Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-10-22

became Invisible. The air was tense
with expectation. Low, eager talk
about tucks and embroidery. fine
swiss" and "clocked stockings" was
drawing the women's heads together.
Finally this died out. The parson was
spirited away to the fateful upper re-
gions. Still no bride and bridegroom.
The delay was extraordinary. Opin-
ions that 1t was outrageous were brew
ing. for supper. you see. was still to
come. An odd uneasiness was IN the
air. In fact. to make long story
short, Milly Anson had chosen this
hour to declare that she would not be
married to Thomas Simmons--not shei
Tears, revilings, corporal shakings,
threats of immediate death from her
father. given with q truly awful sin.
cerity Of mien, all availed nothing.
Milly was weak creature and had
capacities for stubbornness to be found
in no other. She had long dreamed OF
following in Lucinda's footsteps. The
notoriety which had been thrust upon
Lucinda by the gossip starved commu-
nifty shone before her as prize to be
achieved, and, moreover, there was
half covert and most reprehensible
relish in the mems talk about that
young damsePs frowardness that acted
as a bellows upon the flame Of folly In
Milly's bosom. At last she had seized
her opportunity. She was capping all
that had ever been heard Of reluctant
maidens. When the storm broke over
her. she was frightened. Things did
not seem exactly as she had forecast.
"Tummas," for Instance. was unbecom-
lngly inexpensive and Inactive amid
all these violent energies; but, partly
because she was frightened, she clung
Immovably to the one thing that In all
the confusion she seemed able to grasp
the course Of conduct marked out In
happier moments. Her poor little
aborted powers Of reasoning had OF
course left her at the first onslaught,
and now to give way seemed to her
darkened consciousness to be abandon.
ing her only plank amid the whirling
waters.
Imagine Lucinda's feelings. A well
of bitterness were they within her as
she sat trying to look unconscious or
any special relation to the catastrophe,
while the company ebbed and surged
about her i'm suppressed but delicious
excitement. But even now from all
sides she felt eyes turning upon her.
To he forever bracketed with this fool
was sickening. And peppering her
other emotions was undeniably n sense
of infringement - Milly Anson OF all
pecplp to initiate her!
At last such guests as could leave
that night tore themselves away. Our
trio were not among them. Till morn.
ing they must spend the weary. broken,
dream haunted hours in the midst OF
the shattered household. They kept
apart and spoke little. Lucinda wrfh-
ed to see how plainly her aunt and
Ethan recognized the special shame
for their little party in this bigger
shame and how plainly they show"d
their recognition. She denied to her.
self first its existence and then Its JUS
tice and denounced Aunt Emmy and
Ethan for a pair of ninnies. goin
roun' with their heads hangin bout
somethin they had nothin in this NOR
tai world to do with" Yes, 1t was
true. For once other considerations
outweighed Aunt Emmy's appetite for
sensat ton. and she was humbled.
Lucinda got up at dawn. She was
pale, and her mouth was shut with Il
tirmness quite absurd OH such be.
curved little face. Before the sun rose
she succeeded In getting hold Of Ethan.
She dragged him out of doors and Into
tile dewy grass for private converse.
The sleepiness left his eyes when she
faced him and said fiercely, II want to
20 to Strathboro and git married just
us soon as you can saddle up"
The poor mans head whirled. A hum
dred things seeming to demand cOnsid-
GRAFTON and time sprang to Ills mind,
and withal his arms ached to catch this
small amazon of the ground and to his
breast. But he was wise one. was
Ethan. He held himself quite still. as
he might II bird had lighted OIL his
head, until he could answer quietly
that he'd go right OF and see about the
horses.
"You tell Aunt Emmy" said Lucinda
airlly.
"Lor a'mightyr' broke forth Aunt
! Emmy in tones Of real irritation, drop