Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-09-03


news or the report Of horse race more
enthralling than her new hat and Its
owner. Even the toilers In the bitches
had left their work and were congre-
eating around q man who was reading
aloud from widely margined "extra"
Of the Canada City Press. It seemed
provoking, as she knew her cheeks
were glowing frpm her romp and was
conscious that she was looking her
best. However, the Secamps' cottage
was Just before her, and the girls were
sure to be on the lookout. She shook
out her skirts and Strengthened her
pretty little figure as she approached
the house. But, to her surprise, her
coming had evidently been anticipated
by them, and they were actually and
Unexpectedly awaiting her behind the
low whitewashed garden palings. As
she neared them they burst into shrill
discordant laugh 80 full Of irony. graft.
fed malice and mean exultation that
Cissy was for q moment startled. but
only for q moment. She had her IA
theirs reckless audacity and bore them
down with q display Of such pink
cheeks and flashing eyes that their
laughter was checked and they remain.
ed open mouthed as she swept by them.
Perhaps this incident prevented her
from noticing another but more passive
one. A group Of men standing before
the new mill, the same men who had so
solicitously challenged her attention
with their bows q couple Of hours ago,
turned as she approached and suddenly
dispersed. It was not until this was
repeated by another group that Its odd
ity forced itself upon her still angry
consciousness. Then the street seemed
to be full of those excited, preoccupied
groups who melted away as she ad.
vanced. Only one man met her curious
eyes, the engineer, yet she missed the
usual critical smile with which he was
wont to greet her. and be gave her q
bow of such profound respect and grav.
ity that for the first time she felt really
uneasy. Was there something wrong
with her hat2 That dreadful. fateful
hatl Was It too conspicuous? Did he
think 1t was vulgar2 She was eager to
cross the street on the next block,
where there were large plate glass win.
dows which she and Piney-if Plney
were only with her now!-had often
used as mirrors. But there was great
crowd on the next block. and It was
eongregated around the bank-her "a
theirs bank. A vague terror, she knew
not what, now began to creep over her.
She would have turned into a side
street, but mingled with her fear was a
resolution not to show 1t, not to even
think of it, to combat 1t as she had the
horrid laugh Of the Scamp girls, and
she kept her way with beating heart,
but erect head, without looking across
the street. There was another crowd
before the newspaper Office, also on the
other side, and bulletin board, but
she would not try to read 1t.
Only one idea was in her mind, to
reach her own home before any one
should meet her or speak with her. For
the last ineligible sound that had
reached her was the laugh Of the Sc
camp girls, and this was still ringing In
her ears, seeming to voice the hidden
strangeness of all she saw and stirring
her, as that had, with childish indigna'
ton. She kept on with unmoved face,
however, and at last turned into the
planked side terrace, part Of her ia.
theirs munificence, and reached the
symmetrical garden beds and graveled
walk. She ran up the steps Of the We
randa and entered the drawing room
through the open French window
Glancing around the familiar room, at
her fathers closed desk, at the open
piano, with the piece Of music she had
been practicing that morning, the
whole walk seemed only foolish
dream that had frightened her. She
was Cissy Trixit, the daughter OF the
richest man In the town. This was her
fathers house, the wonder Of Canada
City.
A ring at the front door bell startled
her. Without waiting for the servant
to answer 1t she stepped out on the We
randa and saw a boy whom she recog'
nized as waiter at the hotel kept by
Piney's father. He was holding note
In his hand and staring intently at the
house and garden. Seeing Cissy, ne
transferred his stare to her. Snatching
the note from him, she tore It open and
read in Piney's well known scrawl,
dad won't let me come to you now,
dear, but I'll try to slip out late to.
night" Why should she want to come!
She had said nothing about coming
now, and why should her father pre-
vent her? Cissy crushed the note be-
tween her fingers and faced the boy.
"What are you staring at, idiot"
The boy grinned Historically, a little
frightened at Cissy's Strengthened
brows and swapping eyes.
"Get away. There's no answer"
The boy ran off, and Cissy returned
| to the drawing room. Then 1t occurred
| to her that the servant had not answer.
| ed the bell. She rang again furiously'
| There was no response. She called
| down the basement staircase and heard
only the echo Of her voice in the depths
How still the house was! Were they all
out-Susan, Norah. the cook, the China
man and the gardener? She ran down
into the kitchen. The back door was
open, the fires were burning. dishes
were upon the table, but the kitchen
was empty. Upon the floor lay damp
| CODY of the extra" She picked 1t up
quickly. Four black headlines stared
her in the face-"EnoSmous Defalca'
tionr" "Montagu Trixit Absconded!'
"S5OO,OOO Missing!" "Run on the
Bankw
She threw the paper through the
open door as she would have hurled
back the accusation from living lips
then in a revulslon of feeling lest any
one should find her there she ran up
stairs and locked herself In her OWL
room.
So that was what 1t oil meant-all
from the laugh of the Secamp girls to
the turning away Of the townspeople as
she went by! Her father was q thiei
who had stolen money from the bank
and run away, leaving her alone to
bear It. No! 1t was all q lie, wicked
Jealous lie. foolish lie, for how could