Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1891-08-18

while ai least.
There were several churches In the
town. bui NJ the time II which ! spcak
the Congregational rulpt was empty.
Numerous applications for the position
appeared. but hone suited until AZ lat
one II the trustees arrived home after a
short trip ani announced that b. bad
found the very person. \ Rev. Mr..
Ramay it was whoin be- hal run acrus.
quite accidentally. anl who. though
travelling for his health. hal finally oun.
ssniol to come cut aud preach trial
s.rmon anl io remain Indefinitely u hi.
hearers wcrc pleased
well. In due time Mr.. Ramsay ar.
nV,i and delivered discour-o which.
for cloqucncc and logic. ! have never
heard c1collci. You may L. sure the
church lot not a moment in engaging
him. and they nary,lcl much at their
gupl luck. wondering that ~ talented a
NAN should wish % stay and bury his
gifts IN such a small. obscure town.
The new acquisition srcc,lily Arusc
to the placc ~ nr,t favoritc In the rank.
~ The ministers. Ills sermons fairly
scintillstcl with bnlliancy. and w- sOJn
found ihlt hc certainly ru,.e-sol . "
markally Cu, c,lnCaiiOn la the bargain.
Though lo never spoke - the rasi, his
conversation rayo evidence - his having
tnS,l,d extensively IN pretty much
every country Ca the face - the glol-.
Moreover b. Wa yuung. and such q
genial. vrm liaurl fellow that every
bviy Nll him ai hpt sight. They
couldn't ll'pit.
"nut. rI t.il. b. mover alluded to
his tur.I iife For nught wc knew h.
mi dat hIsc bsgu . bishop 90 u highway
NAN. an Am rican gambler. or the son
% an Egsi.h 4 duke. but the church
ncmbep wOrr ton pruul ~ the prize
they hal captured O. L. very ca
nous AlIuui thc rfvvious rc0rl,
and the touch - mystery clinging 90
him only rgulrrcl him lis more al
trH dive tout V1r my part. | thought
th- sir,ngst thing concerning him Wa
that d. 81 nrl ncyrr o. hold cOmmuni'
raii1a N,.I anybody oui,ilc the town.
\ fellow 20 engaging aul companion.
able must have malo lucnds wherever
b. went, anl So 80 long "a we knew
him Doe Didn't f,cr,vc one letter ~ ielc
sr.m frum ahuai-uot - single mcssa.,,
~ any Lind
IA lca.i. that d. what the postmaster
and the dc.ol agent said. aui thcse
officials kr,p track " such things Ia lit
llc towns. yIl bal bsttcr believe.
Ramsay anl gu, t. b. quite inii-
mate after . while. ani many wcrr the
walks ami talks wc ciIoycl together.
llut be- want ANY more confidential
with the than hr Wa with others, and
10 oOur-c | askcl no questions. only
ouc. did b. say something which might
b. construed a. lvaring upon the secrei
wa convinced that b. hal. II was Ia
this way
Ramsay hal drOpped into my Office,
lnd We fcll o. cJnycraing about hercdi'
tary diseasc. Il grcw cut % some ease,
was treating then. don't remember
uhat. Ramsay in his brilliant, earnest
fashion b,s.au 30 inyciyh against Icoplo
who marr.cl aud brought into the world
childrru cur,.,l with the SEEDS u some
dreadful malaiy.
LET uie tell YOU a story, be said,
and II will show you how many live,
may b, ruined 10y one such deed. The
faois came "a my knowlclgc years ago.
once there was a boy-ncycr inind his
uame-who. hls friends s.lll. showed en-
o...liug great promise Ia his youth. lIi,
mother. widow. =. cinc,i utterly wnpIsd
up In him. She Travelled with him In
forrim Lands. scnt him 10 the finest
schools AMI spared neither pains nor eN.
t-nse 90 improve the talents nature hal
bestowed upon him. llo was hopeful
and happy. aud Que thing only troubled
him-he usel often to wonder about hi,
father. whom be- couldn't remember. and
his mother wa gy,icont upon that point
and replied 10 all his questions scan,ily
and vaguely.
They werc living in England at the
time. having come there from America
after the fathers death. and being In
easy circumstances financially the future
looked very bright and glowing ind cd.
"'In due time tho young fellow grad
uated irUm the university with high
honor. aud sO0n after became engaged
90 a boauiiful girl lie bal long tocr
destined 20 enter the Ininistry-a work
for which his taste and abilities best
fitted him-and Immediately upon his
marriage he was 10 settle down In charge
of a pariih at soine distance from his
home. There was but one drawback 10
happiness. His mother, although she
consented Ia the betrUthal. did not seem
20 feel the pleasure In IL that he could
have wished. but he put II all down to
her grief at the pruspect Of parting with
him, and PREPARATIONS for the welding
went on In the merriest fashion.
"'Bui one morning there was an
alarm. The mother was mi-sing-had
disappeared In a very unaccountable and
mysterious manner. All the day they
searched for her and just at night my
hero. RAISING through some woods in q
secluded part of the grounds. found her
lying face downward in shallow little
pool Of water there.
Drowned hersslf during tempo
rary alteration Of the mind" was the
verdict. and then IL was the young man
learned that insanity had been for gen
eraiions hack hereditary trait Ia his
mothers family. Then, also, was lac
told the real truth about his father, and
he found that that father was not dead.
but was incarcerated in n private ho-pi-
tai In America-violently. hopele-sly
mad.
-well. you can understand how he
felt, OF. rather. you can't comprehend IL.
The girl that he Lowell was true 10 him.
but how could be marry her knowing
what he diR Even IL the lunacy slum-
bered In his veins IL wouid surely
awaken 90 curse their childrn. 30 he
left her. and almost crazed with sorrow
himself he sailed for America where he
still remains. A little while ago he
heari that his betrothed was dead
killed by the double shock Of his disap-
pearance and his mothers fearful and
untimely end.
"'Can you wonder continued Ram.
say In q tone Of subiued passion, that q
species OF bitterness often mingles, half