Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-11-05
CHAPTER XIX
Wherein Philip Amn,en 10 Shown LIN
bsrIost violsts.

MMON looked at the girl II
wonder. In face and form sh'
|IAI was as lovely as any one OF he
age and type ne had ever seen
Her school work far surpassed that o.
most girls of her age he knew. Sh'
differed in other ways. This vast stor'
of learning she had gathered from
field and forest was wealth Of at
traction no other girl possessed. Hel
frank, matter Of fact manner was al
inheritance from her mother, but there
was something more. Once. as they
talked he thought "sympathy" was tn
word to describe 1t and again "com
prehension." She seemed to possess 1
large sense Of brotherhood for all hu
man and animate creatures. She nigh
as well have been boy, 80 lacking wal
she In any touch of feminine coquetr!
toward him. BE studied her wonder
ingly.
As they went along the path they
reached q large slime covered pool sur
rounded by decaying stumps and log;
thickly covered with water hyacinthl
and blue flags. Ammon stopped.
"Is that the placer he asked.
Elnora assented.
"The doctor told your"
Eyes. 1t was tragic. Is that pool real
ly bottomlessT
$50 far as we ever have been ablt
to discover"
"And you were born hereT
He had not intended to voice tha
thought.
"Yes," she said looking into bis eyes
"Just In time to prevent my mother
from saving the Life Of my father. Sht
came near never forgivlng me. A
little farther along Is my violet bed.
want you to see It"
She led him into swampy half oper
space in the woods. stopped and step
ped aside. Ammon uttered cry oi
surprised delight A few decaying log:
were scattered around, the grass grew
In tufts long and fine. Blue flags wav
ed, clusters of cowslips nodded golt
heads, but the whole earth was purple
with thick blanket of violets noddinl
from stems foot in length. Elnors
knelt and slipping her fingers through
the leaves and grasses to the roots
gathered few violets and gave then
to Philip.
"Can your city greenhouses surpass
them?' she asked.
Ammon sat ON q log to examine the
blooms.
"They are superbr' he said II never
saw such length Of stem or such ranl
leaves, while the flowers are the deep
est blue. the truest violet I ever saw
growing wild. They are colored exact
" like the eyes Of the girl I am going
to marry"
Elnora handed him several others t.
add to those he held
"She must have wonderful eyes," sht
commented.
mo other blue eyes are quite %
beautiful" he said. "In fact. she d
altogether lovely"
"It Is customary for man to thinh
the girl he Is going to marry lovely.
wonder II should find her-so."
"You would" said Ammon. mo one
ever fails to. She is tall AZ You, very
slender. but perfectly rounded; yor
know about her eyes; her hair Is black
and wavy. while her complexion Il
clear and flushed with red"
Elnora knelt among the flowers ai
she looked at him.
"Why, she must be the most beauti
ful girl in the whole world" she cried.
Ammon laughed.
mo. indeed" be said. "Shs Is not
particle better looking in her way thar
you are In yours. She = type o'
dark beauty, but you are Just a. per
feet. She Is unusual In her combina
tion of black hair and violet eyes. al
though every one thinks them black q,
a little distance. You are quite a. I'M
usual with your fair face. black browi
and brown hair. Indeed. know many
people who would prefer your brigh
head to lIer dark one. It's all q ques
tIon Of ts sste-and being engaged to th'
girl." be added.
edith has birthday soon. II thes'
last will you let me have box Of then
to send herr
II will help gather and pack then
for you 90 they VIII carry nicely. \
she interested n nstprsC