Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-07-12

She dretc back close ngdjusf The trdu.
difficulty in throttling Is the prejudice
against the overseer's son-class pref
udice. nothing more or less
~ loved the overseer's son, said
Mamie. her clear. candid eyes burning
the conviction ol her sincerity into his
soul Il believed in him and trusted
him until-until- Oh, You cruel, cruel
old man! Why have you come to tear
the bandages of that old wound?'
Because am too good u surgeon to
leave bandage on an unprobed wound
I have come to probe and to heal that
old wound, dear child
He got up and walked away from
her, walked as far as the end Of the lit
tie front porch. where he stood reflect
ing moment Her sobs penetrated his
ears and his heart A sweet olive
spread its glossy green canopy over the
rustic bench where he and the professor
fought their chess battles Of evenings
He bent one Of the limbs toward him
and broke of spray Of the shining
leaves and carried It back with him IN.
to the sitting room Mamie sat where
he had left her
She had conquered that wild impulse
70 sob and moan and was plating the
fringe OH the sofa arm with nervous
fingers
Good! I am glad you are not the
hysterical sort that never stops crying
when it once gets started Adrien wife
was that kind. "
Where Is Annabel?"
I'm Cuba, the last we heard Of her
will give her the money to travel TO
Jericho if only she will leave us at
peace But-no, Martin is on the tapis
Just now II he never earned the right
to be called q hero during the war,
child. he has during the harsher period
Of reconstruction Who but he could
have held in check the yelling, cursing.
drinking demons that were bowling for
the blood Of every white man within
the radius Of ten miles when the bullet
riddled body Of that rogue. Westmun.
was brought herey IL was u grand sight
that boy Strong. pallid from the loss OF
blood. suffering the tortures Of thousand
deaths physically, springing in among
them and covering them by the mag
netic power Of his voice and his daunt
less will And since then Ostraclzed.
despis.d mscunstrued ut every turn
he has pursued the rough tenor Of his
way with dignity, an lmpartiality, a
superb indifference to consequences that
have marked him truly great man
He l. fortunate IN his euloglst. SAID
Mamie. smiling family into the tervent
old face by her side.
His eulogist Not so am doing
the man simple, bald justice He has
put this community where 1t could not
have been put III quarter OF centur,
in point Of prosperity unaided by his
indomitable will and superior controI
of the freed masses OF ignorance and Ia
illness we have had to cope with ! tell
you, girl, we cannot afford TO give
Strong Martin up The neighborhood
needs him I need him am an old
man, my child. and ! have no son TO
hold up my feeble hands His brother
Seth is q good, well meaning child, who
will live Oh. achieving his highest end
In administering his new duties as man
ager and paymaster TO the hirelings Oh
NV place He is well satisfied already
with the new order Of things But he
is not Strong Major Martin is my
namesake. you know. This with pat
ent pride.
"Yes, know, know, but don,
understand You seem to be appealing
to me-throwing this whole awful re-
sponsibility on my shoulders. "
II do am. He is making his prep.
srations to go away. He who for three
years now has endured the torture o!
ostracism, hatred, injustice and cruelty
from all entire neighborhood refuses any
longer to stand the obdurate discourtesy
Of one stubborn girl. T"
"And is it you, the old aristocrat,
W no pleads the cause Of the overseer :
son!''
II owe it to him. F"
"You owe 1t to him"
"Yes. and q thousaDdfold mere than
can ever repay, Girl, are You resolv'
ed to make my abasement still more
| grievous? See. to carry my point, &c
bring a crumb Of comfort to that noble,
tired soul. will tell you something
had never thought to breathe into
mortal's ear. But il 1t will serve to con
vince you Of the priceless value OF the
treasure You are about to fling away ig
norantiy | will bare even that scar fol