Oxford Democrat., 1913-09-09
NUMBER 36

man. ana ne nhu I'VE OlB bonS, WHO
worked the farm with him. II was
farm. and Estelle. the only
girl. was petted and INDUCED. But 1t
did not seem to spoil her. They were
all fond Of Estelle.
"You look worried, Jacob" said So
phia when their greetings were over.
II am." said the man. with glance
toward the distant house. Girls. Ma
ria and l think Estelle's going into
decline
what does the doctor sayT asked
Sarah sharply.
Nothing. He says there's nothing
to say You know Browns way Of
joking. He said that Estelle was PIN
Ing for her sweetheart Why, land.
Maria was so mad she wouldn't have
him In againv'
"Nonsense! cried Sarepta sharply.
"Estelle's only child. II she don't
have beau for ten years yet 1t will
be time enough"
That's what say" grunted Jacob.
and he returned to his pumpkins.
The three sisters found their niece
swinging In hammock on the shaded
front porch Her mother sat beside
her knitting a pink wool shawl. Es'
telle was asleep. and she looked alarm
lngly pale and thin.
Mrs Bean greeted her sisters-in-law
affectionately and called stable boy to
take the horse. Sarah brought In q
basket Of grapes and some jars OF
ounce jam she had Just made. and the
four women sat and talked In low
tones about Estelle's health.
"Estelles never had any beaus, has
she. Maria?" asked Sophia carelessly.
To SOPHIA Estelle was child.
"No. she never encouraged any one
excepr-well. suppose you've heard
folks mention 1t. though Estel'e's
dumb as can be about it-except Mr..
Gray. But he's gone away now" said
Maria complarently. ''He always was
too old for her. but nice as could be
I almost fell in love with him myself"
"Mr Gray?" asked Sarah blankly.
her mind dying to the letter.
"Mr Gray?" echoed Sarcpta in
stunned tone. her mind on the much
discussed letter.
"Oh. Mr. Gray" said Sophia In her
blunt way. throwing up her romance
with generous hands. "Why. there's
n letter over to the house from hih
addressed to Miss S. Bean. and there
wouldn't one ot us open 1t because We
wasn't sure which one of Us 1t WAS
for. /. couldn't be for Estelle. for her
name begins with IN E." ended So
phia obviously.
The hammock stirred. and rosy
face appeared over the edge. with
her toused fair hair Estelle looked
more like little girl than ever.
"Aunties. heard all your remarks.
she said tremulously. "and perhaps the
letter Is for me"
But. dear. your name begins with
e." persisted Sophia kindly.
~ know, but he. Mr. Gray. called
me Stella lie said 1t meant q star"
The girl turned glorifled face toward
her mother. "Oh, mother. don't you
believe II was for me? II never an.
swered he might think didn't care.
and so he stayed away"
Maria turned pale with emotion.
Perhaps so, dear" she said IN her
heavy way. IF we can get the letter
over here you should let your three
aunts open It and each one read the
opening line. Then they could tell
whether It was for one Of them. Their
names all begin with s. you know"
"Of course, mother" palpitated Es'
telle. II wish the letter was here
now"
Sarah arose. I'll 60 In and tele-
phone to Hannah to send Eph over
with It," she said decisively. ITS
been on the sitting room mantelpiece
for five months"
Wien she returned they talked of
other thinsC until Eph's shining black
face appeared ct the gate. After he
had given up the precious letter and
disappeared toward the kitchen Mrs.
Bean arose and went In ~ see about
supper.
Estelle took the letter, smiled at the
meager address. wondered at her low
er's mistake In addressing II to West
brook instead Of Little River; then she
tore open the letter and gave the thick.
folded sheets to Miss Sarah.
"You first" she said softly.
But Sarah shook her head. and Sa-
repta shook hers, and Sophia refused
point blank. and they all kissed Es-
telle and said they were going TO try
10 get Mr.. Cray to come back to the
church so she would be with them,
and Sophia said they would talk about
her wedding.
They went down to look at the dahl
las In the garden. and they smiled at
each other and nodded, conteDted in
Estelles happiness. and In their
hearts each one knew that this was
the nearest she would come to ro-
nance Yet they were strangely happy.
Living Cups and Saucers.
The foot OF the limpet is a kind OF
sucking disk BY which II anchors itself
securely to the rocks. Its tiny tongue
Is In reality wonderful horny struc-
ture armed with about 100 ruws OF
teeth. with which II rasps the sea
weeds and marine litter which form
its food.
There are several branches of the
limpet family. One Is called the key.
hole" limpet and another the cup and
saucer" The former owes Its name
to keyhOle shaped opening on the
top through which the animal-for the
limpet Is really an animal squirts out
water.
The "cup and saucer" limpet has on
is lnderside a sort Of curved plate.
not unlike a tiny teacup, surrounded
by sa ucer. like shell 70 complete the
resemblance there Is at the extremity
of the long tooth ribbon an organ not
unlike q miniature teaspoon.
Harmony In Life.
II 20 not hy reducing life to less,