Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1892-04-19

marbill palish: and II what she hearn
tell was true. his office In New York was
nothin les than marbill from its front
stoop 90 it, lean.to."
Tho approaching wedding of John
/ IIurlsiono Ia Amy Isyliss was no les
an occasion of lo-ral excitement. John
hadn't be.n In farnst-i since be went
away ito take kecr % that gold mine"
as the villagers expressed u. but Amy
hal heard from him regularly. and be
had at last fixed the wedding day. IL
was to h. September the %. and great
were the prsparations then going on
Amy's brother Tom vas 30 ls the bcst
man. Johns two sister. the bridesmaids.
AMI 10th Dr.. Iayliss and the bishop II
the diocess were Ia perform the wedding
ccrvm ,ny. farInsted was in a fiuttsr II
excitement over the event, and the church
Wa receiving some neo,lei painting and
upholsiering In anticipation. John wrote
that ho would not h. on until the very
morning u the wedding. because he was
busy getting his affairs In order, ~ that
b. might take wedding trip a. roms
new and far oil plaoe. Rush had seen
little or nothing of John In New York
during the summer. and he was delighted
o. kiow that he hal settled down and
was determined to marry the devoted
girl 90 whom he was engaged.
In tho meantime. the Affairs ~ the
Mutual Dividend Mining company were
Lscoming more and mOro involved. and
tho nature " the work that John was
called upon To perform 10y Col Mortimer
would no, bsaT the light of day. John
wa. getting more and more RECKLESS.
IIe drank deeper and played higher. aud
didn't seem 10 care much what became
of him. lie only went 10 80 Lconi C.
casionally. AMI she-poor girll-w0wor-
rieI to death about him. lle told her
that luck Was agains him, and that IL
always was against him when he trit,l 10
do what was night. AMI that l. what 10
tned 20 make himself believe. When
I.ush came back 10 New York from
hls visit a. Farmstei. John invited
him to dine with him at the
Club" and Questioned him closely
A. to the wedding prcparationS Rush
wa. seriously alarmed by Johns appear.
ancc and manner. There was restless,
Wild look In his eyes, and b. started at
every strange sound When Rush asked
him II be was not well. he AID that hs
VA never better Ia his life. lie ate very
little. drank a good deal and talked In.
ccssantly aiout Amy AMI the approach
ing wedding 80 | am "a 10 married
September third. am " be- Said. well,
suppose shall have 20 give up my
bachelor ways and -sttlo down as a fam.
man. Thsy'rcall waiting for the wed.
ding day. YOU lay. Well. rs coming.
yOu can't keep u hack. don't say that
any one would keep It back only say
that no one could kccpit back. d. have
a brandy and so1a. Rush. IL will do you
good. You fellows Who stick to one
vine through dinner are too prudent
by half. Good brandy never hurt any
one You are going to be there. Rush.
Every ones going 20 h. there.
Wei have Jolly time at the
funeral i mean the wedding. bat
where's the difference They both start
you into an unknown country. Queer
world. eh. brO,heri Now tell the some.
thing about mother aud tho girls l
know they are we'll. bat aro they happy.
Ruslli-that. the point, are they happyi
You may H. bursting with health. but
what's health without happiness They
arc happy. are thcyl ! hOpo they may
always h. 30. Rush. l hope they will
never L. made unhappy on my account.
bat IL takes ~ little 81 make niothers and
sisters unhappy. They are naturally
nervous great deal more nervous than
fathers and brothers Well, Rush. old
hoy. YOU can't refuse me this toast" IRIS
ing unsieadily to his feet; "liere's 10
the dear ones az home. and may they al
way. love us. Rush. always love us as
we--what do meany'
AS We deserve" suggested Rush.
John knit his brows for second.
More than that. Rush That might do
Zoe you. bat II would never do Tor me.
May they always love va. no matter
what oomes'-thats II. Rush NO mat
ter what comes, may our mother and
sisters alway. love us.'
Then he sai down and pulled his hair
over his forehead and saii nothing for
sOme moments Then he broke ous
again
Queer thing, families are, Rush
Look at YOU and me- No one would
ever take us for broIhrrs; We are as un.
ike In feature a. w. are In character.
You know your duty, odd fellow. and
YOU do II like u man. know mine -ouie-
ilnes. GUi help me, hut ! can't do u.
When die. Rush. ! want YOU % have
Ine examined You'll lind my heart In
the right place; but when you examine
INV head you won't find my moral quail.
iies what they ought a. H.. Then you'll
forgive me for lots of things, won't youi
Youll say. Poor fellow! Ills heart sas
ill right II his will wasn't as strong as
.urs: we mustn't L. too hard on him
YOu'll say all this. won't YOU. Rush,
And John leaned acres the table and
ssikel hl. brothers hand With a tight
grip, and gaked with an expression OF
intense longing into his face.
Rush knew, u course. that be was
flushed with wine. AMI be supposed that
all this talk was merely the result u his
potations. To humor him. and because
hc really loved him. be- repliedi
Have no fear on that score. John; We
know too well what warm heart you
carry abou, with you To b. hard on You
for misstep."
lie supposed his brother alluded TO his
Increasing habit u drinking.
Thank you. old man; thank YOU more
than words can tell lm nervous To-
night. You mustn't mind me. another
PONY II brandy will set me all right.
And. suiting the action 90 the word. he
drank one down without winking.
Suppose Ne walk around Madison
.auarc," be- resumed MY head !. on
lire: theso Angus, nights are beautifully
cool; perhaps the air will help It..
On their way out they met Mortimer
in the hall lie looked dogged and sui
hen. sc.ing John. be- bcckonei him
aside aud exchanged n few Whispered
words with him. At something he said
John started hack as though he were
going to fall. but hc clutchcd the railing
Of tile staircase and recovered himself
lie looked - frightfully III when lie re-
Joined Rush that the latter proposed that
they .houId 90 home at once; hut John