Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-09-12

them hauled mealers.
"Oae of-what did You say?
"Mealers-hauled mealers.'
"Nhat under heaven is hauled meal
er :" demanded Robert, completely mys-
tilted
The clerk surveyed him with con-
tempt, but slightly tinged with pity.
why, where were you brought up
he said. "Hain't you never heard be-
fore Of mealer' Mealers sleep out, and
come in for meals. When they're haul
ed in buck-boards like that one they re
hauled mealers. See: Guess you amt
one of our country people.
"les, am. was born one, at least !;
but it's Is years since I've been In the
United States, and never came to Mt.
Desert before, and never heard Of meal
er. Do you know this ladys name ;:
"Well, yes, but it's kind of slipped
my memory for the moment. Mus'y-
Mustard .-Musgrove. That's it-Miss
Musgrove. She's staying over to one OF
them small cottages on the bank, and
she's made an arrangement with Ira
Higgins f ks to be hauled down to her
meals"
By hapI y chance, as Robert consid-
cred it, he found himself, when he stroll
ed in to belated breakfast, seated op-
posite the "haulei mealer.' She SEEM
ed to have no party with her, but pref
,y girl in a blue boating sui, had palled
a chair close to hers and was chattering
away in girl fashion, while Miss Mus
grove trihed with her toast and languid-
" stirred a cup of ambiguous coffee.
With every glance he ventured Rob
ert found her fare more and more inter-
es,ing. Not beautiful exactly, not glrl-
ish exactly, but fair with youth and the
full fairness Of womanhood. There was
an arched softnesS in the mouth. sweet
gravity in the beautifully set dark brown
eyes. The chestnut hair rippled like the
hair of Greek blst. The very turn OF
the elbow and curve of the slender wrist
were full of character and grace. Her
morning dress Of creamy woolen stuii'
with only u knot Of yellow lace under the
collar, was simple enough. No orna-
men,, no contrast but it suited her, and
that is all any dress can do t1r any wo-
man. To The rest she added the charm
of a delightful voice, low clear expressive
and when she laughed it was more de-
ightful still.
but you will come" he heard the
girl say coaxlngly.
I'm not sure. have something to
do this morning"
"Oh don't do it. Let i; 60 for this
one day. We want you so much
Not as chaperon,> surely. Your
sister is going with you"
"No, no, as u chaperon. We want
YOU for yourself. Do come Lila. y
80 that's her name-and a pretty
one too. Lilacera, the lily genius; she
is rather ike a golden lily" meditated
Mr,,er Robert, while apparently deep in
his breakfast.
"Well, Sue, III consider the matter
and send word over by | O'clock said
the flute voice opposite.
"You bad thing. I'm dreadful sus
picious that that means You won't %,
pouted the other.
NO: it only means that | am not
sure" The two arose and went out to-
ge,her. Rober, heard the rattle OF the
blackboard as it dashed down the street
and ,honpht. ''At dinner she will be
here again
But neither at dinner, tea or breakfas:
did the fair vision appear, and when the
blackboard drove up it brought only a
little maid, who delivered a message,
and presently drove away again with a
tray OF breakfast 1t was not TILL DIN
ner of the second day that he had an
other glimpse of the lady who hid oc;u-
pied his thoughts during considerable
portion of the interval. She wore black
now. which suited her as well as white.
She looked pale, and Robert heard some
thing of headache, but her smile was
undimmed and her voice as sweet as
ever.
A fortnight passed, and the situation
remained unchanged. Shy by nature
and stiff by habit, Robert made no ad-
vances to closer acquaintance OF his
fair neighbor at the table. A bow when
she entered the room, another bow when
she left it, that was all; yet gradually
there grew over him sense of intimate
relation with her. He knew her dresses
her attitudes, he guessed at her moods
and fullowrd the slight and mobile change:
of her charming face. Miss Musgrovt
neither detected nor suspected this close
observation on the part of her silent ris
a-ris. she saw only gentlemanly-llk'
taciturn young man, absorbed IN his
breakfast or his dinner. Rather an un
common face" she said to herself, "no
quite American" and then she forgo
him. She usually brought book o.
newspaper with her to table, and busie(
herself with it when no one was sitting
with her; but this was not often
for she had a large following o
young girls, who were for ever run
ming across the room to discuss plan
of whispers important secrets. Sew
eral of these girls were pretty, anf
more than one bit of graceful by-pla..
was aimed across Miss Musgroves shoul
at the insensible Robert. but he neve
found this out. The "hauled mealer
was the first woman whom he had eve
looked at closely, and he did not seen
able to see any face but hers. Mother