Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-03-23

Gea you hear 1t through every. other
sound"
He liked having me say that, and his
eyes are too glorious when he likes
things that say.
~''l loved you so much" he answered,
'.that l felt my love must have some
power over your heart. 1t couldn't 60
for nothing. knew l wasn't worthy
Of you, but the love was, for no man In
your own worll could offer you great
er one. That's my justification for ask.
Ing you to put your hand in mine. But
am asking too much? Are you sure
you won't regret anything you may
have to give up?"
There's nothing l wouldn't give up
to be with you always" assured him
But l don't see that shall have to
give up much that l really care for.
/ We shall be poor, Of course, but !
shan't mind that bit with you. We
can live In q sweet little cottage some
where, can't we? Or If you have to
be in town we shall have wee, wee
fat. and 1t will be such fun looking
after It, just like having a dolls house.
only a hundred times better. I've new.
er been rich. you know. It's always
been rather a struggle. and ever SO
many of my dresses have been made
out Of mothers or Victorla's. Shall
learn to cook and sew"
"If were 80 poor as all that, darling
shouldn't be asking you to marry
me-" said Jim. "I'm better of than
you think. for. as l told you. I've been
doing fairly well lately. and ] guess If
one Of US two ever has to cook 1t will
be l. We might have to do that some.
times. but It will only be II we're
camping somewhere"
81 do hope so. 1t would be glo'
riousw exclaimed.
"yye can have the cottage or the fiat
all right. or maybe even both If things
20 On as we'll as they're going now,'
he said, land there's nothing on Gods
earth I won't do to make you happy
Heavens! l should think so, after
what you're doing for me-trusting me
without knowing any more OF me than
you've seen In these few weeks
I'D have trusted you to the worlds
end after the day you jumped over
board and saved the little boy. Be-
sides. you were you. and I'd have
trusted you just the same II you
hadn't"
"Bless you, my angel. But think OF
the marriages you might have made. v
81 couldn't have made more than one
ut least hope not" said l fippantly
~ could never have married any one
but YOU, so should ha~e had to be an
old maid II you hadn't asked me. and
think how awful that would have
been. You don't regret asking me. do
yOu?''
Regret? Well-it doesn't bear talk
ing of. | suppose ought to be able to
say that I'd meant to keep my love to
myself. and it only sprang out on an
ungovernable impulse. But 1t wouldn't
be true If did. always meant to
ask you from the very irst-though
had little enough hoper even up to to
day, that 1t would be anything more
than friendship on your part. But, oh
how hard ] did mean to try for you
My one virtue was to wait until you
had seen enough Of other men-men oi
a different sort-for you to be sure you
didn't prefer one of them. And when
accident had put you very near me
did manage not to lose my head and
speak while you were. in a way. under
my protection, for that would have
been brutal. But heaven knows-and
Miss Woodburn knows-that ! came
mighty near It once or twice. I'm
thankful didn't. Now you know the
best and worse of the other sort OF
man and the best and worst OF me
You see the kind Of people whose blood
runs in my veins. and still you are
ready to say that my people shall be
your people. I'm not afraid Of any
thing that can happen now."
"You needn't be-" said. slipping my
other hand into his. for he had one OF
them already. Mother may be vexed
with me for going against her wishes
but she will have to forgive me, OF
even IL she doesn't shall have you"
81 think she will forgive you. dar
ling" said Jim. 81 will, make her for
give you"
The rest of the day was perfectly d.
vine, and It Is almost as delightful to
live 1t over again, as l am doing nov
In writing the story Of 1t, after we
have said good night.
We forgot all about going back to the
house until some one came out ant
rang the bell for tea in the field where
we couldn't help hearing. Then we
told the cousins our news, and they
were immensely pleased. They seemed
to think that Jim and were made fol
each other, and Mrs. Trowbridge said
she had seen that 1t was coming al
along.
After tea we walked over to call on
Sally, and she was just as glad as
thought she would be.
"You are going to marry one Of the
finest fellows on earth, believe" said
she. "and I congratulate you as well
| as him."
I do love Sally!