Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-09-30
PARIS, MAINE, FRIDAY,

ncr Teception ttlot rlu iiNu hai"'y s''0 W
get her away before she was in tears.
81 know ought to havo staid away" J"
sobbed Bessie, "and wish | had. Every.
body looks so angry'
"Do look angryp" insinuatcd Fid.
"No. but"
IF every girl here refused to speak
with me, and YOU were OH my arm, J"
answered Fid, tcnderly, "do you think l
would say that erery body looked angry?"
At this Bessie stole a swift, shy look
from behind her handkerchief and found
Fid's mouruful brown eyes fixed on her
with look that made the blood burn in
her checks. And the waters plashed and
dimplcd at their feet. birds twittcred over
head, and the air was full ofthe sweetness
of summer What did it matter how any
body looked outside?
"I am very sorry" said Fid, taking
her hand. II have made them angry
with you and il is all my fault"
"Why should care if they are ?"
answered Bessie, looking up at him,
heaven in her eyes and love in her heart.
The Irritation had gone too far! These
little mistakes will occur in the best-rcgu-
lated affairs. and even an adept will some
times lose his head with girl like Bessie.
The word 'love" WAS not spoken, yet
in the morning Bessie found herself
promising in her heart To bo .aillllul-oh.
so iaithiul-to him. He WAS the nobcst
man, the most splendid gentleman, she
had ever seen. And she went down
blushing and smiling, TO the breakfast.
room; and when she discovered that the
.'nobest man" was not at breakfast she
went out on the piazza TO wait for him.
She thought the position ol affairs justified
her in that ; and breakfast was nothing TO
her without Fid. Sitting there, behind
one of the pillars, she saw Fid stroll down
To the beach. And-l am ashamed TO
tell il, | don't like that my heroine should
run after young men. 1t is unlady-like :;
and then, il is impoitc. But there is no
getting over the fact. No sooner did our
little girl see where her hero was going
than she took the shorter road 10 the
beach, known rs the Armour Road,
meaning TO meet him in IN innocent, &c
cidental way, and walk back with him ;
but rs she was coming around the cliff
she heard Fid's voice and her own name.
He was talking with some ono, and she
ought undoubtedly to have walked back
again in = high.mnded lady-likc manner;
but. instead, she listened TO hear to whom
ho was talking, and what he would say
about her.
Fid had walked down to tho beach. in
stead Of to breakfast. because ho was by
no means in radient humor. He was
experiencing that sort of repentance that
comes after too much wine or duck at
dinner. His ridiculous want of self con-
troll had brought his Irritation to crisis.
He must speak now or drop it, and he
coniounded his luck.
Don't misunderstood him. He was not
wayering between the two alternatives.
His course was clear, and he never hesi-
tated for an instant. But there was fully
another month to the end Of the season.
He was like 4 man who had eaten his
desert in the midst of dinner. SO he
went gloomily down to the beach to avoid
Bessie. and stumbled on Ostrander.
Ostrander was waiting for his flirtce, and
wished Fid way at the bottom of the
channel. So, by way of revenge, com.
menced oil the most disagreeable subject
that he could select.
.'lIow is Miss Bessie this morning." he
commenced. "A nice business you have
made OF it with Lugan!"
80 | have,n answered Fid, darkly,
Though don't care about Lugan. My
trouble is in another quarter. Sec here,
Os,rander! You are going it pretty
strong. too. Take my advice: never nirt
with n girl unless you are quite sure you
don't care about her. 1t ruins II liIta,ion!
For that matter, sometimes think. if /
could afford it, would never flirt at all. ;"
afford it," Ostrander began to sus-
pect that Fid was really taking leave Of
his senses but Fid's manner showed no
sign of distraction. lie lighted cigar
with his usual composure. drew Whit or
two, looking out to sea, and then flung it
away.
"Yes. afford it," he repeated. When a
fellow has money enough he can keep n
yacht, and never trouble his head about
women, except TO take them now and
then on an excursion. Or, if he can
afford fine horses, why, there is an occu-
patton. But if he is like me, and can
afford neither, why, / don't see what he
has to fall back on for cheap amusements
but flirtations, specially in the summer.
81 don't see why you should complain"
answered Ostrander. eying Fid with
queer twinkle in his eyes, "unless the
girls should hear your di6nition of cheap
amuscments. Ihave mind to tell them
Yes" pursued Fid. who was rather
thinking aloud than talking, land jolly,
wide-awake girl, like Miss Bessie, is as
good well-the French Opera! But.
after all, Tdralher have the money. You
can't commit yourself TO yacht, and
horses won't cry after you, and make