Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-07-31
roast Of beef, some tomatoes for her soup,
French peas and celery, and bananas for

keeping were abruptly closed BY the
sounding of the bell five times. This
was for the minister, Mr.. Burns, and the
caller was young man, James Stowe,
clerk in an insurance office. He wanted
to know if he should find the minister at
home if he-and lady friend-should
call at precisely eight o'clock on the next
Tuesday eve. He said he was particular
about the hour, as they wished to leave
the city on the nine o'clock train, and he
also wished the appointment to be kept a
strict secret.
"Mr. Burns may keep it secret but
| shan't," said Mrs. Hays, repeating the
message to me, "for l know the young
man, and mean to find out who he is
going to marry before that time"
The next call was whirr made by one
of the individual bells. and Mrs. Hays
next heard Mrs. George Carter ask Mrs.
William Carter if she would lend her her
+, cake basket, as she would have company
to tea, and then Mrs. William told Mrs.
George that her husband said that his
brother had just made quite sum BY an
investment and that she thought that
now would be good time for her to try
to get the money for new CARPET in her
pa!lor.
"well and goodr calculated the
eavesdropper. IL know a man that Nv.
George Carter owes and shall give him
hint before night to get his money right
away"
The next call was for the minister
again, and was from brother clergyman
Mr.. Phillips. He asked Mr.. Burns's
pardon for what he had done and acknowl-
edged that he had just got rid Of book
agent by sending him with a note to his
clerical brother, and hoped he would re-
taliate in kind any time he liked, and
Mr.. Burns remarked that he might send
dozen book agents in one day, if he
would only help him out this evening BY
making an engagement with him for
quarter past seven o'clock, to meet him
anywhere in the town; for he said he
was invited out TO tea at the Joneses,
and he wanted an excuse to get away as
soon as he could after that dreadful
ceremony, and then followed good
laugh between the clergymen but Mrs.
Hays said that she had never had any
confidence in Rev. Mr.. Burns's piety,
and she should tell the Joneses what he
said about them as soon as she could see
them.
The next call was for Mrs. Greene,
and Miss Jessie Drew was asked for.
TIE conversation was so interesting that
Mrs. Hayes repeated it rerbat'm to me.
When Miss Jennie answered, voice
said
81 won't tell my whole name, but you
know me, your devoted Edward
"Oh, yes, indeed
81 am alone in my office. Are you
alone:"
"Yes. quite alone; everybody is up
stairs"
"You darling girl I think of you ev-
cry moment. Won't you meet me down
town somewhere to-day"
"What an absurd fellow! No. | won't
make any appointment with you, but
can let you know that l shall 60 to the
post-office at half-past five to buy two
cent stamp"
"All right, so shall I. ! send you
kiss. Can you hear it -
"Ye,, you horrid creature! Somebody
is coming. Goodbye" ID.
And Mrs. Hays added that she hated
to see a nice girl, like Jessie Drew, go
to destruction, and she thought she ought
to let her father know how she was car
rying on.
The next call was for me and so an
swered it. 1t was from caterer down
town who said that Geroge had ordered
salads and charlotte russo of him, and
that these articles would be promptly de-
Gvered at half.past 6ve o'clock.
az must stay long enough to see your
nice tea-table spread, said Mrs. Hays,
calculating that then she would be invited
to stay and share it, while / mentally re-
solved that she should not stay if could
devise any way to get her away.
Then used the telephone to call my
market man and order my dinner.
The next call was for the doctor. An
other doctor wished to arrange time for
consultation.
Then number three rang and Mrs.
! Russell was called. Her brother YsAted
to know If she could let him have little
money if he should call at the house,
and she said she could not for she had
only one dollar in Fsr purse, and then
he told her not t. ell her husband