Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-01-23
MEN And FACES.
By CLINTON ROSS.
fcopyrish., lap. b. clinton Ross. !

Il AON AtCA ssSv Ao<@>J . es&> ~ ~~se -
the sentimental misadventures Of AM
sailor, least Of all Of Angus Mcfarland
whose experiences were many.
This particular and serious missd
venture began when he met two youns
women whom he remembered without
being able to separate Esther from
Eleanor.
"Ah. yes" said Miss Driscoll, "tha'
was delightful, as Angus talked OF thu
old days
~ sometimes wish we could recall
all that time, said he sentimentally.
And you haven't forgotten my sis
ter, " said Miss Driscoll as youth de-
posted a Young lady at her side.
II am so glad to see you again, >
said Angus This Miss Driscoll was a
plain as the other was pretty. The eye.
alone were much alike Angus looked
from one to the other. Which wal
which, OF course he couldn't ask. Ths
talk probably would show.
by Jove," said Angus. speaking
aloud, "it's 18 years since we have
met
And we have heard 30 much ol
you. said the pretty sister.
80 much Of you. Mr.. Mcfarland. T"
Cant it be-Angus-after Il
years." our lieutenant asked
why. always think Of you-a,
Angus, said the pretty one.
And ]. too" said the plain Mis-
Driscoll.
"And think Of you still as Esther
and Eleanor He looked around. ex.
pecting some response. But
''Do your That's good Of you. said
one
"Oh. it's delightful Of you. Angus,
said the other.
II wish II were dear Angus" said
the sentimental lieutenant.
"well. I'll make 1t dear Angus.
said the plain one, If
"Yes, why, dear Angus said the
pretty Miss Driscoll. spreading her fan.
Now. he knew some scores Of irresisti'
ble young women scattered among a
score Of ports--from Newport to Yoko-
hama-but the pretty Miss Driscoll was
surely the most irresistible And then
there were the memories--the delight
ful memories Of ones boyhood. when
they had been boy and tomboys to-
gether. Home clutches at man s heart
after he has been away three years in
the China seas The hills about VOL
hamton seemed to welcome him. The
men in the town club had pressed all
kinds OF hospitality, old boys. who had
been young IL years ago, now staid,
successful fellows with children. But
in some way he always remembered
Wolhamton as being the home Of the
Driscolls. Esther Driscoll had been such
q good fellow years ago. Many time
on a tedious cruise he had thought
about her. and little about Eleanor.
And now he had taken his last week in
Wolhamton because he had thought OF
Esther. But which was Esther and
which was Eleanori He dare not ask.
OF course the pretty one must be Esther.
But years change a pretty little girl
into homely one. He could not be
sure. Now. dare say. you would have
gone bluntly to the point and asked.
But would you II You were q wanderer.
fellow whose home Is in every place
where the flag can wave over some yards
Of deckf For Angus there was senti-
mental memory about this little girl
II her personality now doubtless were
lost in the woman. he hoped at least
that it wasn't And on that account
and now particularly because he did
not wish to affront the pretty Miss
Driscoll he did not like TO ask, Which
Of you may be Esther. which Eleanor =
But II he had expected that one OF
them might tell he was disappointed
They persisted. il unconsciously or ma
liciously. in disappointing him. AT one
time he fancied the omission was inten-
tional and again that it was occidental.
But the longer he talked to them he
was convinced that the pretty Miss
Driscoll was the Esther Of whom during
many years and many experiences he
had thought about, wondering what
that girlish playfellow had become like.
He knew not--yes. Of course. she was
the irresistible Miss Driscoll. And when
st this dancing she was taken away
from him he tried to make himself en-
tertaining to the plain sister on the
principle that it Is well to have a good
friend at court. They went over the old
days together. He set traps to find out
II she were indeed Eleanor.
"Ah, that was Esther, wasn't itT'
he would exclaim at some memory.
But the plain Miss Driscoll only would
cay with the faintest suspicion Of a
smile:
Really, l don't remember. Mr.. =
"You forget. Angus. = he answer
ed.
"Well, Angus" she said, flushing.
Or did he think she reddened that least
biti At any rate, it was the encourage
ment of an impression. and he persisted
He passed nearly all the rest OF that
evening with the plain Miss Driscon.
for the pretty one was persistently en-
gagged. And still in the interest Of that
impression he tried his best As they
walked on the lawn under the moon
this sister was as entertaining as the
pretty one. He even, on the strength OF
that old acquaintance. may have utter
ed certain words that were not free
from passion. When they came In. the
plain Miss Driscoll looked even happy.
She was not accustomed to men who
spoke these meaningless sentimentah-
ties. Men looked generally over her
head to her sister. Yet she liked sdmi-
ration as even plain girl who has had
little or no attention may long for that
which has been denied her. But Angus
was not thinking Of what the girl
thought. Bless me. he had talked these
same things with many score OF girls,
as have said. from Newport to Yoko-
homa. II he did it now, 1t was mat
Ter of habit and with rather more than
the necessary fervor. because he wanted
the pretty sister to hear the very best
Of him. At the evenings end lie had .
few moments with the other Miss Dris-
coll he forgot what he had said to the
plain one. At any rate he said It over
with interest to the pretty Mis- Dris-
coll. who had had more experience with
men than her sister. Yet that night
when the sisters compared notes In the
feminine manner after routs and occa-
dons the pretty one said she thought