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

have proved it on your grandson. /
would have dcne it--donc it gladly-but
did he-did he send you here to say
all this to me-"
Martin send me herel No But
he bent his whito head in listening at
titude--''he is coming back for me- 1
hear his horses up the road " He iaid
the spray Of sweet olive upon her folded
hands MY dear may | not carry that
olive branch TO him from youl Love
seldom chooses so grabbed go between,
but will carry your message 10 him
faithfully and gladly. little girl You
alone can keep him We need him You
are driving nm away from us
She stood up trembling in every
nerve
II cannot, ! cannot-l will not"
With q frightened cry she turned
away from him The olive branch lay
crushed and bruised beneath the old
mans heel He ground II deeper into
the matted floor. got up and went away
without another glance NJ her She
heard him pace slowly down the garden
walk. heard the gate close behind him,
and a second later knew, by the furious
trampling Of horses feet, that Strong
was conveying him homeward with all
possible speed
The long hot, lonely day burned It
self out at last They dined late ut Sans
Souci Her father would not be- coming
home before bedtime The clcadas were
shrilling IN the locust trees behind the
cottage The fragrance of the sweet
olive fell heavily upon the air She
seated herself ON thu bench beneath it
with book IN her hand Empty pre-
tense She was foe TO pretense of any
sort And yet was she not pretending
with herself?
She stood up and broke oil an olive
branch. threw IL away and broke an
other-she had suddenly grown choice
in the matter--a fourth; at last one
that suited her exactly
Mrs Morgan was discreet No one
would ever know IL was only step,
Just 60 the end Of the lane. and he
away at Sessumsport
Mrs Morgan was not only discreet,
but deaf She started when the profess
or : daughter, her face wrapped about
with white cloud. stood suddenly be-
fore her. as she sat on her back porch
hinging sbelled corn 10 her noisy feath
cred pensioners Mamie stopped and
laid small pasteboard box on her knees
The old woman examined II curlouSly
What's this. Martins names on
the back Of it What am 10 do with
it,
Put 1t Oh his table. his bureau, any
where where he viii see II when he
comes home And Mrs Morgan. dear
good Mrs Morgan. pray never speak Of
my bringing it--you know
II know. know. good child amt
been a toothless old hag all my life.
He'll get IT Trust me for that
But Mamie was tar beyond reach Of
these consolatory words \ few steps.
Just to the end OF the lane and she was
back home once more. quivering flush
ing. blushing there all alone Tor the
bold, foolish thug she had done
The crescent moon came slowly up
out OF the east and found her sitting
there under the olive tree. wide eyed,
nervous expectant
They dined late at Sans SOuci Her
father would not be- home yet tor an
hour The silver mo0ntcams tell aSlant
Of the Grape myrtlrs by the gate and
made a square OF brightness about 1t
Something was moving IN the light
The latch was lifted and dropped Some
one was coming up tie walk
There had been no sound Of wheels.
there was no sound Of crutches In
soft. frightened voice she called:
Father
"Mamie!"
rs it you? OH"
She drew back close against the wall.
Flight was her chief desire, but there
was no time for it H had taken pos
session Of the other end # her bench.
He laid his hat aside, aud the light that
sifted through the olive branches above
them showed her noble head, pallid
face, a pair Of burning eyes, stern,
chiseled mouth He laid an olive branch
upon her lap.
"You brought it to me voluntarily,
did you not, dear"
1t was the olive branch she had left
for him such little while ago. Denial
was impossible. acknowledgment was
difficult
"You-you-hOw did you get IL 50
soon? thought you were with the rest
Of them. "
"No | was at home, making my
preparations for departure The boat Is
looked for about midnight You brought
me this dear token of good will volun.
tarily, did you not, Mamie? Don't tritie
with me any longer The strain has
lasted long time And it has been Sc
verer than you fancy 1t must be lifted
tonight
"Yes-l took it voluntarily. No ono
could have made me do 1t.
She bent her shining eyes on him and
made her confession slowly
Does it mean all that want il to
mean, Mamiey"
"How much do You want II TO mean
It was shy whisper.
"All-everything | want II 10 mean
Endorsement. surrender. forgiveness.
love, happiness. ="
Il think Il think - oh, Strong
Strong, the unconquerable love Of my
heart constrains me! Yes. it means all
that
He gathered her close u his heaving
breast. There was no uttered word OF
betrothal. but under the sweet olive
branches they sat silent, contented, re-
united The moon mounted higher and
gazed down upon them more inquisi-
lively What she saw was a strong man
holding girls slender hands clasped
tenderly between his own. What she
heard was glad, tranquil voice mur.
muring:
THANK God! At last am truly on
the winning side -
TlIR END.