Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-07-12

NtefuOOu eptnt ou tuc usuWus cAouy
veranda mt Sans Souci in luxurious
idleness brought q delicate flush Of
pleasure to the old mans withered
cheeks. He turned his eyes wistfully on
Mamie. She stood rigidly unresponsive,
only by tho nervous twisting Of her fin.
gers in and out Of each other betraying
her knowledge Of what was going on.
The professors delight vanished before
her sullen silence. Yes but-my
daughter. She
The governor brought his stick vio.
lently down upon the floor, 70 near Ma
mics feet that she started involuntari.
ly.
"Your daughter is IN obstinate young
simplctan who Is about IN do this entire
ueighbnrhocd AN irreparable injury. l
have come here to tell her so expect
to consume every minute Of the time
that it will take Strong Martin TO drive
you from here TO my house and to come
hack for me in an effort to convince
her of her own Stiffness II fail, IL
will not be because the Stiffness does
not exist, but because her egotism and
her obstinacy will not let her be con-
vinced There. miss. did ever man,
young or old, dare to address you in
the language Of truth before?
Martin Is waiting for You, Am
brose He is patient man. No one
knows better than your daughter how
patient he Is. but his beasts, not being
infatuated with an obstinate girl, arc
not nearly 10 patient Your place is
waiting you ut the Sans Souci table to.
day, old comrade Here There now.
we're coming. Martin; coming just s
fast as two battered old war hulks can
be navigated T"
Side by side the two old men passed
from her presence, leaving her standing
there motionless in her stony resolution
not to yield to the outside pressure that
was once more being brought TO bear
upon her view Of Strong Martins war
record
She heard the slow. even thud Of her
fathers crutches on tho brick walk that
stretched between the house and the
gate Could he forgive himi She recall.
ed the red anger that had swelled the
saber cut acrpss the governor left TEN.
pie And he OF what childish, unsta.
BILE stuff those two old men must be
made Only she was firm. consistent
right
She stopped and carefully gathered
the black shavings from the matted
floor Such tiny little house! Every
particle Of litter showed 80 conspicuous.
~ She hung the velvet skullcap that
the governor had impetuously removed
from her fathers head with his own
hands on the back Of the chair She
was glad they had come for him, glad
ho was going to have a pleasant. work
free day among the Strongs and the
| Chamblisses
With what gusto her father and the
governor would tell their war stories
Already their war experiences were be-
ginning 10 be staple yarns for company
entertainment Aud Randal-he, too,
would have something 10 contribute
And Liza was SO proud Of him, 50 in.
ordinately. foolishly fond Of her hus-
band. who had fought On the losing
side She alone would not be there She
must have got q grain Of sawdust in
her eye when she was putting the scroll
saw away tor the day. for when the
governor stalked back into the little
room she was rubbing her eyes vigor
ously with her pocket handkerchief
MARY Colyer. come here.
The governor must have mistaken
that one small trembling young woman
for whole regiment Of eviidoers. his
voice and his face were so solemnly Sc
we're
She came and sat down by him on the
hard carpet recliner which constituted
the most luxurious article o. furniture
in the cottage He opened fire on her ab
ruptly;
Are you prepared to arrogato TO
yourself all the virtue. good sense.
sound patriotism. consistency and jus
tice that ought by rights to be divid, |
among all the white adults Of this en-
| tire sectiony'
Mamie locked at him with wide eyed
resentment
mo- sir, you know am not don
know why you should come here with
such strange questions
Are you prepared TO say that you
have suffered one tithe Of what every
woman with whom you were most init
mately associated during those four ter
rible years Of the war sufferedy Look ut
my granddaughter in law ! bow my
| head in rever, nee to her hcroism She
gave her only begotten son that her
country might be saved She cast her
all upon that one die, and-lost But
she can forgive Look at Eben Martin q
widow, bereaved, her home shattered.
her heart almost rent i'll twain She for
gives Look at that patient cid hero
who has just hobbled from your pres
ence OH his wooden pegs He can afford
to forget aud forgive What have you
LOST Come, let US have IL out honestly
for once What have you lost besides
your temper, And I'm herr TO give you
first class opportunity to lose that
afresh -
She turned on him fercely
''Is it nothing. then. To be traitor
to lift ones hand against ones own
father and brother. to be false TO every
tradition Of ones YOUTH
She was trembling with impotent
rage II this bad been a younger man,
she could have ordered him from her
presence As it was she must bear III