Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-12-11
StItete0 Storp.
POINTE D'ALENCON.

of pointe purchased in Europe, Mech
liu and Brussels pointe, Limerick pointe,
with other Irish laces, Honiton. delicate
d'Aencon, and one precious piece OF an
uque pointe de Yenise, for Mrs. Ruther-
tord was connoisseur in laces. and
threw away her money in a recklessly
extravagant way whenever fine piece
was concerned.
Hope Rutherford, | wish you would
tell me how you happened to take the
lace mania," said, as lifted from the
handsome Japanese casket an odd piece,
mixture of lace and embroidery. which |
fancied she had picked up in some out
of-the way corner of Switzerland.
al believe 1 was ten years DID," she re-
piled. when began my study OF laces.
The strip which you hold in your hand
was my first acquisition. 1t has rather
curious history. Would you like to hear
it"
And then Hope Rutherford told me the
following story, which proved TO be not
of quantity coStumed peasants in some
Swiss Valais or OF some princely lady OF
the court of Francis l., but of her own
stormy childhood and first love.
The daughter of pioneer judge,
Hopes early lite had been spent on 3
farm in the West. FIVE miles from the
little town of Conflict. Their nearest
neigbbors were the Antoines. A shrink
ing little woman with light hair and
wasbed-out eyes was Mrs. Antoine. but
she had iurtive way Of glancing from
them that seemed 10 tell that she might
have had ideas OF her own before they
were crushed out bY the Colonel, who
had never been in the army, and held
his title only as mark OF respect. or
French descent. and OF liery, Gallic
temperament, he united TO many heredi-
tary vices others for whose distinctive
originality be might have taken out q
patent. Life with him could not have
been pleasant under any circumstances.
The two dwellings stood within few
rods of each other. bat a long detour was
ueces ssary TO pass between them, for,
dividing the wooded knoll on which Col.
Antoine had reared MS strange structure
from the broad acres of coruheld, scarcely
overtopped by Squire Mays stockade OF
logs aud mud, ran deep ravine. the bed
OF fierce little stream called the Wild
CT.
Another gulf separated them. for
.nough their position - settlers in new
Kansas offered many points OF resem-
o.auce ia the trials and hardshiPs which
Doth met So brsvely. yet The heads OF the
families when they met, as they did on
lneir way to and from Conflict, never
recognized each other. Mrs. An;oiue
would have explained this in her mellow
accents, "'Taint to be helped, s'pose,
sence you uns are from be Nswth and
We uns from the Ssouth."
The very houses with their surround
ings spoke the difference between them
Squire Mays farm had been IS thickly
wooded as the Colouel's estate, but with
his own right arm he had chopped down
the trees. built his home OF two rooms
and lott above them, pried up the
stumps, ploughed and sown his corn
field Alter three yesrs of labor as q
farmer be was beginning 10 reap results.
The deserted law books stood upon
rough shelves against the log wall OF
the front room;' good library OF
miscellaneous literature kept them COM
psny. Above the books hung The
! Squire's carbine. only used against the
prairie chickens, for be was man Of
peace. a rag carpet OF Mrs. Mays
workmanship covered the floor. Every
thing bore marks OF thrift and industry.
Colonel Antoine had preempted his
claim the year previous 10 the coming OF
the Mays. The Wild Cat joined the
Missouri River near the site which be
bad chosen for his residence, and the
reason OF his choice oil this particular
spot mad been the presence at its mouth
OF sunken steamboat, its upper cabin
just emerging from the muddy water.
A band Of the Colonels companions,
sympsthizing in the noble cause which
bad led him TO leave his plantation in
Missouri, that OF helping to drive all
"lree State" men from Kansas, had
come over to help establish him in his
new home. They brought gang Of
negroes with ;hem, and had raising"
in which great deal OF whiskey was coz
sumed, and the cabin OF the sunken
steamer was raised and dragged to the
top of the knoll. It's side faced the
road, presenting the curious spectacle OF
q house with twenty front doors. Alter
this it needed not great deal of work on
the Colonel's part to render it habitable.
and it was not long before he removed
10 it his family and chattels. The former
consisted OF his gentle little wife and
tour boys, and the latter OF one mule,
one COW, and one "niggab," faithful
Aunt Pollyonthus. The Colonel made
M .,tamnt m imnrove the plsce. but