Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-02-15

" sunlight that eliminates my day.
II Is all true. but hear:
She spends, or very near,
Ten thousand every yeari She's very dear
james Courtney Challiss in New York Sun
CAME HOME EARLY.
There was no one in Sigsby's office
but Sigsby himself
His stenoRrapher had gone ont 10
lunch So had the bool:keeper and red
headed young man who generally occu
pied desk opposite Sigsby's own.
Sigsby sat with his feet under his
desk and thought To aid him in this
mental effort he chewed the end Of a
cigar and scowled at picture in \
small silver frame that stood under the
pigeonholes at the back Of his desk.
Ii seemed 10 occur to him that he
could think better with his feet up. 80
be pulled out the slide at the side 0f
his desk and put them up Oh that
After that he seemed to get ON.
Suddenly the scowl became q half
smile His feet came down with %
thump He jumped up and went to the
telephone and turned the little crank at
the side energetically
Gimme double four eight-main. T"
He stood square on his feet. threw
back his shoulders and looked contented
Then he lowered his head again aud
said ''yeh into the transmitter ~ the
number was repeated back and nlpped
the ragged end Of his cigar with his
strong, white teeth as he waited
Hello! Fred Gibson there:"
Tell i'm to come To the phone.
Hello. Gibr'
Say. old man, you got to come and
get me out tonight "
"Yeh. that's what | said. "
mo, no bail
He laughed into the phone and said
"Ah, go to the d-lv
Hey
mo. Now see here: I've promised
to go out with Bronson tO meet some
merry people tonight, and I've been get
ting out TO banquets and clubs and lodge
meetings and business mems meetings
and political meetings and--any old
thing until my list Is worn out See:'
"Yeh
Huh"
Yes You've got to come over to.
night and yet me out "
"Yeh
"Yeh -
you're on to your job. +"
II guess so -
"A board meeting?"
"Strawboard. cardboard. day bOar1
clapboard;
"Oh. "a meeting of the board Of di.
rectorsr'
"Oh, l secl"
"Yeh.
'You betl'
"Well they're u good many-neat,
but not gaudy as the monkey
Huh
"What that?"
"Oh, as near seven as you can make
itw
II shant be- going out. you know
at all You II have TO drag me
"Thats itl"
"Got time to drop over and smile!'
"All right
"Yeh
"Yeh 4"
"All right"
"Goodby!'
Sigsby winked at his newspaper when
the bell rang at o'clock
His wife was putting the baby 10
sleep She stopped rocking and listened
to see if her latest acquisition III the
servant girl line would 20 to the door
Annie must be up stairs, she said,
laying baby in big chair containing u
pillow and going into the hall
She reappeared. followed by Gibson
Hello old man Glad to see you
Sit down, said Sigsby. springing W
and shaking hands as Mrs Sigsby
wheeled an easy chair forward
He had on pair Of slippers and II
house jacket that bad evidently seelI
little use.
Mrs Sigsby took up the baby and ~
sumed her rocker. beaming contentedly
upon her big. handsome husband and
his visitor
well. It's an important meeting
Sigsby, and we've all got to be there,
resumed Gibson, after be had stated the
object Of his call.
"Howland tried to reach you over the
phone twice, but couldn catch you, 81
told him | d see that You go: there
Sigsby had settled back III his big
leather covered chair and put his slip.
pered righ, foot up on his left knee
with the air of a man whom cables
could not drag from the comforts Of his
home
He reached over and took japanese
jar containing cigars from the table and
held it out toward Gibson, saying
Now. old man, you take smoke
and make yourself comfortable fou
don get me out Of this house tonight
have been going to banquets and meet
ings till IN tired out. and the board will
have to meet some other time or gel
along without me.
But. man. you We got 70 60 said
Gibson i've promised to produce you.
and dead or alive I've got TO do 1t
There 5 important business coming up,
and nothing can be doe unless every
member L. resent
1.-The Eall coupler Iiar;er coming
upY"
"Yes, and the Goodrich business. .
"Gad, Is that so.'
Sigsby looked thoughtful, placed his
left thumt Oh his left cheek, curled his
fingers aro1nd his chin, stroked an i'm
aginary b,ard and said. well, II that
was the caso he sposed he'd have to 60
"Now, isn't that too badi" said Mrs
sigsby, "just when Ben-Mr. Sigsby
and were getting settled for pleasant
evening.
She grew wistful in the eyes as she
spoke and saw her husband start to &c
up stairs to change the house jacket and
slippers for his coat and shoes.
Gibson got acquainted with the baby,
who had been awakened by the voices
and sat bolt upright en- her mother
knee aud was listening to the soft voict
Of Mrs Sigsty, telling him what busy
nan her husband had got to be ant