Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-06-07

In the splendid days when people had
lived at all But whnt could Adrien's
mother do, when his wife had been
dumped down ut her door. with just
one skimp black alpaca dress TO bless
herself With The girl did look pretty
in that soft apple blossom gown. VI
course Adrien had been gulled by her
and her mother Oh, Lord. what fools
men were. to be sure,
Annabel yawned audibly Life was
inexpressibly stupid--no men about at
all. save Seth. who scarcely counted for
any more than old Dolbear She wished
Adrien could zee her in that silk wrap.
per When she did get hold Of the
reins at San Souci," she would make
things move at livelier pace. war or
no war. So far she had been sustained
BY sense Of victory in having carried
this aristocratic stronghold 80 EASILY.
but that sensation was growing stale.
and she was pining for another
If knew where Mr. Strong was to
be found. she said. addressing Mrs
|
should take Dolbear and the rockaway
and go to him. "
"Oh. you would" said Mrs Martin
crisply
"Yes Adrien could stay here with
his grandmother and the rest Of you ]
should quite enjoy It. "
II don I doubt it. "
II think Dolbcar could find his way
with me to Virginia A wife has n
right to seek her husband .
Does the madam approve?"
Annabel laughed lightly. and, bend.
ing over. possessed herself Of the brim.
less hat that Liza had left in her chair.
Slowly she nan her fingers along the in
side My precious boyl To think his
darling, soft little head should be GOV.
cred by such thing rs this "
''Oh. LawdY'
Mrs Martin was afraid TO trust her
self farther She got up with jerk.
~ reckon the madam needs somebody
20 help pack that big box Old Dolbear
and Nam Lucy can do everything.
She disappeared inside the big front
door. leaving Annabel without an au-
dience Another nap was her only re-
source She composed herself as com
Portable az the rigid conditions Of the
settee admitted of. and. drawing her
slippered feet carefully under the folds
Of her silken train. closed her eyes Ian
guidly. submitting % the gentle infiu-
ences OF the bees droning about the hello
tropes and the honeysuckles in Gabri.
elias garden
And up at the loom house the clumsy
hand loom stood still The coarse pur-
pie and white threads Of plantation
woven thread were IN hopeless snarl
Mamie Colycrs 'day at the shuttle"
had not advanced the heavy texture BY
O single yard.
1T all came Of this, Liza" She walk
ed cautiously from window TO door OF
the loom room (the Martins old dining
room) before handing Liza q soiled and
carefully folded piece Of paper. What
do you think Of that? was sitting here
weaving away for dear life, wishing
must state Observation-Disclosures Your
vaulting ambition had not inflicted
those purple stripes on me, when q hand
was stuck up over the window sill and
that thing flung right ON to the loom. "
What color was the hand?"
BLACK. think, but won't swear
to II. II il had been canary colored or
sky blue, il wouldn't have frightened
me worse. gave an awful jump, but
fortunately did not scream You know
l generally do scream, especially II
there are mice or snakes In view. Liza
nodded assent
"But your mother WAS in the other
room, rummaging in those trunks that
always do make her cry, poor thing. 30,
after | read that thing, just concluded
to have you up here for consultation
over il. You SEQ it is addressed to no.
body"
Yes"
$50 Just asked Mrs Martin please
to go down to the big house and send
you TO me in hurry told her to tell
you the whole stuff was in snarl So
il is When that black hand came into
sight so mysteriously. gave jump
that jerked the shuttle out Of my hand,
and there II Is, shut up i'll the middle
of the warp body loses all control OF
her nerves such times us these. Do read
that thing aloud Perhaps your voice
will make it degree less mysterious "
"No, it won't" But she complied
"'H any two Of you women will come
out 70 the family burying ground this
evening ut O'Clock. you may obtain
some information about Adrien Strong
No man need come unless you desire to
frustrate the whole scheme
THAT leaves Us without any protec-
ton. Seth can't go with us What are
you going to do about it, Liar!
II am going to be there. "
"At the graveyard At 9 O'Clock!
Why. Liza Martin, it is quite dark by
g."
almost dark. not quite. ! imagine
the writer Of this would have set the
hour later if he could. Evidently he
wants TO be screened
But
"very well. Mamie, I sec how you
feel about going Ishould prefer having
you with me, but have plenty Of time
to row across the lake and get Amy
Chambliss
Mamie turned upon her Indignantly
"Of all the imperious, impatient,
impelling wretches on earth, you are
the greatest You know very well, Liza
Martin. that If any one is going out to
that graveyard tonight to be murdered
in cold blood am that person.
Very well, then, that is of our
minds until o'clock this evening
1T may be of your mind. but mine
is of too meager capacity to hold any
thing else until the mystery Is solved. "
Liza laughed and seated herself on
the loom bench to release the imprison.
ed shuttle
"Lizar'
Eyes, dear.
kiss me You are q remarkable wo.
man. A tower of strength to every one
Of us, from Mrs Strong down 70 Dren. y
| And the ceremony Of OSCILLATION was
audibly performed
but, Mamie" Liza drew back to
ask impatiently. "why on earth didn't
you try to find out who the hand be-
longed tor
"Couldnt When q woman is in a
state of collapse from terror, she doesn I