Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-09-18
THIRD DAY.
SOLID coNroRr.


When Reuben Filley entered the door
OF the Miranda after enjoying q soil.
tary smoke In the "emigrant car" ~
Msdge Hurst dubbed the Pullman, hs
beheld the following tableau:
Mrs. Hurst. following the example OF
all good chaperons. was fast asleep on
q divan, soothed to siumber By the
rocking and humming Of the train.
Behind her couch sat Chester and
Madge. she making desperate pretense
Of accomplishing some sllsht fancy
work. but not making much progrsss
owing 70 the fact that even the most
skillful Of needlewomen cannot work
with one hand Chester Ives bad pos
sessed himself OF the other and ~ the
moment when Filley entered was nuf-
nuring some words that brought .
roster color TO Madge's cheeks and .
softer glamour to her usually bright
and dancing eyeA
Draper and Florence were at the far.
ther end. she reclining In the easiest
chair TO Be found. and he at her side.
conversing earnestly In . low toae.
Her gracefully poised head. the ear
nest eyes looking full into his. the man.
tling color In her cheeks and the half
smile on her parted lips indicated that
she was an interested listener. even -
Desdemona hearkened to 0thello of
old. And yet all the world might have
heard the burden Of John Diapers
speech. He was only telling her some
Of the adventures Of days long gone
by. when be and her father-the father
she had never secn-were boys and
young men together. From this start.
Ing point be went on TO speak Of their
early struggles. when the foundations
were laid Of the great fortune Florence
now possessed. Modest John never
once alluded to the par, borne by him
self 10 adding to that fortune until DOW
II needed seven dgures TO express H.
But the girl OWNED all this. and when
be ceased speaking she laid her band
caressingly on the back Of his as II
rested on the arm Of her chair and
murmured:
How can ever sufficiently thank
your
II ask for no thanks" was the frank
reply. 1T has been q pleasure for one
70 work and plan for you while have
watched you bud and blossom from
infancy to childhood and from girlhood
20 womanhood."
"You have always been good TO me"
she said simply. How can I ever re-
pay the debtr'
Perhaps ! viii tell you some day. II
! may: not now" was the deep toned
answer. for at that moment Reuben K.
made his appearance.
Il am just In time" thought the mar
plot Another moment and the old
fool would have been down on his
knees TO her"
Advancing into the car. Filley took
up a magazine and dung himself into q
chair. No one spoke to him. yet both
couples widened, the distance between
them. In the slight hustle and move.
men, thus occasioned MrA Hurst
awoke and In that semisurprised and
half injured tone which all good peo
pie affect when they are caught dozinG
In public affirmed that she had not
slept a wink
81 heard eyery word you said. my
dsars I" averred the good LADY,. nj which
announcement Cbester muttered. -Gocd
Iora hon. no,v. IN mock horror iuss
loud .non.h for M.ave IN hear. WINCH
son, tina, Young lady into couvulsions
of suppressed laughter.
Being awake and refreshed. II BE-
hoored Mrs. Hurst to do something for
the general good. So game Of innocu-
Gus and rather tame six handed euchre
was proposed and agreed to, although
Chester whispered TO Madse that -hs
would as soon play old maid or beggar
my uelshbor. Filiey was compelled 10
,ojn the circle nm, he sufYered tortures
and ouaims like those experienced by
a hard drinker who II forced to auafr
Sunday school lemonade and make be-
l,eve be likes IL
Nrs Hurst was the only one who
,aallv an,oved berself that afternoon.
Iohn Dranar u.u.,,x blun and debo-
nil was ,r,at and nraoccnniad Flor.
ar.s vas S,.,r,,t and on more than
~. oo..s,on h.a 70 n. recalled from a
raw.r,s whsn !, was her tnrn 70 mass"
or "m.ke itD Madxe Hurst was fever.
,sh,v lively and had 70 he mildly rebuk.
"a nv. ber mother for her nertpesu.
Ch.sts, Ives thoupht Of the precious
,,ma ha,r. w.s,ad while Reuben K.
90, ,,owor,ro a, th. c.rds IN =, ease
"a rart.,,v c,,rs,n, ever revolution
=, tha wheels that hore him farther
from Now YORK
parhans tbe sstute Mrs. Hurst tool,
note of these thing. and. like 4 born
ainlomat adopted this simple expe-
a,en, ~ keen evervbody out OF mis-.
chief Rut 10 have seen her smiling
heneyolently AT the players. prompting
ono r.TIv,ng another and iestIns with,
tn,rd vou would never have dreamed
,ha. shs too had Something an her
,.,,na
Viii. ,h. ,c,sr,or NJ . nr,v.te car
o- even Of an ordinary pullman or
wagner for that matter-Is at all times
a scene Of luxury, It is at night that the
full sense of comfort and convenience
comes over the traveller. One BY one
the silver plated lamps are lighted. The