Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-02-14
NUMBER 7.

telligible answers, the young man feel.
ing that, whatever the truth might be,
bis first duty was to shield Mrs. Alston.
After time therefore they went their
several ways, Sir Thomas remarking
by way Of moral: "Well. this will be
lesson to me not to meddle with wo-
mems perfumery again, and hope it
will be lesson to you TO be little
more careful about your liquor in fu-
ture."
Lord Arthur made no audible re-
sponse; but, like Galilei, he reserved
the last word for himself. II believe 10
was curacao all the same" he muttered.
Sir Thomas Clutterbuck ascended
pensively to his bedroom to get ready
for dinner, for there were circumstances
connected with this imbroglio which
seemed to him to demand elucidation.
Could it be that Mrs. Aston was in
the habit of carrying cherry brandy
about with her when she visited her
friends? II so-but he was confident
that il was not 20.
"Oh, no! II must be t'otber wop-
gn, {" he assured himself, land the scent
which ought to be taken 10 her, BY
the ways hers" But the bottle
which stood upon Sir Thomas dressing
table and upon which he had as yet be-
slowed only basty glance did not con-
tain scent. He picked il up now, and
the label upon its surface told him in
unequivocal terms what IL did contain.
This discovery gave him what Lord
Arthur would have called "a nasty jar"
He whlstled and walked away toward
the fire, shaking his head ruefully and
murmuring: II couldn't have believed
1t OF her! I've often enough heard peo-
pie say that the color was unnatural.
but set that down to envy and jealousy.
Ali, well There's an End Of my little
romance, and it's lucky for me that
I've found her out in time. Because.
mind you" added Sir Thomas, address
ing space impressiveIy, "a woman who
will deceive you in one way will de-
ceiye yor in another.
At Sir Thomas time Of life the dis
sipation Of q fond illusion is more apt
to excite wrath than despair, and when
be remembered the many occasions upon
which Mrs. Alston had complacentIy
suffered him to tell her how greatly he
admired her wonderful hair the desire
90 pay her out grew strong within him.
"She deserves to be publicly exposed"
he said to himself, "but / suppose IL
would be almost too cruel to take the
bottle down stairs and hand it to her
before them all.
Then on sudden a brilliant idea oc-
CURED to him. by Jove, / will" he
exclaimed aloud. THE others won't
like to make any remark, even IL they
understand, but she'll understand fast
enough, and Hatter myself that she
won't enjoy her dinner this evening""
Mrs. Alston did not at all expect to
enjoy her dinner, .inasmuch as enc had
made up her mind 20 partake OF that
meal, or some poor substitute for II, in
her own room. Already she had tele.
graphed 10 London for further supply
Of the incompatible dye, and had sent
message to Mrs. Longworth TO the
effect that an excruciating attack OF
neuralgia would prevent her from see
ing anybody that night or hunting on
the morrow, but what went pear to
making her i'll in good earnest was
dreadful piece Of news which reached
her from Lord Arthur Fulton in answer
to inquiries which common humanity
had prompted her to make rs to his
condition.
II am yet alive, thank you," ran the
note delivered to her by her maid, mot
withstanding the desperate remedies
which have had to employ. The pro-
voking part of it is that an now nj.
most sure there was no occasion for
them. What drank must have been
Mrs. MAYORS curacao. Mrs. Naylor, |
expect, has been awarded a bottle Of
veterinary lotion belonging to Sir
Thomas Clutte-buck. and Sir Thomas
has got your hair dye. | am awfully
sorry, but am sure you will see that
have nothing 10 reproach myself with.
as only carried ont your instructions
20 the best of my ability and made my
self disastrously sick into the bargain. "
When Mrs. Aston bad perused this
terrible missive, she thought for mo-
ment Of dropping down dead, but re-
fiecting that her demise would distress
nobody in particular, while it would be
productive of doubtful benefit to her
self, she determined upon less heroic
measures.
"Pinfold." she said TO her maid,
"you can pack up again. We shall re-
turn TO London tomorrow.
There was indeed nothing else to be
done. Sir Thomas, s's knew, was old
fashioned in his ideas, abhorred arti-
iiciality, and would never forgive an in
nocent deception which had been prac-
ticed upon him in common with the
rest Of the world. The feelings Of o
gentleman would, she trusted, prevent
him from divulging her secret, but she
had no wish TO face his reproaches or
listen to his remuneration. The game,
so far as Sir Thomas Clutterbuck was
concerned. was up, and 10 only remain.
ed 20 draw fresh coverts
Ia .c,ttnuad