Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-01-09

". whats thatf"
"The old monk who passes through
the cloisters with the sacred oil, the
bell and the smell Of incense whenever
any one is to die here. By Jove, 1t
would have been q good story to tell in
stead Of this cock and bull one about
your property And there was death
here today. You'd have added the
sibyl's gifts to your other charms
"Tell me about that old man, she
said, looking past him ont OF the win
dow. II was at his cottage this morn
ing. But, no. First let us go out. You
can take me for walk, il you like.
You see, am all ready, and I'm just
sitting here"
They descended to the terrace to-
gether. Where would you like to got"
he asked.
.To the village may want to tele-
graph, you know"
They turned into the avenue, but
Miss Desborough stopped.
''Is there not shorter cut across the
fields" she asked. "over theref'
"There is, said the consul.
They both turned into the footpath
which led to the farm and stile. After
a pause she said. ''Did you ever talk
with that poor old manf"
"No."
"Then you don't know II he really
was crazy, as they thihks"
"No. But they may have thought an
old mans forgetfulness Of present
things and his habit Of communing
with the past was insanity. For all
that, he was a plucky, independent old
fellow with q grim purpose that was
certainly rational /
"I suppose in his Independence he
wouldn't have taken fsvors from these
people or anybodyf"
~ should think not"
Don't you think IL was just horrid
their leaving him alone in the rain,
when he might have been only in a
ftf"
"The doctor says he died suddenly Of
heart disease" said the consul at
might have happened at any moment
and without warming
"Ah, that was the coroner's verdict,
then" said Miss Desborough quickly.
1.-THE coroner did not think 1t neces-
sary to have any inquest after Lord
Beverdale's statement. It wouldn't
have been very joyous for the Priory
party, and / dare say he thought it
might not be very cheerful for you"
'How very kindl'' said the young
girl. with quick laugh. But do you
know that it's about the only thing
human, original and striking that has
happened in this place since I've been
herei And 50 unexpected. considering
how comfortably everything Is ordered
here beforehand"
''Yet you seemed to like that kind Of
thing very well last evening"" said the
consul mischievously.
"That was last night, retorted Miss
Desborough, land you know the line,
'Colors seen by candlelight do not look
the same by day But I'm going to be
very consistent today, for intend to
20 over to that poor mans cottage
again and see IL can be Of any service.
Will you go with met"
Certainly" said the consul, mysti-
fed by his companions extraordinary
conduct, yet apparent coolness OF pur-
pose, and hoping for some further ex-
planation. Was she only an inexperi-
enced hirt who had found herself on
the point of serious ENHANCEMENT she
had not contemplated Yet even then
he knew she was clever enough to ex-
tricate herself in some other way than
this abrupt and brutal tearing through
the meshes. Or was IL possible that she
really had any intelligence affecting
her property He reflected that he knew
very little Of the Desboroughs but, on
the other hand. he knew that Bever-
dale knew them much better and was q
prudent man. He had no right to de-
mand her confidence as q reward for
his secrecy: he must wait her pleasure.
Perhaps she would still explain. Wom-
en- seldom could resist the triumph OF
telling the secret that puzzled others.
When they reached the village, she
halted before the low roof Of Debs' cot
tage. ~ had better go in first, she
said. "You can come in later, and in
the meantime you might 60 to the sta