Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-01-23

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Il
He thought ! ras yo,."
ful When he had the pretty one alone
for moment, as the fortune Of the ride
occasionally gave him the chance, he
said sentimental things to her, because
he meant them. and when he CHANGED
to be alone with the other sister he said
things nearly as sentimental 10 her a.
the night before, because he wanted
her to impress the other with her own
favor for him. He waA you know, at
that age when man Of certain vari-
ETY. Of feminine experience considers
| that the easiest, II indeed not the only,
way 10 impress woman Is by making
love to her, a theory Am not prepared
to controvert. Such men. carried away
by their theory or by their natures.
even extend their tactics Of extreme i'd
miration 10 elderly women.
But Angus felt already. as he re-
| turned to bis hotel that morning after
the ride, that he was In love. On his
table was an envelope. which he tore
open hastily and fearfully. moving
that his leave was over and that he
might expect orders at any moment.
But he had not expected them so sud-
denly. for he was ordered TO report at 8
tho next morning on the Maryland.
which was then of Staten Island. He
| had been ordered to be within six hours
Of New York. but now this assignment
was appalling. He had but time to get
the afternoon train. As II was he
snatched few moments 10 rush over
to the Driscolls- He wanted 10 say more
to the pretty one than the opportunity
warranted. and be had to be content
with pressing each sisters hand-one
earnestly. the other for the sake Of tho
| impression. He decided that he would
write the pretty one, but as soon as his
train was well out Of Wolhamton he re-
membered that he didn't know whether
she was Esther or Eleanor. As 1t
chanced-thosa chances which some
times occur so provokingly-he met no
one who was acquainted with Wolham-
ton, and he carried ont 10 sea his I'M
certainty about the identity Of his in
amorata.
Some months after In Valparaiso
some Americans sat In . certain cafe,
famous in Chile, Of which visitors carry
the memories in much the way in con-
nection with Valparaiso that they may
the Venetian Florian's or the New York
Delmonico's or Of old days the Partisan
Bignon'a Lieutenant Angus McFar-
land was talking with man who was
filed with stories Of the war when for
the nrst time the ship srmored In the
new way had been tested In the new
way. Angus had heard II all hundred
times in the messroom. knew II - well
ss be did the story Of how Perry OF
that good stock. the great commodore's
brother, who, too. might have achieved
Q naval victory. died In the harbor Of
Valparaiso trying TO save . drowning
seaman. Some one else talked the gossip
Of the American and English colony.
These Anglo-Saxon colonies the world
over have, every one, their local inter-
ssts, their gossip. their tattle. A little
chap who was in Chile on some COM
mercial interest was doing his part.
Angus asked about people he had known
on O previous visit
"It's all as local a my own little
town Of Wolhamton," the gossip went
on.
"Wolhamtonf You know the placef
Ny cousin lived there, too, before ]
went to Annapolis. is years ago, ]
think"
my father settled there after that"
said the other.
"Do you know the Driscolls" Angus
asked.
"The pretty Miss Driscoll and the
plain onef Well. / guess"
"Ah. the pretty one, Miss Estherf"
"Now, ti's Eleanor. isn't itf You
zee, / haven't been In Wolhamton in a
blessed time. But I'm wrong. You're
right. It IL Esther Driscoll the pretty
one.
And they went on talking Of little
American provincial town far away,
and Angus was more interested. he
had her name then without Q doubt.
During these long days at sea he had
thought about her deal A man must
settle down. he said. A naval bachelor
perhaps becomes more sentimental than
others, although your bachelor Of 30
anywhere is subject to such an attack.
Well, that night in Valparaiso Angus
Mcfarland offered himself to Esther
Driscoll. II was long after. in Hawaii.
in his batch Of mail that he had his
answer. Had he, too been thinking OF
her all these years while she had been
thinking Of him. all OF which was
"Yes, oh, yes, dear August"
And many times after in many places
when the NAH was brought there were
letters In the prettiest hand in the
world. And Angus was faithful now
TO this one enhancing she. All these
brief stays here and there. all the fair
of these colonial societies failed to
charm when there was but ono charmer
for him.
Back from over the seas came our
sailor. up the gravel walk to the house
at Wolhainton. He was { charming
fellow to look at-tall, bronsed. carry
ing himself - an American officer
should. good officer. better gentle
man. "YsA Mis- Esther is In" said
The maid
And all the stories arc told We poor
story tellers can never deceive you-
You knew how II was to be from the
first. The plain one entered The little
chap In Chile had besn wrong; the
plain one was Eather.
II am 90 glad to So you, I" aid our
sailor, thinking his Esthr was to fol-
low. The real Esther stood there in
chagrin. Was this The asdsnt lover q
al those lettersi
"Are youf'' she MD timidH.
'sBut. !" he fumbled. ''Esthsrr'
"Yes, dear. . said she softly.
And then the situation began TO
davn nm him horribly. luxidly. he