Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-05-01

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them in connection with pickles since thai
night.
Besides me, Queen Cynthia had two
other intimate friends; and being hers, i,
naturally followed that they should be
mine too. The four inseparables. our
classmates used to call us. One was
Belle Gould, nickuamed, of course,
Golden Belle;" but in reality there was
nothing golden about her except heI
name, Tor she was enough like Cynthia.
although of smaller pattern, to have
been her sister, hut sweeter in her diSpo-
silion. more coqucltlsh in her manners,
and brighter in all her ways. And as for
dancing Queen rarely danced; she
thought it an undignilied amusement
Belle danced like . fairy; her feet be-
meath her peiticoais like little mice stole
in and :" though. when you think OF
it. that's rather mons, nsical. il may be
allowed to say so, seeing that it wes
some great genius or other who wrote
it.
Tne other was Mehetabel Small-an
outlandish name. which we voted out ol
the question the moment We set eyes on
her, and from that moment she became
Small lIelty." A queer!ooking, tiny
thing she was, with great blue baby eyes
and long yellow criukly bair floating
about her shoulders and falling way be-
low her wais,-not like the sunshine, or
dandelions, or gold, or anything but 1t
self; Il strange mixed yellow, much
darker at the back OF her head than
above her brow, and on her temples.
Besides her hair and eyes and only n
lew people thought them pretty She had
nothing pretty about hcr. Her lace was
pslo and thin, her mouth large, with full
rcd lips that scarcely ever parted in II
smile. ard when they did. disclosed two
r5Us OF irregular little lamb like teeth ;
her uOse almost snub, her figure that
o. /. child oi twelve, aud her hands
well. bird claws. She was the youngest
o. o1r party -seYeuteen-but looked At
les>. two years Younger; bu; no accom-
p.islmeuts; couldn't sing couldn't dance,
cou.dn talk.
Ijou't know why We liked Small lIetiy,
unless +. wss because she WAS poor. had
no ia-her or mo.bey. aud YVES i!-;reated
by m old dragon OF an aunt; We were
her only irieuls, too. and, l suppose,
liked her tor that reason as much as any.
thing else, aud. last, tul not least, be
cause She seemed 10 have such profound
atuir4loa and sincere affection Tor Us.
To 's.. he honest truth, she va, u most
ur..Iac,iye little body, that is, to
str gers, like bird that cant sing or a
kitten that won. play; and yet, We g'r's
found It rather pleasant than otherwise 10
have her watchius US in q birG-like man
utr, or following US about with the noise
less step OF q kitten.
Did tell YOU We were all spending
the SUMMER at the country house Of ono
olC}uthja's aun,s-Aunt Annie Croiton ?
AGu, Annie was q wealthy, childless Old
lsdy. generous, hospitable, and easy
na,urcd to fault who delighted in gath
cri1g young lolks about her. and having
"a good time, as she said, in seeing them
have a good time.
Roy Lightbarte was the son of her
nearest neighbor. and had been studying
civil engineering at some famous acat-
emy hundred or 50 miles away, but
having oyer-studied himself, according
to lis own account, had run down home
Tor rest and a holiday.
He was q great acquisition TO our lim-
tied society. and indeed he would have
btcl to any society. for he was q real
clever fellow, with his poetry and sing
ina and his comical remarks on people
and things; and at first We girls were all
in love with him, excepting Hetty, who
always got into corner the moment she
saw him coming and hid behind book.
WHY don't you put that baby to bed
By Jove, what An ugly doll it is!' /
heard LiM whisper to Cynthia; end the
Q1een looked as pleased as girls do when
= iavorite male acquaintance speaks
slightly of one OF their female friends.
Well, rs l said before, the others, that's
Golden Belle and myself answered to
the not at al fa.teriog sport" name
poll Parrott," my sponsors in baptism
having known me as Mary Paret-were
almost, if no! quite in love with Roy,
when. seeing that Cynthia was sure to
wia the prize, we drew back in lime to
prl serve our hearts from being seriously
shattered, that is, / thought she did-rm
SUR did.
Belle was al awfl fiirt, there's no de-
nyiug ,hat-walking with Jack Willard
one day. sailing with Ned Griswold tho
next, riding with Fred Coleman the next,
and PLAYING croqnet every day with them
ALI
never fl.rted much-if | coaid help
it. Some OF the young men followed mt
about u good deal, and told nie my dalk
blue or violet eyes. as they were pleased
TO term them. were the pretties, and my