Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-04-09


pearing in q blue mist at this If.
The next moment the mist cleared.
"Mr. Langford. when do you return ?"
The lady asked OF the black bearded.
Jim never heard the answer. What
did he care when he returned? He was
only "Mr. Langford" to her.
The next sentence brought the mist
back little.
"Will says be should like TO spend ey
cry winter in Paris"
WHIP who was this Will? what rela-
tion did he bear, coDlound him to the
dark-eyed little party Then he recalled
the VIII Hess OF her gay misadyenture.
SO here he is again. Suppose now this
Will Hess has long ago taken possession
of his Spanish castle? Suppose-but
bark, " bat name is thatP Can he believe
bis ears when Langiord says miss Cal
edon ?" Miss Caledon? Kate's Miss
Caledon? Yes, clearly Kate's Miss Cal
edon, Tor presently she remarks about The
Kaulerskill and something else which ex-
plains her presence in New York for that
week. Katc's Miss Caadon Was there
ever anything like il?
"What an idiot I've beenr' he solio-
quized. Rushing I'll over Boston,
when, il had had my eyes open, dare
say might have met her dozen times
on Broadway. Visiting at the Hub with
those four girls, suppose, when l saw
her"
Which conclusion OF Jim's Was The
most accurate one he had arrived at for
some time, as he ascertsined when he
called upon Molly Caledon the next
morning. Yes, he actually called upon
her upon the strength of Kate's last
letter.
To Molly Caledon this call seemed by
10 means hasty or singular, for after the
manner OF young women, she and Kate
Mallory had become bosom friends in the
last six weeks, and what so natural as
"dear kate's" brother called upon her
when she was in town? | think Kate
herself would have been 20 little aston
ished if she could have listened to Jim's
reference to her letter; and ! think she
might have been doubtful whether she
had ever written that letter. Certain 1t
is that Miss Caledon received the im-
preston by this -ketchy reference of
.Jim's that It was A. kate'5 Information
OF her presence, and at her suggestion
that he ventured to call. Aud, as | have
said before, what could seem more natu-
raj than this call And what more
natural than Mr.. Mallory's returning
with her to the mountains And what
more natural than that on this journey
these TWO should progress very rapidly
in their acquain' ance with such 4 mutual
foundation OF intimacy Us Dear Kate ?"
AS for "dear Kate" she had the wit and
tact 10 keep her astonshment within
bounds, but whenever she found Jim
alone didn't he have TO take il
Il can't imagine how you can be con-
tented to stay here, jim, she would say,
land | can't imagine how Mr.. Wing can
do without you so !ong?'
But Jim could imagine, and so l think
after time could every membor OF the
house. and it wasn't very difficult to
prophesy the denouement either, in the
estimation of these on-lookers. But TO
Jim ii seemed much more difficult, for
Molly Caledon was by tar too bright TO
carry her heart on her sleeve, and spice
OF feminine coquetry helped her TO play
a game OF hide and seek.
But there came day when she had to
give it up, and acknowledge herself If
not caught. 1t was the day Will Hess
and Laugford came. "Now or never !"
thought jim Mallory, as ne watched her
greeting with the aforesaid gentlemen.
Now or neverm / think Molly must
have had a suspicion OF his design, for
with a queer, coquetish pervsrsity she
put him Off first with croquet, and then
With 3 very animated discussion with
Laugtord, and so on, through list OF
emploYments and occupations that con-
linuai necesstated third party. But
J.u,. "a 100 sharp Tor her at last. The
mail had Just come in, and, as he read
his letter from Wing, with this item at
the close: lone of US will have 10 60
to Paris next year" a bit OF strategy
suddenly proposed itself TO him, which
he forthwith acted upon. Walking
straight by the group wherein Miss Cal
edon stood talking animately with Lang
ford, he glanced up from his letter with
the most absorbed air and inquired OF the
landlord when the next train lett.
"Ob, are you going to New York, Mr.
Mallory ?" asked Molly with great sang
froid. "And il you are, will you under
take commission for me ?" and Molly
cam forward from the group at this.
Then she saw his serious pre-occupied
business lace.
"No bad news, Mr. Mallory ?"
"Oh, no, not in the least; only my
partner writes that one of US must 60 TO
Paris; and / suppose that one will be
your humble servant. How many CON-