Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-03-22
NECK OR NOTHING.
By JEANETTE 4. wALwORTH.
[Copyright. 1897. by the Author.I
CHAPTER V.

SIlhI v.
There come moments to every sen-
tient being when the souls crying need
for sympathy, its demand for audience
Of nearer and more palpble ear than
.he ear Of the invisible One, presses with
imperious importantly, when the temp
tation to examine the workings and the
conclusions o. ones own conscience by
the light Of outside criticism wakes too
strong to be withstvod.
That being is fortunate who in the
moment Of the heart indiscretion finds
IN auditor at once discreet and coura-
geous
Strong Martins moment Of tempta-
ton came In him when tn the impene.
,rablc darkness Of his doubt shadowed
and perplexed consciousness was super
added the dense physical darkness Of a
starless midnight, when me and Seth
apparently had the whole world to
themselves, without in the least know
ing what tc do with it. When Canopus
all its spirit blue and diamond bright.
hess eclipsed. stretched black and limit
less over their unsheltered heads. seem
ing to touch the dark crowns Of the tall
trees that closed in about them, erect
and shadowy sentinels guarding the
small clearing known Us Nevitt's Land
ing.
He and Seth were waiting for the
boat that was to bring Liza home.
Much anxious thought and careful
preparation had been expended in antic-
ipalion Of that momcn'ous event Mrs
Strong had gone the length Of proffering
her own horses and carriage, with Dol
bear, the highly accomplished coachman
mt the mansion. thrown in. The offer
had travelled from the big house TO the
overseer's house in company with a
huge bunch Of heliotrope in fragrant
bloom.
Strong, as spokesman for the family.
had declined the offer with prompt
ness that bordered on ungraciousness.
BY reason of his college training and
consequent superior knowledge Of the
world Strong had stepped Immediately
into n sort ~ domestic dictatorship
pressed upon him by the loving suffrages
of the whole family. That matter of the
governors coach he had settled crisply.
mo, we do not want it, mother. Let
my sister begin Alright. She is coming
home to Us, not to the people up at the
mansion She has been kept in the dark
long enough The wagon that takes you
into town is quite good enough to bring
your daughter out Of IT, She might as
well learn fiom the word go that she
belongs To an entirely different class OF
people from the Strongs"
Seth nodded his shaggy head approx
ingly at each period. "Barrin sort Of
savage snap i'll your voice, Strong, I'm
with You. boy. straight through. l like
TO hear such good, hard horse sense
from the lips Of him we was feared
would come home lied for ev'rything
but books You're gettin holt Nv things
by the right end, boy. and III back you
up i'll it. "
He further signified his entire ap
proval Of Strong's independent attitud,
by n vigorous slap on his shoulders,
then went of whistling softly 10 se,
that the two mule wagon was nicely
swept out and to select pair of reliable
animals.
The longer he pondered Strong
peculiarly acrid way Of talking about
the people at the big house the NOR,
perplexed he grew. He mentally W
solved to "get it all out Of the boy
while they should be waiting for the
boat, which was sure to be late thai