Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-03-20

her arms as In the olden times when
she was a little child and soothsd her
into quietness.
.'Tell me all about II. dear. did not
know you cared for James In that
way"
But I do" sobbed Clara. "And ia
ther guessed something and forbade US
going there any more. But didn't
think he would mind It II Bess and
went Just this one night l couldn't
help It anyway. Mother. isn't It right
for people to love each otherY'
"'Tisn't proper to talk about such
things on Sunday" said Bess solemnly.
"Clarap said Mrs. Hardy. why,
you're only child yet! IL 1t true that
James is Why. be is only a boyw
HE is 81. and am 1S. and he's earn.
Ing $40 a month In the Office and Is one
of the best stenograpbers In the state.
We've talked IL over, and wish we
could be married tomorrow, sov' Clara
burst out with It all at once, while Bess
remarked quietly:
Eyes, they're real sensible, and
think James Is nice. but when ] marry
I want more than $40 month for can
dy alone. And. then, he isn't particu.
larly handsome"
"He Is, too" cried Clara. "And he's
good and brave and splendid, and I'd
rather have him than thousand such
men as Lancey Cummings. Mother,
don't want money. II hasn't made you
happy"
Hush. dearw Mrs. Hardy felt as II
q blow had smitten her In the face.
She was silent then.
Clara put her arms around her moth.
er and whispered: Forgive me. moth
erl I didn't mean to hurt you. But ]
am 30 unhappy"
Unhappy! And yet the girl was Just
beginning to blossom out toward the
face Of God under the influence Of that
most divine and tender and true feel
Ing that ever comes to girl who
knows a true. brave man loves her
with all his soul And some people
would have US leave this subject 10 the
fiIppant novelist instead Of treating II
as Christ did when he said. For this
cause"-that Is. for love-'shall a man
leave his father and mother and cleave
unto his wife"
Mrs. Hardy was on the point OF say
Ing something when the sound Of pc.
culiar steps on the stairs was heard.
and shortly after Alice pushed the cur
taIns aside and came In. Alice was
the oldest girl In the family. She was
cripple, the result Of an accident
when a child. and she carried crutch,
using 1t with much skill and even
grace. The minute she entered the
room she saw something was happen
ing. but she simply said:
Mother. isn't II little strange "a
ther sleeps so soundly? ! went up to
him and spoke to him just BOW, think
Ing he was just lying there, and he
didn't answer, and then | saw he was
Dut Il ueNci W oitNp
so Sunday night. He usually reads up
In the study"
Perhaps he is sick. will go and
sse"
Mrs. Hardy rose and went into the
other room, and just then the younger
boy, VIII, came down stairs. He said
something to his mother as he passed
through the room and then came In
where the girls were, carrying one OF
his books In his hand.
"Say. Alice. translate this passage
for me. will you? Confound the old Ro-
mans anyway! What do | care about
the way they fought their old battles
and built their old one horse bridges!
What makes me angry Is the way
Caesar has Of telling a thing. Why
can't he drive right straight ahead In
stead of beating about the bush sol
II couldn't get up better language
than those old buffers used TO write
their books In I'd lie down and die. |