Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-03-08
NECK OR NOTHING.
By JEANETTE h. wALwoRTH.
Copyright. 1897. by the AuthorI
CHAPTER II.

Presently there was nothing left for
the June zephyrs to tease but the fiut-
tering banncrets of gray Spanish moss
pendent from the unfading wooden rain.
bow and the leaves OF the big church
Bible. that had been left open after the
preliminary reading Of chapter.
Strong Martin had selected the banks
Of the creek for his battle-ground with
conscience. 1t would be pleasanter down
there on the water pebbly brim, where
no one was likely to intrude today.
He was hidden from the view Of the
hungry churchyard feasters by the high.
sandy banks of the creek that were
fringed with trailing blackberry bushes
and blue eyed periwinkles From the
spot he selected he could hear the clat-
ter Of dishes and the lively chatter Of
the feeders and the fed.
With his eve closed he saw it all.
In an agony Of indecision he flung
his hands outward and upward and
groaned aloud: IF ! stood alone, il
would be different. It would BE- easy
But-the old folks-and-Liza." +" Then,
with clinched fist and resolute lips, 1T
is a forced hand. And again in avoicc
almost of despair he said it: "A forced
hand! 4 forced hand y
Upon the calm afternoon air the
clangor of bell smote sharply. Ii was
the bell i'm the little wouien belfry Of
the red brick church calling the multi.
tude hack to the closing exercises. The
cows were slowly climbing the opposite
bank Of the creek The blue crane un-
tucked its small head to reconnoiter.
Strong Martin got up and stretched his
cramped legs, stamping vigorously with
his benumbcd feet
"A profitable hour. he said bitterly
II came here To settle matter Of con.
science am sure of only one thing:
am hungry. No. Of two things The
knot is knottier than ever. 1t isa forced
hand"
As he clambercd precipitately up the
steep bank Of the creek he suddenly
came face to face with Mamie Colycr.
In one hand she held a cup Of coffee, in
the other loaded plate
Il have been looking for you ever
since You left the church. saw you
when you came out Here, take il. You
must be drcadfully hungry" She was
not looking at him. She could not She
was 20 absurdly short and he SO CORE
spondingly tall that his grateful glance
could only perch ON the befowered
crown Of her big hat
~ am hungrier than I thought II
was good Of You to think Of me, Miss
Mamie. / did not expect it Of you. "
"Others have been thinking Of you
and talking about you
"Yes?"
Her hands were free now He had
taken the cup Of coffee and gulped it in
three or four mouthfuls His utterance
was somewhat impeded by sandwich.
mo one has thought Of me in this
way. 1t was very sweet of you, Mamie. "
but l am angry with you. Quite
angry"
She employed her liberated hands in
putting her large Gainsborough hat far
enough ON the back Of her head to give
him the full benefit Of an extremely
stern gaze which she had carefully pre-
pared for the occasion.
"Adrien Strong says you are acting
like an imbecile He is very much up
set about you
There was tang Of wormwood in
his voice as he answered, II think Adri-
en- will not suffer much ON my account "
"Adrien Strong is very fond of you. ~
she said decidedly.
His own name, shouted in Adrien 8
voice, came clearly and shrilly through
the lacy screen of elder blossoms The
girl put her hand out hurriedly for the
empty plate and cup
There, go. Everything is waiting
ON you. You are q beautiful looking
valedictorian. Wait! ! know it's dread
fully bold. but ! can't let you go back
looking like defeated prizefghter. +"
She stood on tiptoe close in front OF
him. Her slim brown fingers gave his
cravat q savage little jerk. bringing the
bow around from under his left ear.
"There. you look just one degree less
disreputable. Do smooth your hair down
q trifie ~
He was beaming ON her in an ecstasy
Of gratitude 1t was so pleasant to have
some one care whether he was hungry
or satiated, trim or disreputable.
"Dogo II you stand there much Ion
ger looking 10 ridiculously grateful,
shall forget that / am angry with you.
l am sorry. 50 sory-for-everything.
But, of course, don't believe il. F."
Don't believe whati" Strong asked,
vaguely interested in the words, vivid.
ly in the speaker. whose soft, upturned
eyes had altogether forgotten to look
stern.
Don't believe anything" With sud-
den passion she stamped her small foot.
There. 20. have only made matters
worse by coming here. Adrien is call
ing you. Adrien says it is ridiculous to
suppose you could have taken those
things
HE did, did he?" The bows voice