Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-11-30
REPLY PAID"

claim as their right hers.
"Maisic. you look preposterously de-
jectcd. What is II? Are you in love with
an anarchist, or is it only general as
pirations toward the impossible?"
"No, nm not in love, but I am
thinking Of proposing to some one. ;"
"Why."
Because l am in q hurry. Fred, you
know, is frightfully hard up"
but why don't you accept Mr. How
ard, when he's so devoted, poor mani"
THAT wouldn't be fair, because, you
zee, he Is devoted. and I-no, think d
fat man with beard and glasses Is the
sort Of thing--in the abstract.
"Oh, excellent in the abstract; pro-
tcc,s you. Is kind to you and gives you
checks. In the concrete he"-
Dear Mrs Hamlin, don't. The mat
ter is not discussable In the concrete. "
Fancy Maisie proposing" said one
Of the girls.
"You don't know what ] am capable
Of" returned Maisie.
I'm dare you, Maisie, Mrs. Hamlin
twinkled; "f20 OH, and I'll give You q
month.
Twenty poundsV' repeated Maisie.
And there was an odd sound in her voice.
Twenty pounds.
"Donel" she said. to the astonish-
ment Of the room. Its bet" Every
one sat up and bristled with delighted
curiosity. Maisie, Of all people, who in.
variably treated her swains with good
tempered scorn that was the envy Of her
friends!
II will do il now" she went on ex-
citedly. mabel. give me those tele-
graph forms. OF course won't under
take to carry out the contract IL any one
accepts, she added.
mo, no; but bona fide proposal!'
She then sat down and addressed
seven telegrams and dispatched them
by the maid. Reply paid" she said
"And now we'll have tea"
"what have you done!" questioned
Mrs. Hamlin.
II have asked seven men to marry
me-"
"Maisier"
"well, seven gentlemen will hardly
be able to think that am pining for
them all. and they'll exchange notes. u
"Men never do that.
''Ah, what men never do that surely
man always does. she laughed. Hon
or with them is collective virtue that
has no application in the singular. You
shall read the answera
In due course of time the answers
came. One by one the girl opened them
before her expectant friends, who re.
fused to go till all had come. Regrets, "
quoted Maisie, holding up one with
mock gravity. Next. please. All,
thank you, Susan! Sorry, previous en-
gagement' Alas! impossibleH Cir
cumstances over which I have no con.
troll i would il ! could, but ! can't!
MOI That's rather impolite, and he
really-well, one mustn't be kissed and
tell. Twas so long ago too. You see,
ladies. how devoted my lovers all are.
But have won my bet. All, here Is m
other; one more polite refusal! No! on
course I am honored,'" she read. A
crimson flush of shame spread over the
girls laughing face. "That's chivalrouf
Of him." she said, trying to hide hel
embarrassment. "And now to invent Z
polite refusal to my own proposal."
Horace Sands was in chambers when
Miss Maisie's telegram-reply paid
arrived. He was smoking cigarette
with Max Welby. They generally smok.
ed together after lunch in kind oi
sympathetic silence He read it slowly,
then went out Of the room. On return
ing his friend noticed an expression
of most pathetic woe upon his placid
features, and such a hangdog look that
he refrained from putting any questions
from fear Of intruding on private mat.
ters. Horace, however, after some fidget-
ing, said, lyon know after all it's q
dreadful thing, but what could fellow
do? She's charming girl Of course. bat
I didn't think Of exactly-in fact, am
not marrying man, you know. never
thought Of marrying-don't know any.
thing about it."
IF you'll explain what you are talk.
ing about, may be able to understand. "
"well, the fact il. Miss Maisie wired
and asked me, don't you know, and ].
Of course
ASKED you what!'
"Well, suppose oughtn't 10 say, "
be said, suddenly huahing crimson.
"Did she propose TO you!" asked
welby with an incredulous look o(
amusement. ANSWER paid too. The
devil she didi And you have accepted?'
"What else would You have me 1o?'
returned Sands stolidly.
For the next few days Horace Sands
experienced general sense OF bewilder-
ng depression. He was an engaged
man-to very lovely girl, it was true.
| but nevertheless he was engaged. tied
mp, - it wcre-somebody's property.
He must buy presents and rings and
think Of furniture. Never in his life had
be thought about furniture. Even d
college be had not. A many Of the mer
did. troubled how his digginss wsse ar'
ranged
He passed man In the street carry
l ing q kitchen safe. He tried 10 thipl
what o safe was meant for and realized
that thsy would certainly have 70 have
Z safe. Some perambulators in . grea'
Ghop caught his eye, and he blusbed ani
looked cbstinately On the other side d
the road. He had postponed calling-be
had not dared yet He wouId never sum
mon courage to behave - Z lover shoul(
70 such : woudesful pisoe q ts@ininity