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

Thus violently introduced to public
notice. Sandy rose and made shuffiing
movement in Atirien 3 direction. Liber-
ally construed, he might have been said
to have bowed.
There was in air Cf vague uncertain.
ty about all Of Sandy's performances,
certain shy tentativeness as II the
willing spirit located somewhere within
his uncared for little body was sadly
conscious of the flesh's weakness. He
was approaching manhood positive Ct
but one thing-that il was impossible
for him to escape condemnation from
some one ut every turn Of his existence.
Hence certain unresentful acceptance
of Dolbear's tart criticism. As he
shuffled forward to where Adrien, re-
splendcnt in drab velveteen shooting
clothes, stood regarding him with coolly
investigative eyes, his own were lifted
deprecatingly as he ventured u shy s,lu-
tation.
"Howdy, Mars Adr'n? is mcuty glad
to see yen ag in.
Furtively he was rubbing his be-
grimed right hand along the leg Of his
ragged trousers II Mr.. Adrien should
vouchsafe handshake, he wanted to be
found in complete readiness.
But Adrien's ivory white hands, with
their carefully pruned pink nails, were
clasped about the stock and the muzzle
Of the gun at rest across his shoulders.
He flung nod and smile at the hoy.
The smile was bright and the nod
friendly Sandy, the uncritical starve-
ling, appropriated them gratefully and
grew bold.
II is got pup for You. Mars Adr'n-
rale setter pup. She ready fur to be
trained right now. | ben savin her fur
you. a setter pup, he is. y
"A setter? The very thing! am go
ing to look for some birds this morning,
Sandy. and there ism { a dog but Mar
tins old collie up at the house. can
give her her first Lesson this morning !"
Sandy waxed descriptive under this
genial warmth Of appreciation.
"Hcr is ole Dido's pup an Hero liz
hers daddy. Wen you went away TO
school. ole mars sent ole Dido down
tn mammys house an tole me to TEX
kecr or her. an us did. but her die all
the same. Her die six months ago. Her
was wore out. nanny say. but her lef'
a passcl er pups, an nanny she drown
'em all but one, an she say mus raise
hit fur you. Us name her Sa Y Jane,
an her is got three wife foots, Jis' lax
ole Hero. Her is mighty smart. Mars
Adr'n, but her don't know nothin-
nothin tall. "
"Well, then. II Is time was teach
ing her something Go fetch her, Sandy.
I've been wondering all morning where
l could find bird deg.
Dolbear's jealous disapproval found
vent in snort Of contempt as Sandy
leapcd nimbly past him and disappeared
at n full run in the direction Of the
quarters.
'SoyS. don't you be tuIuih that fool
BOYS head. He's mouiy easy sot mp.
an don't you bc r.,isin no great spec
tashuns ON that pup. Sandy is some ON
the brag, tell you"
Adrien laughed absen,ly and walking
10 the end Of the harness room looked
through its one broad. unglazed window
into the paddock beyond.
Il have changed my mind abOut rid
ing over to the Chamblisses this morn-
ing, Uncle Dol. I think will take a
long tramp instead. l hadn't thought
much about the partridges until Sandy
mentioned Sarah Jane. Where will be
most likely to find Bob White?''
No one ever questioned Adrien' 3
moods. Dolbcar laid the drag harness
down regretfully. But white folks"
most generally were "notionate, ac-
cording To his observation.
You oughter fin partridges mos
anywhar jus now, but they principally
feeds up bout the buryin ground. The
peafields lays all bout the buryin
ground. an the birds amt ben pestered
much Nv late. Ole mars Civ orders no.
body was to shoot the partridges. He's
ben savin EN- fur you. Den you don Z
want the mars put in the drag"
Not until give further orders. l
wonder il one Of the Martin boys would
not like 10 tramp with me."
Dolbear waved superb negation with
hand and head.
LET the Martin boys lone, son they
is got work To do. Let 'em lone. Ii all
done ve'y well wen You was passel
NV little boys together, runnin ba rfoot
an climbin pussimmon trees an not
KNOWN from bull + foot, but you ain I
little b'arfoot boy now; You Is got the
family name TO take keer Of. The Mar
tin boys is got to work out they own sal
walton. Let 'em lone, son. Birds NV a
feather is 'bleeged to flock tegedder.
The Martin boys amt no born gentle
mems.
LII less questionable English, but with
} similar impressiveness, Adrien had al
ready received this advice twice over.
Il With gentle vagueness, as one who
: would temper justice with mercy, his
mother had said:
1.-THE Martin boys are worthy, excel
lent people in their places, my son, and
when you were all children together,
subject to my surveillance, the init
macy was not Objectionable, but Of
course everything is different now.
Liza especially, she might have add
ed, but she did not.
His grandfather took the unequivocaI
stand of the plutocratic old aristocrat
he avowedly was.
"We must draw the line somewhere
Adrien. Eben Martin is as good anc
useful man III his sphere as can b
found. So is that boy Seth. Invaluable
ON the place, both Of them. Charlie il