Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1894-10-16

uo man to oWHon tne couiu NV ki'o hes
self heartily. wholly.
II knAw 20 like me. Andrew. I" she
said frankly. "l've al'ays knawn II, an
I thank you. II ever come 20 think T.
that other way. an II go ye'rc T. the
same mind still. I'll speak nIst Don't
ask me any more. Andrew. Ill speak
first"
Henceforth. m before. they were
friends-closc. firm friends-but no fur.
ther. SEASON after season Andrew sailed
OF In his yawl for the whiichshing ON
the Dogger. returning each time with
brain afiame for tho sight Of her. And
she met him with mere smile and hand
shake. In her eyes no token of change.
no glimmer Of awakening affection.
Eight years thus numbered away
eight weary. joylCA years-and neither
Hilda nor Andrew had sought 10 break
through their pact Of silence About
this time Hilda was soroly stricken with
typhoid. then rife In the village. and
for an anxious space sho dwelt ON the
very border line of here and hereafter.
On Andrews pcrsuasion-he stalking
his word that the great mans fc~
should Ia forthcoming-Abel called In
Dr. Ratclifc Of Morpcrland, under
whose care Hilda slowly bcsan TO mcnd
II was while Andrew was away t the
banks-thc doctors comforting assur'
anos for company-that the truth strip
pcd itself before Hilda. 30 torture and
affiict her with its mocking ghastliness
As yet she was not able 30 leave her
Bal. bat lay there with pinchcd face, her
hair tangled on the pillows, her thin
blue fingers twiiching idly nj the garish
patchwork quilt, her eycs wandering to
the half open lattice through which was
borne tho distant sough Of the waves
and whence she could SO their sun
fcckcd cr,sts far out b-yond tho Fork
rucks Then she would turn 90 answer
some question put her by her little niece,
Mary-Abol's eldest daughter. rising
i0"--who had crept into the sickroom
Presently tho little maid fell to bab-
bling. childlikc. Of the doings and say
ings of her school friends
aye but ye'ill be gcttin . fine
scholard. Mary" said HildA ''ltwas q
guild thing for the wcans when o parson
opened school lwish Il hal been done
long sin"
1T was our 'Iamination today" rc-
piled Mary. eager with fresh news
"Mr. Harvey heard mo Rad an paitcd
me o. the head Out Of . newspapcr-
hard v ords they was too"
IAN maybe We can read writin,
Nary
"oh. yc-. said she. nowisc disposed
to bslittlc her attachments "When you
get any letters. Aunt Hilda, I'll Rad
them all through To you-ovcry word.
I'm suro could"
"well. I'm going 10 try ye." said
iilda smilingly. Now. open that
drawer No. the second one. an bring
the little black bon TO M Yes. that l.
it."
Tcnderly picking out the iinery with
which the box was filed. Hilda placci
the various articles by her side on the
bcd. Underneath. untouched since that
day, lay tho very letter which had told
her its .ad tale through Andrews
mouth.
Now, what names tLati'' said she,
pointing to the signature
Mary screwed her eyes into beads,
hung her head .apiently ON one side and
spelled the word. under her breath.
Ben. ben. w-c-b-h. Webb" she
announced at last. with . ring Of tri'
umph. Its ain bal writin. but
"No, noi'' cried Tilda. rising oxcit
sdly upon her elbow. mot Ben-Ben
Webb Are you SURF. Nary"
Ben. Ben; Webb Webb" re-
pcated her niece
Iiilda sent up choking cry. lie
said 10 came fro Captain Worslcy. she
calculated gaspingly. lie lied TO me.
It's fro hen. ben isn't dcadi' Her
whole frame atrcmble. sho turned TO
Mary withi "Begin q, the iirt Read
IL all 10 me. Can ye. can yer
Mary at all events was willing 10 try.
and although she blundcrcd often and
painfully under the task between than
they managed to piece the words ia
sense
"Dcar Hilda. "it ran. IL didn't meaI.
TO say word. but can't do u wiiiou!
telling you first Don't hate me. for
did love you and 10. more nor her Any
ways you can't say didn't tell you oil
about Polly Barclay-how We was 81 IL
married and how Il was broke on.
Well, me and her have made 10 up
again. Her uncle's dead and left her
everything-his three houses and fioo
In the bank. You see. didn't have
free hand. 80 you can't blame me BE
Gdos there's Andy Copley only too
glad 20 have you. and the banns has
bssn read twice In lrimsby church. ]
think things are besy left alone, and no
fuss made. especial n l don't ask the
presents back. not
Mary hal plodded through the letter
~ far when Iilda. with loud shrek.
dfoppd back upon her pillow. Abel and
his wife fastened mp stairs To find her
again sitting up In bed. round eyed and
gesticulating with her clinched fists.
h., :" sh. c,,.d sh,,iIv "a lI.. Andrew
-, =, w.. . i,o,,,
'op ~, ;.,. ,,.h,on n. ,,,od nj, ,hrouvb
the night and long into the next day.
DIR. Ratcliffe said 10 was brain fever.