Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-09-27

CUuIse tHtIc Wos iciSu ui5Ousrioh co
tween "tbe boys" Of the road and the
few married families Of the settlement
on this point. but Of course progress and
"snivelization AS the boys chose to
call it-triumphed. The projection OF
a railroad settled it. Robert Foulkes,
promoted TO fremanship on division
Of the line, was made 90 understand
that his daughter must be educated.
But the terrible question OF Narys fam.
lily remained. No school would open its
doors to that heterogeneous collection,
and Mary's little heart would have
broken over the rude disposal n heroic
burning of her children. The ingenuity
of Jack Roper suggested compromise.
She was allowed to select one to take to
school with her; the others were adopt
ed by certain of her friends, and she
was to be permitted to visit them every
Saturday afternoon. The selection was
cruel trial, so cruel that. knowing her
undoubted preference for her firstborn,
Misery, we would not have interfered
for worlds. but in her unexpected choice
Of Johnny Dear the most unworldly Of
us knew that it was the fret glimmer-
ing Of feminine tact, her first submis-
sion to the world Of propriety that she
was now entering. Johnny Dear was
undoubtedly the most presentable; even
more. there was IN educational sugges-
tion in its prominent, mapped out
chronological organs. The adopted fa-
Tiers were loyal to their trust. Indeed
for years afterward the blacksmith kept
the iron headed Misery OH rude shelf,
like shrine near his bunk. Nobody but
himself and Meary ever knew the Sc
cret. stolen aud thrilling interviews
that took pi,co during the first days OF
their separation.
Certain facts, however. transpired
concerning Mary's equal faithfulness
to another Of her children. 1t is said
that one Saturday afternoon when the
road manager Of the new line was seat
ed in his Office at Reno In private busi
ness discussion with two directors a
gentle tap was heard at the door. IL
was opened To All eager little face, q
pair Of blue eyes Ind blue piDafore
To the astonishment Of the directors
change came over the face Of the man
ager. Taking the child gently by the
hand, he walked to his desk, OH which
the papers of the new line were scatter
ed, and drew open drawer, from which
he took large ninepin extraordinarily
dressed as doll. The astonishment Of
the two gentlemen was increased at the
following quaint colloquy between the
manager and the child:
shes doing remarkably we'll IN
spite Of the trying weather, but bave
had 30 keep her very quiet. said the
manager. regarding the ninepin critic
ally.
"Ess," said Mary quickly. cts just
the same with Johnny Dear. His cough
is righ,lul at night But Misery's all
nght I've just been to see her. y
There u good deal Of scarlet fever
around" " continued the manager with
quiet concern, ''and we can't be too
careful. But shall take her for little
ruu down the line tomorrow.
The eyes Of Mary sparkled and over
flowed like blue water Then there was
q kiss. u little laugh, shy glance at
the two curious strangers, the blue PIN
afore cc.toItd away and the cclloquy
ended. She was equally attentive in
her care Of the others, but the rag baby.
Gloriana, who had found home In
Jim Carter's cabin ut the Ridge, living
too far for her visits, was brought down
regularly On Saturday afternoon TO
Mary's house by Jim, tucked in asleep
in his sGddlebass or riding calamity
before him on the horn Of his saddle
On Sunday there was dress parade Of
all the dolls. which kept Mary in heart
for tho next week = desolation.
But there came one Saturday and Sun.
day when Mary did not appear, and II
was known along the road that she had
been called TO San Francisco TO meet an
aunt who had just arrived from the
States. 1t was vacant Sunday to
1.-THE boys" very hollow, unsanctiiied
Sunday somehow, without that little
figure. But TIE next Sunday and the
next were still worse, and then 1t was
known that the dreadful aunt was max
ing much Of Mary and was sending her
to grand school-a convent at Santa
Clara-where it was rumored girls were
turned ont so accomplished that their
own parents did not know them. But
we knew that was impossible to our
Mary, and letter which came from her
at the end Of TIE month and beiore the
convent had closed upon the blue pima
fore satisfied us and was balm to our
anxious hearts 1t was characteristic of
Mary-it was addressed to nobody In
particular-and would but for the pru-
dence of the aunt have been intrusted to
the postofiice open and undirected. Ii
was single sheet, handed to US with.
out q word by her father, but as We
passed it from hand to hand we under
stood it as if we had heard our lost
playfellow's voice:
"Tbers more houses in Frisco than
YOU kin shake stick at and wimmens
till you kant rest, but mules and jack
asses amt got no sho. nor blacksmiifs
shops, witch is not to be seen no wear
Rapits and skwirls also bares and pan
fers is ON noun and urforgotten on &C
count of the streets aud Sunday skoles
Jim Roper you orter be very good to
Mizzery OH kount Of my not bein here,
and not harten your hart to her bekos
she is top heavy-which Is ontroo and
Simplify an imptient lie-like you allus
make. / have kinary bird wot sings
deliteful, but isn't yellerhamer sutch
as know az you'd think. Dear Mister
Montgommery. don't keep Gulan Am
plak to mutch shet up in Office drors. 1t
isn't good for his lungs and chest And
don't you ink his head-nother. You're
as bad as the rest. Johnny Der', you
must be very kind to your attopted IA
ther. aud you, Glory Anna, must lov
your kind Jimmy Carter very mulch
for takin you hossbnck so often. have
been buzzy ridin twist with an orficer
who has killed lnjuns real. am COM
| in back soon with CRATE affecshun, 50
| luke out and mind.
But it was three years before she re-
! turned, and this was her last and only
letter. The adopted fathers" OF her
children were faithful, however, and
when the new line was opened and II
was understood tnat she was to be pres
ent with her father at the ceremony
they came, with common understand
| ing, to the station to meet their old