Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-10-04

then waved the black woman to carr!
her away, and with my lame arm. Whel
she had fled with the child's soft wal
floating back turned to my stepfather
Colonel John Chelmsford, and he, hold
ing tiercely TO the whip which I relin
quished. still eyed me with doubt.
Harry. why will you not tell?' III
said. but shook my head, waiting fOl
him to strike NE, for | was but boy
and it had been so before. and perhaps
more justly.
Let tie lad go. Chelmsford" criet
Captain Cayendish. "I'll warrant III
has done no HARM But my stepfa
Tier wouil not heed him.
An. scr ne. Larry" said he. Then
when would not. down came the rid
ing whip. but only thrice and not hard
Low go You home" said my stepfa
ihcr. "uli,i STOW your mother the hurt
however yo:i cIine by 1t. and have hel
put some of the cooling lotion on 6
l:aen cloth 10 It," Then he and Captain
Caven,.;sh went their ways, and wen'
toward home. creeping through the gal
in the May hedge. But did not go far
having no mind TO show my hurt
though knew well that my mother
being woman and soft toward al
wounds. would make much of it anG
maybe of me on its account.
But was not Of mind to purchase
affection by complaints of bodily ills
so lay down under the hedge In the
soft grass. keeping my bruised shoul
der uppermost. and remained there
thinking of the little maid. tn finally
the pain easing somewhat. l fell asleeI
and was presently awakened by sof'
touch on my sore shoulder which caus
ed me to vince and start up with wid'
eyes. and there was Catherine Caren
aish.
Catherine Cavendish had seen afar
though not to speak with her, and She
oeing year my senior and not then {
beauty, and being, moreover, Of al
age to look mt girl and look away
again to my own affairs, had thought
no more of her. but knew her mt once
She was. as | said before. not beauty
Mt that time. being one Of those maids
which. like some flowers, are slow OF
bloom. She had grown so fast and fal
that she had outspeeded her grace.
"Why did you not tell?" said she
sharply, and >tared up Mt her speech.
less, for saw that she knew.
"Why did you not tell. and why were
you whipped for it!' she demanded
again. Then. when did not answer
Il saw it all | hid behind tree for
fear of the stallion. The child would
have been killed but for you. Why
were you whipped for a thing like
that?" Then all at once, before l could
answer had been minded TO do so she
burst out almost with violence, with Il
brilliant red surging up from the cords
of her thin neck. over her whole face;
Never mind, like you for it. | would
not have told. | will never tell as long
as I live, and have brought some To-
ton of cream and healing herbs and a
linen cloth. and l will bind up your
shoulder for you"
With that. down she was on her knees.
though strove half rudely to prevent
her, and was binding up my shoulder
with wonderful deftness OF her long
fingers.
l thanked her, or tried to thank her,
I dare say, in such surly fashion that
1t was like rebuff. Then l was of,
but | felt her standing there close to
the white blooming hedge, staring at
me with that inscrutable look OF an I'M
mature girl who questions doubly al
she sees, beginning with herself.