Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-11-05


town, and last thing he'd do he'd up
and kiss her. like pair Of fool lovers.
They'd been married long time too.
He spent all his evenin's at home with
her unless there was somethin to go
to, and then he'd always take her. And
II she sung a piece or played on the
piano or declaimed, my mercy. he just
set and couldn't take his eyes on OF
her! I never see his beat for admirin a
woman and lettin his admire stick out
all over him, SOS everybody with half
eye could see It. He fairly carried
his admire round on his sleeve! And
when he come home to dinner she'd
run out to the gate, and first thing he'd
do he'd up and kiss her. Well, it's all
changed now. He never goes a step
with her anywheres, he never spends
nm evenin at home, and II she comes to
the door with him he just walks on
with his head down, kind Of slow and
thinkin and never 80 much as looks
back once"
"Mebbe somebody's give him hint"
breathed Mrs. Frazer.
Mrs. Hostetter smiled and cleared
her throat.
"Mebbe somebody has," she said
mysteriously.
"Mebbe somebody's sent him an anon.
ymous letter"
Mrs. Hostetter fixed her unexpected
ly with stern gaze. "Mebbe some
body has"
"Well, my land! Don't eat body up
with your eyes 30! l want accusin
you"
"Well. you can II you want" said
Mrs. Hostetter. undaunted.
"Why. you never. did your exclaim.
ed both women In breath.
Eyes, did," said Mrs. Hostetter,
proud as q peacock with an unfurled
tail II give him hint in an anony-
nous letter. just the mildest kind Of an
intimation."
"Oh. what did you say2 Tell US what
you sald."
They were a-quiver with excitement.
"Well, I just said"-she leaned back
and half closed her eyes-"that when
the birdcage hung on the right side Of
the door q young man went there early
and staid all the afternoon. I told
him
"Oh, good for you'll"
II glory in your spunk. You are
grit"
"Good for youl Nerve-unh!"
81 told him"-Mrs. Hostetter swelled
out her bust superbly-"that he didn't
need to take any anonymous letters
word for 1t. All he had to do was to
watch for hisself any Toosday or Fri
day"
"And did hep
Her countenance fell. "well, no. he
didn't. must say"
"What! Didn't he neverT =
mo. not once"
"Why. how do you known
"I've set here at my window every
Toosday and Friday since. I've set
little back. SOS l couldn't be seen. but
I've never took my eyes OF Of that
house. It's strained my eyes so. a.keep-
In 'em set right on one spot. almost
without winkin fer fear I'd miss some
thin, that I've had to keep a-bathin
'em in strong salt water. It's terri
BILE good fer the eyes. Well, II her
husband had "a watched he'd been
sure to see the man, and then. OF
course, he'd "a gone straight to the
house to-well, to-er-hum-beard
him." she added in q deep voice. "in
his-er-hum-den. But he never went
there a once. But see him the day
after he got the letter." she continued.
with a return to triumph, "and he
looked as gray as an ash pan. bid
him the time Of day. and he could hard
ly speak. Oh, he felt 1t deep. 1t was
pltiful to see him try to smile and all
the gray wrinkles a-tremblin round hiA
mouth" she added cheerfully.
81 don't see what allied him, not t.
watch" said Mrs. Dean helplessly, not
knowing the meaning Of the word
honor.
81 don't see, neither"
"Well, watch or no watch, he's been
q mighty sick lookin man ever since.
He looks as If he'd been pulled through
a knothole. A man with cancer or
case of appendicitis couldn't look much
worse"
"That's so," said Mrs. Dean.
"Oh, mercy, my bread! exclaimed
Mrs. Hostetter, getting up excitedly.
II must run or it'll be spoilt."
"We'n have to take this here dove
color door In hand" called Mrs. Dean
after her. Tf he can't put a stop to 1t,
I guess we can. We can't have any
such goin ons in this neighborhood."
tFo BE CONTINUED