Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-10-09

She knew perfectly well what was b.
hind that declaration, but. womanlikA
could not forbear little catlike play.
ing with the masculine mouse. and her
big, worldly brother was just a. timor-
Gus and nervous over the business IN
view an the tinIest rodent that ever
nibbled cheese In q trap. The plunge
into matrimony. like cold bath on .
winters morning. seemed more repel-
lent the longer II was put o6, and
where a younger and less worthy man
like Reuben Filley would have dared
all long ago John Draper. with the
modesty Of real and genuine merit, had
forborne to test his fate with Florencs
Granniss, not because he did not love
her dearly and devotedly. but for fear
that she regarded him more In the light
Of parent than a. possible husband.
T mean with regard to Florence" hs
replied to Mrs. Hurst's innocuous que
~. II am determined to know the
worst and that right soon."
my dear John" she said. my heart
has been set on this match for years
ever since Florence was Of marriage
able age. She has never made q conf
dant of me. but am certain that she
Ia heart free--that is. there is no other
attachment Further than that Il
would not be right for me to say ex-
cept this. that I believe you hare only
to ask her to be your wife 10 order to
gain her consent"
| A joyous light shone In Diapers eyes
as he made reply:
T hope and pray your confidence
may not be misplaced" Then In .
more jocular tone he inquired:
Are you prepared to carry two en-
gagged couples back with you TO New
York; think there b mischief afoot
between Madge and young Ives"
do you think am blind?" replied
Mrs. Hurst. II confess that had
hoped Madge would do better. bat un-
less all signs fail Mr. Ives viii not walt
very long to nnd out what fate has In
store for him. shall not Interfere"
I'm glad TO hear you say that,
Bess." was the rejoinder. Next to my
own happiness I have that Of Madge
and Chester at heart. know be loves
her. and think she cares for him"
'Tndeedr' she laughed. II must COM
plIment you on your remarkable In
sight into the love Affairs OF others
while you are 30 blind to your own"
And with this parting shot Mrs. Hurst
rose to 20 and make some slight toilet
preparations for dinner. which was
just then announced
II was rather quiet little group that
assembled once more around the cory
dining table In the Miranda that night.
The interior Of the car was positively
brilliant. BY all analogies the gather.
Ing should have been a merry one. Jet
both Madge and Florence were unusu-
ally quiet. Perhaps II was the natural
relaxation after the unnatural excite
ment OF the past few days. Mrs. Hurst
saw and noted the signs OF the times
and openly expressed her intention Of
retiring early. saying. with q meaning
glance at her brother:
I'VE shall feel better and brighter to-
morrow SITTER We have become used to
the old routine again. SO Draper and
Ives were left to their cigars and some
desultory talk over Fllley's villalny.
There Is nothing to equal sound
beauty sleep for composing ones
nerves and clearing away the over.
night cdbwebs. The two girls were
positively blooming and bubbling over
with life and gayety when they emerg-
ed from their boudoir at the tinkling OF
the breakfast bell next morning.
Madge was full Of mischief. and even
the usually staid and digDined Flor.
ence caught the infection. and together
they alternately bantered and bullied
Draper and Chester until Mrs- Hurst
came to the rescue.
They fingered long after the meal
and In after years both couples looked
back with fond recollections to that
memorable morning. They were speed
ing over the level Nebraska plains. rich
with the lush green promises Of the
coming harvest For miles the prairie
farms spread out on either hand. dot
ted with white homesteads and quiet
village stations. past which the train
tore with ceaseless and steady energy.
Breakfast ended. Mrs Hurst found
IN excuse for leaving the saloon on the
plea of "tidying up" the boudoir. A
few minutes later Ives Invited Madee
| to inspect the view from the rear door
| Of the Pullman. 30 John Draper and
Florence 4rannIss were left alone. The
moment Tor them had come!
Florence lay back In her seat. toying
Idly with some tribe Of needlework,
but her eyes were often turned to gaze
windowward at'the moving panorama
without John watched her. all the
love In bis Ureat heart showing In biz
face.
Suddenly he rose and leaned over the
back Of her chair. Il was q prosaic
wooiug. amid prosaic surroundings, but
with him II was now or never!
Men never know exactly what they
win do or nay at such timtA The most
carefully prepared speeches are apt to
ny away when the supreme moment
comes In fact. John Draper had made
no verbal preparation. He wanted b
ten her be loved her and to ask her TO
b bis wifs In q simple and earnest
way. a became bis whole nature. and
then to listea 10 her answer and abids
byit
"Fiorenee. dear GIRL" he began and
then stopped.
what II itr she inquired he had
taken her hand, and a. her uplifted
eyes met his she must have read bio
secret with q woman's intuition, for .
rosy flush swept from throat to fore
bead and then a. quickly faded But
she could not help him-not yet Hs
dropped her hand and took few has1
steps across the car and back again
then, drawing mp his chair besids hsr1.
be took her unresistins hand again
my dear child" hs said we have
known each other . COED many ysass-
% many that sometimes fear you
only regard ne - grim and cray old
fellow. with no part nor purposs In
your young hts but that Of . mees
business relation
''Say. rather. the best and kindese
and truest friend have ever known"
/ kav n n