tets with his glorious cousin.
one night when our bachelor pip.s-0r
punch had been stronger than usual ]
said word. 30 that eject Toms rvjoin-
der was Characteristic. lie thrust bis
tongue into his cheek. shut one eye very
slowly. AMI nicking my glass with his
said. "IIerrs good luck. and bad cess
a. old Goldwinl-
Verily. We heed nryer leave our own
circle Tor evidences % the mysteries %
Natures complex mechanism. and what
very old error, We make IN our estimats
u them sometiinesi
At length its hcirc.. had bccn imr-ra-
lively called back % 'Shadynook." The
minated Argns would have her return
fnr ia Xmas dismalness. and when that
spinsier foot was once pat down thers
II stayed. EIaciing the promise Of
speedy visit frnn Dctiie. before Xmas II
possible. anl indulging In many mys.
tsrious whisper. and n perfect fusillais
~ kiss. that 1T me on pms and needles
u envy. the white-mOussy one wept her
salf into her sleigh and faded out into
the snowy avenue.
Tom and I. a. meinbss % Bettie's
r~rs0nal stan. hal. % course. bscn In
cludel Ia the invitation o. SHADY
nook." bat no time was decided IN our
council. AMI weeks rolled BY with M
definite plans about II. Happy weeks
they were to me-full ~ sunshine, with
only such fccks % shadow a. made ns
enjoy the mOr. baskcd IN the smiles
~ the only woman ! hal ever really
carvd for. and, wbethsr they were al
for me or not. was namely happy.
Tor tAsr-'. oo,hlsf hAn - s-~ss N Efs
AZ Losss yossng dran