Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1892-02-09

little with Miss Archer. who was quite
NJ bright. hc saw. az her cousin had rcP-
resented her Ia H.. The thought had
hardly passed through his mind when
the music ceased AMI the dancer. strollei
on In pairA a young man dressed In
the exirrn,e of the fashion relieved him
Of Miss CASTOR. and he stool for q mo-
ment leaning against the wall. wonder.
ing wherc Mis- Archer was, when sud-
denly his heart gave such an upward
Iunge that be thought Tor "a few seconds
he should suifocate. Dut IL SON fell
hack 10 it, natural place and left him at
liberty io feast his eyes upon the radiant
face of Helen Knowlton. as she entered
the room accompanied by her aunt and
an old gentleman whom be- had no difii'
Guilty In recognizing rs Uncle iightfcot
Myers.
a sulsluci murmur ~ admiration ran
through the room as the prima donna
stool for n moment on the threshold,
looking about her for the host and host
ess. In a moment West Hastings was
by her side anil conducting her on his
arm "a Mr.. and Mrs. Archer. while Aunt
Relsoca followed on the arm ~ Uncle
ughtfoot Rush ground hi. teeth NJ the
assured manner In which Hastings took
his place at Miss Know lions eide. Then
he tTied to laugh al himself Tor being
such fool "Of course they are en-.
gagc,l. or the next thing to u. and ] am
making myself miserable as foolishly as
a man over did lie got some comfort,
however. from two men who stool chat
ting near by him.
"is Helen knowlton engaged 90 West
IIas,ingsy' asked ono of the other.
"yo." was the reply; "and she never
will L. engaged Ia Hastings or any other
man while Aunt ilsl~cca' lives She
may come near 10 ilfty timcs, tat III
wager You anything you Ike that Aunt
Rslscca SandfOrd IL not going % lct
that chilli put her head into the noose.
And shes About right Come, lets go
up and have n. and =" And they
saunierrd cut. leaving Rush Ia pleas
Anter state II mind than be- was In five
minutes l.forc. II Helen Knowlton
was not engaged 10 West Hastings OF 10
any other man. then be didn't so that
hi. chances were utterly WORTHLESS; nd
any rate he wRs not going to retire from
tho field until after be had done sono
PROSPECTING Rush ilurlsione, though
A. modest young man A. you would
meet In q days walk. was firm In the L.
lief that man could accomplish any.
thing BE- made up his mind % 10, pro
yided Il was at all within the Iossibili.
tie.. II be- had seriously -, his mind
upon b.ing president 81 the United
State. hc would have gone quietly along
working towards that end. thoroughly
convinced that he would accomplish his
object. hut be had no political aspira-
tions. Ilis ambition ran In another
channel
Helen knowiion Was now chatting
with ILcssic Archer and thrvo or four
men a, the opposite cud ~ the room.
Eushs eyes were fastened upon her. lie
was thinking ~ her with all las mind.
and shc probably felt the magnetism of
hi. glance. for sho lookcl up, and. rrcog.
niling the face without b"ing hblo o. tell
where she had s.,n u. sho bowed Ia him
In her most cordial manner. Aunt Re
bccca, Who never forgot the face 81 a
nowsrapcr man. bowel ton, and mo
toned fH Rush to come over ,o their
side - the room-an invitation be was
not slow In accepting.
"Ilow are yOuy' she said. giving him
her hand. "llclen. here l. Mr. Hail.
storm, the young rporicr who wrote
that nicU article abou, you IN The Dawn
Rash vas rather embarrassed by this
puhlic announcement of his vocation.
and annoyed by the miscalling of his
name: but the hcarty manner In which
Mis- knowlinn received him made
amends for her aunt's want ~ tact
Il roogniIed Mr. llurlstonc. and
towe,l to him acTos. the nom, said she.
giving him ber hand. who.e touch scnt
am elo'iric thrill through his entire
frame. "s,one other time will thank
him for his kindness. he will allow me"
"So you know Mr. Ilurlstoncy' said
Bessie. "Iio u an oil college friend %
Archi.s. Who brought him a. us this
evening that We might soo for ourselves
that all the nice things be had said about
him wcru true"
"And do YOU th!nk they arci- Asked
Helen. smiling upon Rush.
Eve boIo Tor the bcst.- rcplie Bessie:
"but shall L. able to speak with more
authority after Sir. Ilurlstone has made
this house his headquarters forawhile."
Rush thanked Miss Archer for the im.
piled invitation. hut said ho felt more
like hiding his heal In a hole after
Arches compliments than trying 10
prove their truth; and thus they chatted
and laughed. after tho manner of young
people at q party. until something was
aid about the banjo. Rushs reply led
Helen 10 believe that he played that in
stmmcnt, and she asked him u lac did.
lie confessed that he picked out a tune
occasionally" and shc invited him to
como around sOinc evening whcn there
was no opera AMI try some duets with
her. for the delighted In the banjo and
found IL great r.cieation after grand
opera.
A.ain the musicians struck upa waltz.
Ncst Hastings leaned down and whis-
ercd something In llelen's car. She
ooked as though what ho said had
pleased her. and at once arose to dance
With him Again Rush ground his teeth.
For "A moment he wondered II be- was too
jld Ia ham the mysteries ~ the waltz;
sut he could not help smiling A. be
thought ~ himself whirling about over
, polished iloor with young woman In
Al. arms. Then he inwardly railei nj
ms,oln that allowed such liberties. L.
,au-e the hand was playing and their
l,ct were moving In time to the music,
Nas that any reason why Hastings should
hayo his arm around Miss Knowlions
waist and hold her hand In his, lie
eould not ssc that IL was Dancing Was
vulgar and vicious pastime, and lac
would never allow sister of his Ia take
rart In any such wickejncss. lie did
not stop to think that no sister OF his
would be likely 10 ask his permission.
Ills eyes were hcnt upon the ground as
these thoughts hew through his brain.
A faint olor Of mignonctie reached him
lie looked up just as Hastings and Miss
Kno~ iion were gliding past
"Iiere I am at last. old man.. said
Archie. at his shouldcr-"just ready for
an evenings fun My days work u
done, and I'm In prime condition Tor