Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-05-19

| with astonishment, Ezekiel Razed long
upon the scene, but there was something
yet more appalling reserved for him
not stalk OF corn was left In the val
| lev! His mother came to him and was
silent, too, in awe at the desolation ap-
parent and the change in the familiar
old mountain. "All gone, ma, all gone"
he groaned The lips Of the pale woman
trembled She was wont to say that her
faith was like the mountain, but was
not the mountain split at last? Her
| hand rested upon him rs it had. oh, SO
many, many times when trouble OPP
pressed them
'Th' Lord'n pervide, Ezekiel. He
KEEP us in the night. an he kin keep US
in the day"
81 BEN hyrin that, ma, all these
years, an now look! Poorer an poorer
gear cen an year out. Is fur me, l war
whipped when pa got inter troubl 'ith
the law an we had ter sell all ter pay
out. TIL Lord maybe did pervide, but
hits ben mighty hard livin sence."
Hush. Ezekielv the woman whis-
pered Hits biaspheenyl Leave hit
erlone. Tn righteous Il never beg bread.
Leave hit alone. Tn han that kin split
mount ins kin pervide fur hits own.
| The light had come back TO the weary
face, and il was almost beautiful in its
new faith as she turned huinbly and
went about her household duties. But
Dorinda, watching her, thought that
her step was feebler than she had ever
| seen il.
"Aun' Betsey," she said, putting her
ann upon her shoulder, don't yuh give
up"
"Give up? No, dcary; amt er-givin
up But # ther Lord he'd er tuck Us las
night ! wouldn' er-lifted a finger ter
hender him Hit warn't his will, D'rin
dy. an I'm willin ter wait "
Ii was a gloomy day for Raccoon Hol.
low. Ezekiel. under the lingering pains
Of his old misfortune and the new,
wandered about disconsolate. and when
the morning dawned again the last Of
the Sykes meal went into pones Of
bread
The mystery Of the mountain spread
far and near The day upon which the
fortunes Of the Sykes family seemed at
their lowest etb was signalized by the
arrival Of an excursion party from The
Falls Ten or twelve ladies and gentle
men on horseback and in vehicles rode
over 10 see the wonder, bringing well
ordered lunch. They chatted over the
catastrophe climbed the mountain, and
presently the ladies rendczvoused at the
little house Here the lunch was spread.
and Dorinda brought water from the
spring and rendered many little kindly
services After lunch the party swprmed
unccrcmoniously over the premises, in
cluding Dorinda's little room, which
delighted them as much probably as the
mountain interested Especial attention
was devoted by the ladies 10 the deli
cate tracerics upon the mica frame to
which Ezckiel's photograph had been
carefully rcsorted \ handsome, grave
young gentleman was asked 10 examine
il. He did so, and turning to Dorinda,
whose cheeks flushed, perhaps by the
praise already bestowed, asked;
Where did that mica come frum?'
"Well, now, isn't that just like Cap
tain Moorr' exclaimed one Of the Ia
dies. I'VE were not talking about the
mica, sir. but the tracings'
He smiled THE tracings have great
merit" he said, but there is more
money in mica that will split into such
large clear sheets than in all the art
that can BE- put upon it. You say that
you found il near here?" This TO Do
rinda
"Yes, sir"
And will you GO with me to see 1t
in the morning, if return?"
eyes, sir. # yuh wants me an tn
mountain hain't sunk 18th hit" The
party began TO prepare for departure.
Presently there was a brief consultation
among the gentlemen Then rs some
were galloping away one of them ap-
preached Mrs. Sykes and poured hand
full If small silver into her hand For
your kind attentions" he said. Before
she comprehended he mounted and gal
loped away leaving her speechless with
surprise and emotion. Ezekiel came out
Of the wood where he had concealed his
Disagreement all day, and there on the
porch he and Dorinda found her sitting.
Tears were running down her cheeks,
and she made no effort to restrain them
She held out the hand blessed with 80
much silver
Ezekiel" she said, and then her
eyes lifted upward and finished the SEN
tence. He comprehended.
Eyes, ma" he said gently, "yuh ar
right, an | ar wrong, es ar most COM
monty true" But the girl put her arms
around her and kissed the wrinkled
cheeks in silence.
Early the next day sensitive Ezekiel
took to shelter again, for Captain Moore
kept his promise. Ezekiel was hidden
OH the mountain, from which he beheld
the gentleman and Dorinda pick their
way across the rift to the far side. 1t
was difficult journey, and though the
girl was as agile as deer Ezekiel mo-
ticed with queer pain at his heart that
the stranger insisted upon extending his
hand 10 her every time occasion offered,
and that it was always accepted
Dad blast tn fellerr' he said He'd
better git her ter help him. stidder him
er helpin her.
The girl was in particularly merr,
mood. Did she suspect that the single
eye of the disfgured doctor was upon