Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-04-09
kO!xALsS::**'":tss
y ABSOLUTELY PURE
Makes the food more delicious and wholesome
ABSoLUrEN PURE


l.
haul up. Hand over hand until the
platform anl Its load came into view;
then she uttered q smothered cry and
sprang backward. Not so quickly, how
ever, as to endanger the neck OF Mr..
Edward Wheelock, who leaped lightly
into the room, with nervous laugh on
his lips and an apology in his eyes.
IF you'd let go minute sooner, you
would have been the death Of me-"
you'll be the death Of me as 1t is,"
she said, promptly putting the entire
length Of the 10 by II room between
them. She looked at him with flashing
eyes.
This Is just too much. Before l
would steal march on anybody this
way. Go away from here at once"
Wheelock advanced as far as the ta-
BILE on which she had been sitting -four
and laid down a parcel. This brought
them several feet nearer. He looked
at her mournfully.
There are your sausages. I'm glad
you can keep up your appetite. Mine
deserted me long ago. The fellows
have been urging me to call in spe-
cialst.'
"The fellows are geese" said Miss
BiXby scornfully.
"No, but they are not perfectly heart
less. The boy said he forgot to bring
your sausages last night, and he told
me that you had threatened to change
your meat man II he ever came here In
the morning Oh. I'm up to your cruel
devices to get rid Of me. You hate me,
lilo. Why not come plump out with
itw
Flo fastened her eyes steadily on the
bag Of sausages. The melancholy tones
of his voice melted her almost to the
verge Of tears.
"You know | don't hate you, and
don't think you ought to make things
so hard for me. What can | do!
Papa and mamma trust me so implic-
lily. Oh, Neddie, | watered your last
bunch Of roses with my tears, and
Just couldn't eat bit Of candy last
night for crying"
Wheelock stretched tragic hands to-
ward her over the -four tray.
"And what can do? You positively
forbid me to beard the lion in his den."
"Mr. Wheelock, I'll thank you to
speak Of my mamma more respect
fully"
"Oh, know-I know l ought not to
speak Of her as a lion, but, Flo, darling,
she is the lion in the path Of our happi'
ness"
"Please go away"
81 will, swear | will If you will just
say once that you love me as well as
ever you did and that no other fellow
Is getting the inside track OF me. Say
it, Flo, darling"
FLO. darling
Like an echo the words came from
the door opening into the dining room.
Three pairs Of surprised eyes were TO-
eused upon each other The silence
was appalling until 1t was vigorously
broken.
"Pl be hanged" said Mr.. Bixby, fas-
tening his cravat as he advanced far
ther into the kitchen.
wheelock said nothing. Flo flashed
look of fury at him.
"Now | hope you are quite satisfied.
You've dsgraced me before my own
dear papa"
"I-l just came, don't you know. to
bring the things that fellow forgot,
cont you know"
Papa, don't you believe a word he
says. I'm so glad it's you instead OF
mamma. I'm so glad Of chance to
tell you everything; yes, everything,
SIR this at Neddie.
Mr.. Bixby struck an apologetic note.
81 lust came to tell you, daughter,
that | had entirely forgotten that !
| had promised John to take him down
to Staten Island to see the football
match. If this young man has been
annoying you
"Sit down, papa, and let me tell you
| about him. | want to make clean
breast Of it,"
"IIim" looked so perfectly abject
and apologize that no one but a
| Young woman very much in love with
| him could have resisted the pleading
in his eyes. Mr.. BiXby waived a
genial invitation toward him.
| "Sit down, Wheelock, sit down
Things look little queer to me 50 far
but | know daughter, God bless her
and | know she can make II all cieai
as sunshine. Sit down, my boy.
He seated himself on the one chail
in the little room. when Miss BiXbJ
starts in TO make a clean breast or II
patience must have her perfect work
She is apt to be very thorough wheI
she gets on one Of her conscientlou:
rampages."
Wheelock declined the invitation tt
seat himself. preferring to lean, witt
gracefully folded arms, against the Ia
BILE. at the imminent risk OF hourini
the skirts of his best coat.
"Thank you, SIR" he said gloomily.
. Mr. Bixby gave his undivided atten
tion TO Flo while she told her story
beginning with that first Academia
discovery of Wheelock across the shar
and winding up with the account o
his invasion that morning. Her perora
tion was delivered with q dash o
| righteous wrath.
"And do think 1t was just too shap
by for anything. papa, his making m
, haul him up for sausages. But, papa
, we do love each other dearly, and notn
, ing can ever break our love in two.
The bosom of Mr.. Blxby's fresh Sun
dav shirt heaved tumultuously. d
mt his trembling hands u his mouth
, In yain-such n roar Of laughter ran
= through the dear little kitchen as II
c,rcumscribed limits never before II
r sounded to. Flo rushed at him an
q clasped his convulsed neck with flour
hands.
"Oh, you dear, precious papa!
thought you would disOwn me on ID
{ spot. But mammaT
/. Leave mamma to me. 1t Is time
:. was taking her in hand And here yo'
Il Sir Sausage, walk out OF my frol
r door, as a gentleman should, and Don
k ever try to see Miss Bixby by any OF
n or avenue or you will have me
II reckon with"
p II was at the wedding breakfas
% which took place several months late
L. TO