Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-02-21

NriAus anu ouict iHtp u III VI lnulHnA-
| ton.
OF course she was very unreasonable;
angry people generally are unreasonable,
and the cruel privations she had under
gone did not tend TO restore her to
logical basis.
She was sure the advertisement was
addressed to herself above all Others.
and she denounced the author in the
most vehement language. This fendish
bachelor was determined on the dcstruc-
| tion of her Innocent babe. She would
I like to see all boarding-houses and
botrdcrs cxterminated. SIS week for
the murder of little George, SIS for
the little soft chorub, that lay in her
b,,Sum at night and cheered her daily
tot by his child prattle.
This was worse than the affair of the
Brussels carpet. That woman only
wanted to take the bread from her
mouth and tramp on il; but this man
would tear the child away from her
breast.
"Mamms. put in small voice. lis
o. angry at Dnrgy?"
The willow answered by taking the
chubby little fellow in her arms. and
husging him til lac had neither shape
nur form.
Il wait a piece of bread, mamma.
SAID Geor.,ie. Is soon as he could get his
breath.
Mrs. Dcvlin few to the cupboard Ia
obey the small request.
But Georges epicurean eye detecte
something anliss with the slice OF loaf
presented to him. and he locked M at
m ANNA with amlzement in his big,
round eyes. rs he said; o. forget the
butter. mamma; porgy likes butter and
jam on top IT the butter.'
Mrs Dclvine kissed the dimple in the
child's FIJI cheek, and tried 20 smile.
Geor sic. however. W - not old enough
to understand the philosophy of bread.
cheese and kis>,-s" Moreover. he be-
trayed not the east spark Of sentiment,
but reiterated his request with an i'm
patience that WAS quite shocking.
Poor Mrs Delvine. this was too much
after what she bad already suffered, She
hruke out into oud and bitter weeping.
Nor was her grief assuased. when the
half frightened child, putting his soft
ar-s around her ncck. said. coaxingly:
Don't cry mamma; Dorgy will never
ask for bread and butter and Jam
again"
When. after while Mrs. Delvine re-
moved the wet handkerchief from her
face. it was evident she was armed with
some desperate resolve. With eyes
glowing like the eyes OF n lioncss, she
siezes the paper and the pen. There is
no tremor in her tigntly-closed lips;
her hand Is firm and her nerve steady rs
she writes;
"F.-Pies-e call at NJ. 90 Franklin street,
and find boarding at your Own terms.
MKs. DEIvINE.
The next day about the same time
Mrs. De.vine's sell was wrung vio-
lently.
Il was the Fiend. she knew; but a
George was safely hid up in the garret.
she did not hesitate TO run to the door
and open it.
II was the Fiend. Although ne had
neither claws nor cloven 'cet, blue
beard or cruss-bone sign on his forehead.
lac had desperate yellowish gray eyes,
tha. made Mrs Delvine feel guilty and
conscience stricken when he had fasten-
cd them upon her. Save for sallow
dySpeptic complexion. he was not other
wise Neutrality-suspicious. lac was
Fiend-and the widow, in spite OF her
preiudiceS. admitted that his hair and
beard on any other man would look quite
handsome.
Boarding." He seemed to hate the
word. The voice. too, was harsh and
rasping.
Mrs. Delvine was not frightened. She
had not exnecte, the Fiend would have
a sweet voice. She replied to his i'm
piled question afiirmatively, and asked
him IN.
Have you many nuts rhces in the
shape Uf boarders?" he asked, turning
tercly upon her when he had seen the
room.
II have none yet, p" said Mrs. Delvine,
with little sadness in her voice.
so much the better" he replied. sit
ting down and grinding his heel into the
carpet. Il detest sitting at the table
with lot of chaiterlng iools!"
Mrs. Delvine was even prepared for
this. She smiled and told him her table
was a very quiet one.
Can YOU COOKE" he deman ded savage
ly. Il don't mean can you hash things
up in execrable grease-I don't mean
can YOU cover the table with dyspepsia
breeding messes. to be washed down the
,hroats of your victims with diabolical
sloppy ooncoctions-I mean can you
cook?"
Mrs. Delvine's cheek flushed at the
insinuations; she Strengthened herselfu
proudly As she replied; "Yes. sir; if l
can do anything. can cook!
What commission do you receive
from undertakersg
Undertakes, l don't understand
you, sir"
1T is nv firm conviction, madam,
that clearinghouse proprietors receive
a certain percentage from undertakers-
that those two nefarious branches OF
- .l....-.. arn in rna lily only one