Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1892-02-23

There IL no denying that Rush was .
very attractive fellow. lie n gentle
man by birth and instinct: he was bright,
AMI could 10 very amusing. lie was -
much younger than Helen that Aunt Re
b-cca regarded him ~ perfectly safe,
AMI Helen never thought of him ne any
thing more than an agreeable boy-en-
thusias,ic. and enough % musician 20
bc sympathetic.
Ills ear for music was quite remark.
able. OF notes he knew little. but he
could catch an air and play u on the
piano after q few hearings Helen
knowlton. Whose outward life was ne
ccssarily moro or les artificial and con.
strained. found this young fellow pleas-
an, change from the men 81 fashion and
u the stage. by whom she was usually
surrounded. by the people Of the stage
she was surrounded only a tho opera
house. to H. sure. but she saw enough Of
them Co have q pretty poor opinion OF
their manhood. the tenors In particular.
Indeed. shc quite shared the opinion Of n
b,s voiced bas-o I once know. who. on
being asked u he didn't think certain
tenor WAS q pretty good fellow. rcplicdi
"yc-, as good fellow as n man can 10
who sing. In that elef." No. the average
tenor Ia not very noble animal. iie is
as whimsical as q woman. and q very
whimsical woman at that. and vain 10
yond ~orda don't say that there are
no exceptions 10 thi. rule. but, u there
arc. they have not como under my OBJ
servation.
am sorry to say that Rush occasion.
ally droppci into song. bat he sans very
unprofcssionally. and his voice was .
barytone. lle was on such friendly re-
la,ion, with Helen and her aunt that one
evening. when he wanted 10 show them
how q certain Creole song went which
he had picked up from young Louisi.
anian a, college. hc played tho strange
accompaniment on the piano and sang
the song. Helen was delighted with his
voice As well AZ with the song. and shs
though, his style. uncultiya,cd as u ~as,
very fascinating. She oomplimenied
him ~ judicioasly that he ~ss led on 10
sing often. and she offered 90 teach him
some Scandinavian love songs she had
brough, home from EuroPs with her.
50 u will 10 seen that their evenings
were Jas-~i very pleasantly.
Aunt Rel-cca did not like her niece 20
te dragged too deep into the social whirI-
lsol: she thought that her professional
life was exciting enough. and, unless
Helen hal some invitation she could
not well refuse. she liked her 90
pass quiet evening at home. She
looked upon Rush as golsend. fof
be was interesting enough To keep
Helen from bcing bored 10y her-slf. and
~ he was ~ young and without fortune
he dii not come into line with possible
,uiior. Tor her ni-cc's hand. Rush was
Try well satisfied with thi. arrange
-.en,. for IL put him upon very friendly
ioo,ing. Helen would 80 him when she
would not see men whom she regarded
with more favor In a certain way. fcr
shc did not feel that she had to put her.
self out 20 entertain him. When West
Hastings referred a. Rush's rather init.
mate footing In the family, she replied
that hc was ''only boy. and seemed to
L. very much amused that this man OF
the worli should regard him with the
slightest feeling of jealousy.
"lloys ar, often morc dangerous than
they seem TO t-." he replied. with .
slight scowl: Tor nothing annoyed him
more than 10 10 laughed at. no matter
how gentle the laugh.
As Tor Helen. she soon forgot the con.
vcrsaiion. She liked Rush as com.
panion-"a nice young brother. was the
way che put IL. Rush did no, regard
Helen with - Pla,onic AN affection. lie
fell more deeply In love with her every
time he met her. and be was very much
afraid that he would tstray himself.
Such thing as that. he knew. would 10
fatal. So he wait-l as patiently as he
could.
Constant dropping wears away =
stone" be said 20 himself. II shall hang
on and keep up my spirits as best may.
In the meantime shall work for money
and position as no man ever worked be-
fore. and my time will come" Archie
Tllinghast. who could not but notice
Rush's devotion 90 Helen. aid 10 him
one day, "Rush. old man. ! hate TO see
you playing tame cat 10 prima donna :
Rush replied with n herceness that
mus, have proved TO his friend that u
there was anything q the cat In his dis
position IL certainly was not Of the tame
species. "lf another man had said that
10 mc. I would have made him measure
his length ON the sidewalk. hut ! will
take n good deal from you. Archie. No
more Of this, however"
IA you like. dear boy" returned
Archie: "but think you are cut out for
something letter than to stand around
with hundred other men and burn In
cense before public singer.
"Your words are no doubt well meant,
Archie, but they arc uDcalled for. am
content % lie one of hundred now;
there is no reason should not be; but ]
may outstand the nincty-and.nine, and
be swinging nv censer all alone some
day" he said. laughingly: and. putting
his arm through Arches, they continued
their walk In peace and quietness.
Archie made up his mind To say no
moro upon tho subject. no matter what
he might think. AS well try to sweep
the cobwets cut OF tho sky with whisk
broom rs to oTen q mans eyes when he
Is In thi. condition. he said TO himself.
Rush Was not always content with
himself or with his position. There were
times when he resented being treated as
boy. One night In particular he was
In n lamentable state Of mind. lie bad
gone TO tho academy with Helen and her
aunt, and. naturally. expected 20 take
them home. hut West Hastings camsse
hind tho scenes with Uncle Ilghtfoot
Myers, Mrs. Dick Griswold and lot Of
other people to congratulate the prima
donna on o brilliant evenings work. and
invited tho whole party 70 supper ut Del
monico's.
Helen. who thought that Rush had
brought her 20 the theatre to aocommo-
date her rather than for any pleasure 70
himself, believed that no would be glad
Of the release, and aid. In her politics.
tones, IL won't trouble you TO take me
home, Mr.. Iuristone. Mr. Hastings
and these good friends have kindly vol
unteered their serviccA Il was very
good Of you 70 bring me. Good night"
che sddsd, putting out her hand Hs