Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-03-22

Strong. Now then"
Strong adjusted the board as he was
hidden. Pretty soon he brought his ci.
gar case into view. 1t was one of the
luxuries he had imported from college.
No one objected to il at home. A wide
margin should be- allowed boy who
had carried of the first honors. land
him not come Of bookisb folk. He ex'
tended the case to Seth, who nodded his
acknowledgment Of the courtesy, bui
did not avail himself Of it.
mot jus at present I'll save 1t fol
dessert. put fresh quid in when we
was startin. and Ican't afford to waste
it. It'll help to keep me awake while
we're waitin. Thank you all the same. V
Immediately after Passing through
the boundary line gate they plunged in
to dense bit Of woodland which moth
ing but lifelong familiarity enabled q
man to thread The wagon gave vio
lent lurch. Strong lurched with it.
"Phew, but it is black night; nc
moon, no stars
But full 'lowance Of stumps.
Whoa, jeremiah! Where you goin,
Kity''
Seth laughed and pulled his mules
short IN the left
II don't 80 much mind givin you q
shake up, but sissy's another sort OF
critter. I'm mos sorry now We didn''
borry the carriage from the madam.
Old Dol is enough better driver thar
me. They say he's got eyes like a hat
can see better in the dark than he kin
in the light Learnt that when Mr.. Ga
briel was live. "
THAT was Adrien's father. Do you
remember him.
"SGrter he worn't the steadies' fel
low in the world. but he's gone. peace
to his ashes His capcrs never set mt
back any"
Drink"
Drink and cards, or, ruther card.
and drink The pasteboards started him
down hill; the decanter finished him.
But / merely said how l wished old
Dolbcar and the madam's carriage was
goin Ia fetch sissy home in place Of m,
and Kit. blast her lazy boncsr'
~ don't agree with you about the
carriage Why should we turn to the
Strongs for assistance in every emer
gency: Must the Martins always In
propItd up by the Strongs; Can't VT
possibly carry on om family affair'
without their aid?'
Seth looked toward the excited ques
toner out Of the corners Of his blu,
eyes-a sheer waste Of energy. for The
ned glow Of his cigar revealed only fh'
tip of straight, delicate nose and II sen
siiive upper lip clothed i'll silky brown
mustache.
What : come over you. Strong: for
the last one in the world to turn ag IL
the gov 'nor's people.
Strong struck his heel angrily agains
the low dashboard II know what yor
want TO say /, the governors name
sake, who have reaped a handsome ben
eft from my christening in shape Of {
four years course at Shingleton college
am the last one to say sharp things, ol
should be. ] wasn't consulted about ,
choice Of names
That's 81, but ut one time you Wa
that wrapped up in Adrien Strong
when you and him was little fellors
that you was ready To fight anybod,
who wouldn't admit he was made on
of a superior sort Of clay"
Il know it, l know that too Blu
what's the use Of iinging all my i'm
becility i'll my teeth ut once?'
There was the soothing gentleness o
a mothers lullaby III Seth's voice as III
answered.
II don't want to fling nothin in you
teeth, boy. was just sorter outdone e
hear you peckin at the gov'nor's folks
They's been good friends to our people
What come over you, Strong! You'v'
been down in the mouth ever since yo'
come home Don't be feared to speal
out, Lad. Maybe Buddy Seth can hell
you, like he uscter when you got you
fishin tackle all tangled up and couldn
ontangle II.
I'm in worse tangle than that. OLE
fellow, but ! don't see how it woult
mend matters to talk about it.
"Git up, mules"
Through the stiffness the crack o
Seth's long whip resounded clear an'
sharp. The mules broke sullenly into
heavy trot. The smell Of rank vegeta
ton filled their nostrils Tall, coars
coffee weeds sInote them mercilessl,
with damp ghostly fingers An owl
disturbed bv the unwonted noises be
low, lifted itself slowly Oh heavy wing
and fiuttered. complaining and plaintive
to a safer refuge. The night wind stir
red the topmost boughs and set then
Assigning. 1t was not cheerful drive
Seth s thoughts had wandered from tn
sullen boy by his side to Liza
"I'm feared them weeds'll poster he
nightly. II I'd had u head wuth
pun kin seed, I'd assent out and hat
'em chopped down early this mornil
easy enough.
Strong put out his hand to press tn
gaunt knee nearest to him.
Buddy Seth, you've got the biggcs
and the most unselfish heart i'll tie uii
verse. / did not mean to be sharp wit
you a little back, but have been wan
dering in dark labyrinth for mont
now to which this weed choked, mu'
rutted road is clear travelling
Seth slapped the hand ON his kne
triumphantly.
II knowed it. l knowed it! Yo'
can't hoodwink the buddy that's bee
, studyin you ever sence you was littl
! curly head chap in short petticoats Blu
don't want to force your confidence
. Strong. II you've got anything on you
, mind that's worryin you. and you'd lik
to share it with Buddy Seth, why jus
you heave ahead. But can wait
amt no ways inpatient, boy"
From under the shadow Of the tree
out into the broad, farreaching fields
. where tue white bannerets Of the opeI
cotton swayed softly in their russo
, bolls, where the yellowing blades Of tn
, ripened cornstalks rustled against tn
, sides Of the wagon, where much trave
70 and from the ginhouses had cut deepe
and more hopelessly into the soft ooz
nf the road
Sissy won't enjoy this ride as mucl
, as she used to enjoy travelin over thi
, very road behind Buddy Seth when tn
persimmons was ripe. Bless her heart
Couldn't she put away the ripe persim
I mons, though? l hope she amt out
|. gruwcd all her cute little ways"
| Il