Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-04-22


years younger. "Why not" said he
sturdy father; "she is of the same stock
A delicate woman, who might have beer
strong if she had been given fail
chance in her youth, is libel on her
Creator and reproach to her parents !!
Alice loved homage, and did not resent
even fattery, if it were but delicate
enough. She enjoyed the power which
her beauty and spirit gave to her, anc
was not above exercising it in little will
full, coquettish ways.
Robert Horton was presented in due
form, day or two after his arrival, anC
she found him very interesting, though
she was secretly a little piqued at his
quiet self possession in her presence, and
his apparent obliviousncss to the fact that
she was regnant beauty in the first year
of her reign. He treated her with a
certain of-hand cordiality, respectful, and
even kind,-"quite brotherly, she
thought; but so he did all the rest of the
ladies. He was even more attentive to
the elderly ones; and one day when a
country-woman, Of the type that enjoys
the distinction of being old-fashioned,
came to the hotel for day with her
daughter, Robert treated her with the
greatest consideration. 1t was rare
sight to witness the quiet manner in
which he put the dear old soul at her
ease, amid the uncomfortably fine sur
roundings, and to see her strong, serene
face light up with pleasure as he talked
to her,-a sweet, motherly face, made
beautiful, by the record of long life OF
patient, loving service for others, written
in its deep lines and pathetic care marks,
and crowned with its wreath of thin,
gray hair.
"She makes me think of my mother, "
he said, with the moisture springing
quickly into his eyes, as he came back
from helping the old lady tenderly into
the carriage,-''T notice they most all do,
as they come near to the end.
1T was real sweet of him, said Alice,
as she watched the proceeding from the
vcranda But all the same she thought
that the Young man required little les
son on her own account; and so that
evening she kept him fetching and car
rying' for her at a great rate in the
summer house and the parlor The
number OF devices which she employed
to keep him attentive would have been
beyond the invention Of any except a
sclf-willcd young woman, sure OF her
power. Finally she dropped for the third
time. ball of floss that she was using
for the creation Of some pretty trifc OF
other But the broad-shouldcrcd knight,
instead Of STOPPING to pick it up as before.
ntermittcd his talk only long enough to
touch the near bell-pull; and to the an
swering waiter, he said
Won't YOU just pick up that yarn
for the young lady
Thank you, Mr.. Horton" said the
rutfied beauty, Il am quite able to wait
upon myself" and she swOoped down
upon the ball before the astonished at
tendant could make move. What an
enyiable aptitude YOU display for not ex-
erting yourself" she added, with a
brighter CLEAN in her eye and a height
ened tint on her cheek,-''one would
really think YOU were married..
Il have not observed that the married
men are at all backward about exerting
themselves in your behalf" remarked
Robert dryly,-an allusion to the futter-
ing of the matrimonial moths around the
attraction of her beauty, that caused II
to glow even more brightly as she blushed
under this home thrust ,-'but any need
ed service that | can render shall always
be yours" he added, with an inclination
of his head that should have meant more
TO her than the lowest bow Of some other
men.
I'm sure | shall never put YOU TO the
test" she answered coldly, rising and
sweeping out of the room.
"W-h-e-w.." whistled Robert softly
when she was gone. ats an even thing
who's ahead. But she's high stopper ::
For the next three days Miss Alice
was so cool and distant in her manner
toward him that Robert felt much more
uncomfortable than his conduct would in
dicate. He discovered that he had come
decidedly to enjoy the pretty imperiou'
ways and charming coquetries OF thi'
splendid young creature who now held
herself so aloof
"Confound it," he said to himself
''why couldn't | leave her training tC
those who have her in charge? I'll play
spaniel the next time she gives me {
chance, if that's what she likes. It's none
of my business; but somehow it makes
me hot to see that young sPoony from
Boston buzzing her. d"
And the Young man from ''out West
felt that he had actually been a brute
as he caught from the half-averted eyes
of the fair Alice one of those injured
looks that lovely woman knows so wei
how to put on when she is conscious o
having been in the wrong.
The next day, at the bathing-hour fol
ladies, the high tide rolled in on the
smooth beach delightfully."- warm anc
fresh. There was a goodly company oI
them in the surf, laughing, and chatter
ing, and giving vent to little ecstati'
screams as the waves bufeted them, after
the pleasing manner of their sex. Fore
most among them was belle Alice, in
dainty bathing suit of thibet,-a rob-
that very decidedly