Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-04-05

She could oriy see Adrien beautiful
profile from where she sat, and the pink
carnation he had pinned on the lapel Of
his dab yelyeteen shooting jacket watt
ed its Odor toward her. 1t was the peace
fullest, happiest hour Of all the day 70
her.
"To be SIRE, why should you? Il ID
very commendable Of you preserving
such reticence about man who has
once been your schoolmate, but think
| ! am entitled to know what you know.
You need not hesitate. redmond has
put me in possession of the whole story.
| I simply waited your view Of the case
| What was Strong's trouble at Shingle-
ton?'
IF Redmond has put you in posses
sion Of the who le story, you don't need
10 hear il airesh from me, grandpa. /
think Strong made fool Of himself and
damaged his reputation irretrievably.
No one regrets il more than do. y
"But what did he dor
Invited suspicion. A lot Of trum-
perry had disappeared from various
rooms in the college, stolen by the serv-
ants, uf course. but when il came 20
$50 in cash and Professor Redmond's
watch stir was made and the faculty
to- il into their sapient heads that one
Of tine boys was the culprit and must be
made an example Of. A devil Of muss
they kicked up too"
"Preposterousr the governor eJacu-
lated excitedly.
Absurd" Mrs. Strong murmured
breathlessly.
"Of course, but, preposterous and abb
surd N it may appear, they had Lawyer
Ssephar out 10 harangue the fellows and
his eloquence acted upon poor old
Strong like n revival sermon. 1t stirred
him almost to the pitch Of turning tale
bcarer-that is, if he really knew any
Ling. He held his tongue, however,
succeeding only in convincing every
body that il there was criminal there
unwhipped Of justice it must be Strong
Martin himself. talked to him. but
could make no headwcy against old See
phar's forensic eloquence. That IL all
there is to the business. had rather
not have spoken of this, grandpa, for
suspicious once voiced rapidly crystal
| lie into convictions. and strong case
against man can sometimes be worked
up from the .ost impalpable nothings. "
A moment of admiring silence fol-
lowed this expression Of fine feeling.
The governor removed his spectacles
and rubbed them absently. Mrs. Strong
paf-,d hcr gold thimblc caressingly over
the daintiest of patches In hey fine dam
ask. Adricn was great comfort to
them both.
VERY true and very creditable to
you. 10y" said the governor, having
fully digcs;ed Adricn's remarks, "but,
given your impalpable nothings, indi-
yidual bias must have something To do
with building up your case, and the
bias was with Martin, if understand
matters.
"Yes-but'-
.'He was not gentleman. That ex-
plains it all. The plebeian strain per-
mitted him a. feel uneasiness for feai
that suspicion might rest upon him.
This explanation Of Strong's attitude
was delivered by Mrs. Strong in her
mellow soprano. She could accredit any
amount Of gaucherie and moral obliqui-
ty to plebeian strain in man or woman.
After that Adrien had flung his cigai
away and. taking his cap and gun had
gone down To the stables 10 counter
mand his orders for the drag. He had
lost all desire to renew his acquaintance
with Amy Chan. bliss Immediately. He
had struck discordant note in the har'
mony Of the day and was out Of tune
with the mild refulgence Of the October
skies. the searching fragrance Of the
Mespilus plums, the vivid beauty Of the
goldenrod, the nutty pungence Of the
pecan grove. one and all Of which chal-
leng,d his languid notice in that short
walk from the big house 10 the harness
rom.
He had been reared in the school OF
polite observances, however, 80 he had
turned ut the foot of the steps and, hold
ing his cap III his hand. notified his
mother Of his change Of programme. IL
shan Z 20 over 10 the Chamblisses thi:
morning, dearest
Il am sorry. think they are rather
expecting YOU. You will find Amy very
much improved. She is one Of the nices'
girls we have" His mother voice wa,
gently reproachful.
Il remember her as gray faced lit
tie thing with big owlish eyes. large
head full Of brains and maximum o
freckles. Is my memory correct:'
Don't leave out the large heart full
Of constancy, son.
And she's not one Of your modern
girls self reliant and courageous. \
grasshopper among her petticoats vii
make her scream; feminine to the core
sir. Your true woman is always hi
of a coward, bless her heart. love hel
for it too" This from the governor
II imagine men always love the wo
men best who oftenest give them an op
portunity to show their own superiority
don't they, grandpa
"Off with you, sir. You are an i'm
pudent rogue. If was 20 years younger
would court Amy myself and outwall
you for shot at the partridges too"
And now the distant peafield In,
trampled and despoiled before him, it
gray, green and russet repose all in
mellow tangle. Dolbear had told hin
to paaetrate the brambly foOtpath az Ia
4