Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-07-12
NECK OR NOTHING.
B, JEANETTE Il. wALw0RTH.
copyright. 1897. by the Author.l
lcoNTlNuEp.l

tcoNTiNUEp.l
II should say that something unusu.
al vas happening in town this morn.
ing said the professor, turning his
eyes from the street toward Mamie with.
out lifting his head.
why, papa?"
Quite concourse Of people has pass
cd by the house. all going in direction
Of the church.
"Concoursel The large words that
my Hebrew scholar will use for small
thingsl" Mamie lifted the needle arm
Of her machine and silenced its noisy
whir There were dark rings around
the dear old eyes she was looking into
and a pathetic air Of languor about the
folded hands
"You are tired. father
"A trifie. | am afraid am rather an
unserviceable member Of society, daugh.
ter l seem never TO have recovered
from that attack Of camp fever. "
Mamie was sitting on the arm Of his
chair in another second, caressingly
smoothing the thin white hair away
from his forehead
There! IL shan't work another min.
ute today II is the heat, dear one and
this stuffy little room together But
how about that great concourse Of pass.
ing people:"
perhaps concourse was too extrava,
giant word. but good many people
have gone by The Strongs-that is,
Mrs Strong and Mrs Martin, in that
smart new barouchc Judge Martin gave
his mother And the Chamblisses, all
Of them. and
II know know Ii is ut the
church Liza boy is 10 be christened
there today And afterward they are 10
have grand dinner at Sans Souci, a
family reunion.
And Mrs Randall Chambliss never
thought Of inviting you:"
"Oh, yes-oh, yes indeed, father
Liza never forgets me But could no:
60 you know" "
why noty"
They are all 10 be there-all Of the
Martins. father could not be there.
She got up and went back TO her ma
chine and set il in motion once more
with violent jerk The professor turn
cd his head away from her. IL was
pleasanter looking out on the passersby
than in on the lye hopper and tho chick
en- coops
Then the governor will not be like.
ly to remember that this Is chess day.
Presently he said plaintively. II am
afraid my afiliction makes me very de-
pendent upon others
Cant You teach me to play chess,
father, 80 that you shan't b. dependent
upon outsiders FOR your entertainments
think am not too stupid to learn "
Her voice was pitched in a querulous
tone, an unusual thing for her ulder
the most exaspcrating circumstances.
Strong Is scarcely what one would
call an outsider" said the professor III
mild rebuke I'VE were drawn very
closely TO one another in the three years
we fought side by side, and many u
long, hot march we have tramped 10
gether. sharing one canteen between Us
The old man was all i'll all to me when
was shot III the leg, my daughter
and later, when had camp fever. and
If there is any human being above All
other TO whom you and do owe q deep
debt Of gratitude it is to that grand old
man at Sans Souci &"
"Yes, father. II ever can pay it
will And he hasn forgotten that 1t is
chess day, after all Seev"
From where she sat she could only
see that vehicle had stopped in front
Of the house. The two Grape myrtles
that guarded the gate on either side Ind
the upper part Of the vehicle and its
occupants from view The professor
lifted his head briskly
He is not alone. Mary, my dear
Judge Martin is helping him from the
buggy He is coming in No, he has
got back into the buggy Strong is
coming in by himself He is walking
unusually fast Something out Of the
ordinary must be the matter Meet him
ut the door. ut least, my daughter.
Mamie moved forward reluctantly
Why should she go Joyously to meet
this old man who had just helped TO
put an affront upon her? Was It not
almost as il he had rebuked her for her
obstinacy by driving to her very door
with Strong Martin by his side? But
her tagging feet carried her TO the door
in ample time to open it for the govern
or. who walked slowly. leaning upon
his staff heavily as he came He nodded
to her when their eyes met
Where Is Ambrose: All, there! His
hat. Mamie. Fling those shavings of
your vest, old comrade Here, your
crutches Now. then, by order Of the
queen no one is 70 work today. Sans
Souci proclaims il holiday You are
wanted Mt the house, Ambrose, and I'm
under bonds to see that you get there in
good time for your dinner. Martin is
waiting out there 10 drive you out "
"Yes, but
The prospect Of drive through the
sweet smelling woods and whole