Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-06-13


to put their plans into execution. Nee
Ashley was the first one to visit the straw.
berry plot. He came from the north
and crept along in the shade Of the bushes
Everything was quiet. Sans house
was shut; he was firm believer in the
early to bed and early to rise doctrine
especially in strawberry time. Further
more, his room was on the other side Of
the house, SO there was no danger of his
seeing them, and there were no neal
neighbors.
Ned came up little more boldly as he
saw how undisturbed it seemed, and he
went to the portion of the lot assigned to
him.
Jerusalem crickets!!" he said aloud,
with low whistle of surprise, which he
checked instantly, after an astonished
survey Of not only his portion, but the
whole lot. Then with a hasty glance
over his shoulder toward Sans house,
he went away much faster than he had
come.
Tom Wells was the next one he came
from the south road, so he had not seen
Ned. He too turned and went away rap
idly after a few minutes survey. So,
one after another they came and went
empty-handed, for, do you know, in that
whole lot, which at seven o'clock had
been so full Of nice red berries, there was
not ripe berry to be seen, not single
one.
1t was just ten o'clock when the band
Of Wild Cats, very appropriate name
for them in their present state Of mind
crept slowly and shamefacedly up toward
the old barn.
"What does it mean" :" they question
ed anxiously Of each other.
Had Sam changed his mind and picked
at night, instead of early IN the morn
ing: But he never could have picked
them all himself in an hour. What
could it mean-were they suspected
They opened the barn door and went in
only to stop before they were hardly
over the threshold in fear and amaze
ment
From every corner there appeared a
girl-there was Lou Bentley, just be-
yond was Kitty Carroll, over in that cor
ner Carrie Hyde, in another Nell Willis
they were all there in one place and
another.
How do you do, boys: We are
the w. c. T.'s, and we've come TO give
you a surprise party. We knew you
met here, but we began to be afraid tina:
you were not coming to night. Come in,
do"
Wasn't it dreadful
IL declare" said Ned Ashley, after
wards, a. should have thought | wa:
making money if l could have sold my,
self for a cent"
The girls few about merrily, paying
no attention TO the utterly crest fallen
anxious faces Of their guests, nor did any
one notice that Joe took the first oppor-
tuntity that presented itself of slipping
out of the door and away.
"I'm not going TO get caught in any
such trap" he said to himself.
"Now, boys" said Lou Bentley, il
you will make yourselves useful few
minutes, we will in our turn serve you
just open the doors, please, so we car
see."
The boys did as requested, and 10 and
behold! IN one corner stood bench
heavily laden with plates of cake, while
at each end stood large dish of-strar.
berries.
The Wild Cats were fairly dumb with
shame and surprise. If only the fool
would open and let them drop into China
what a relief it would be
But the ". C. T.'s, whatever that stood
for, chatted away as easily and pleasant.
ly as could be, while they served them
selves and guests.
"Sam has the best berries of any one
doesn't he said Nell Willis, as she
passed her saucer to be reflled. "Dc
you know" she went on, looking limo
Gently towards the boys, papa says Mr.
Kent said if any one stole Sans berries
he'd find them, sure as could be, anc
have them arrested"
"But then," she added, there is M
danger, for no one around here woulC
think of it, | know"
Not Wild Cat looked up nor made
any reply. "Now," said the President
Of the w. C. rs, after the feast was
over, "haven't we had good time :"
"Splendid :" answered the Wild Cat
I 70 unison, as cheerfully as could be ex
ne, tied in their state Of mind.
:. Then what is the use in trying to ruI
tuO clu, rs: Why no! unite:
"Why not ," echoed the Wild Cats.
The girls never told how much the,
knew or how they came to know at all
But little by it, the boys gathered tina
they had discovere d the main part Of tn.
blot, and under the name of the "W. c
rs" Wild Cat Tame, $, the boys wince'
little at that-had reso lived to take mat
ters into their own hands very success
fully, as we have seen.
Joe was never invited to Join the ne'
Club. In fact, he did not stay for a
invitation, for after short conversation
with his uncle the next day, he packe
up his things, and left for home. :,
The place was too slow for him, h
said-Eramiaer and Chronicle.
UNEXPECTED CRIrICIsM.-One OF tn