Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-12-26

| as the beautiful woman was unlike his
wife. His wife +. Napoleon did not ac-
quaint his wife with what had taken
place in the shop that afternoon. Just
why he made this the first secret OF his
life, he could not explain, not even TO
himself. Better for him that he never had
shut Mrs. Nix out from the knowledge Of
even this occurrence.
Come eight o'clock, and Napoleon at
tired in suit of aged brown, which he
donned only on state occasions, stepped
trembingly into the hotel Office, and was
shown up to "the room of Major Budd,"
the young man who performed that SER
vice, stopping at frequent intervals as
they ascended the stairs, 10 exchange ex-
pressive grins with another young man,
behind the hotel counter, a proceeding
which Mr.. Nix viewed with unmixed
wonder.
"Come in" said the sweet low voice
in response to the laundering knock Of
Napoleon's guide on the door, and Mr..
Nix, stepping hesitatingly into the room.
beheld his caller Of the afternoon, sitting
BY an open fire engaged on a piece of
fancy work. She rose with modest and
bewitching grace and extended a small
white hand-which the bashful Napol-
con took as if he didn't know what to do
with it, as indeed he didnt-and in the
same sweet and gentle voice murmured a
welcome, and babe him be seated.
"You will forgive me, my dear" (Na-
poleon started) "Mr. Nix for my
thoughtlessness," she began, and to
Napoleon's unfeigned alarm bringing
the handkerchief again to the surface.
"for permitting you to obey the die
tates Of your generous heart, prompted
/ by your sense Of misfortune. Oh, Mr..
Nix you wiN forgive me. ;"
Cer,ainly-certainly he would, Napo-
leon stammeringly asserted, but what
was there to forgive: he wanted to know.
"Oh, Mr.. Nix" exclaimed the beautiful
Mrs. Major Budd, burying the glorious
eyes again in the handkerchief, 81 can
not thank you sufficiently for your kind
ness toward us nor can | blame myself
sufficiently for permitting you to offer as
sistance to me. Ny husband has"
go on, marm, go on" implored Ma
poleon, an uncomfortable sensation be.
ginning to creep over him, no, unmixed
with an indescribable dread Of unseen
danger.
my husband" continued Mrs. Maj
or Budd, with difficulty repressing the
sobs, sis very nervous and excitable
man. When returned to day and told
him OF your kindness, he flew into pas
sion, and when | informed him you were
to call this evening, his rage seemed al
most without bounds. 1t is all the re-
suit Of his wound, from which he is suffer
ing intensely. In vain strove to explain
that your visit was to be one OF assls-
tance to US both. He grew every mo-
ment more jealous, declared that | was
receiving improper attentions from the
opposite sex, and swore that he woul'
shoot any man who should venture tt
call here at my room."
AS she paused here to wipe her eye
afresh, Napoleon, who had been staring
at her with overwhelming wonder and
alarm depicted in his fat. round face
ga,ped for breath, and feebly moppe'
his countenance with his coat-sleeye
The weight of the intelligence impaired
to him was so crushing that the littl
,, stock of wit he commonly carried wa'
completely forced out of existence.
81 was powerless," proceeded the fAi
woman "and such was Henrys unrea
sonable anger, that he would afford m
no opportunity Of dispatching you note
After supper got him to lie down, an
he is now asleep upon the bed in ths
room," and she pointed to door leadin
: to another apartment. 81 beseech 20
: my dear Mr.. Nix, to leave this room an
the hotel at once, for if Henry should di
:, cover you here, fear he would do SOM
e thing terrible, such is his unreasonab
o iealously and his ungovernable passion
l. And oh Mr.. Nix, you ,OA forgive m
y will you not, for having UNIV ittingly bee
e the cause of this unfor tunate atfain'
I, But matters had gone so far that Il
!. bewildered Napoleon was utterly beyor
1t his depth, and his whirling brain W
Or befogged to an extent far surpassil
ID anything in his hitherto uneventful C
ID reer. One thing through the mists al
ID fog feebly suggested its elf-it was to
s. away and beyond the reach of the 70
midable Major Budd, whose territ
, ... ,oor,oJ l;Laly ot INV rnnma