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


on the other. They shook their heads,
honest, but ashamed. They would tell
the truth though the heavens fell for it.
"Well, you might Of, II you'd had
your wits about you," said Mrs. Hos
letter. You needn't squirm SO. You
both deserve to have 1t rubbed in
alvin right In range Of her door, the
two Of your Her tone was bitter with
reproach.
T have seen that she's locked mighty
pimpin when she did 60 out" said Mrs.
Dean, recovering slightly.
"And It's been long spells between
her goin OUTS" said Mrs. Frazer, with
lofty eyebrows.
"She's had q pale, scared look. l
have seen that she was a-concealin
somethin."
"She amt hardly made call. She
aIn't even called on the minister's wife,
and her with teethin baby! She's
made some kind of an excuse every
time I've asked her to run In and fetch
her work. She's even made excuses
when I've offered to take mine in and
set spell"
"She don't want company" said Mrs.
Hostetter. I'm glad you've seen some
thin, II only that much. II you had
watched that dove colored door leetle
closer. you'd a. seen that when the
birdcage was hung out on the
"Oh, my landr' cried out Mrs. Dean
in a great voice for so thin lady. She
started forward In her chair. Her face
was as gray as ashes. Her eyes had a
wild, strained look.
"why. forever" gasped Mrs. Frazer.
terrified.
"what's got into your demanded
Mrs. Hostetter. unmoved.
"Oh, my land?
"Mis' Hostetterl She's a-goin into
some kind Of attack. Git doctor"
"Some kind Of fiddlestlcks! Mis- Dean,
what's got into youT
"Oh, don't you see her eyes all set
out the window? She can't speak. She
can't even utter"
Mrs. Hostetter turned and looked out
the window. She threw back her head
and burst out laughing. "Oh. that's
what's got into your she said and
went on laughing as If she couldn't
stop.
Mrs. Frazer's eyes followed hers.
The three women sat staring at the
dove colored door. Mrs. Mayhem had
come out on her front porch. She had
4 birdcage in her hand. She stood
looking of toward fir grove that ap-
preached the house closely on one side.
While they still watched she turned
slowly and hung the cage up on the
right side of the door. Then she went
into the house and closed the door be-
hind her, the most innocent looking
door in that western town.
Mrs. Hostetter settled comfortably
In her chair. "Now you'll see," she
said. She drew a gold watch out of
pocket crocheted on her noble bust and
opened It. "In just about 10 minutes
by the watch-you'll see."
The other two women sat on the
edges of their chairs and neither
moved nor spoke while the minutes got
themselves by. Their faces were pale
with suspense; their breathing was
noiseless; their backs ached from lean
ing forward; their eyes from watching.
Suddenly q man came out Of the
depths of the wood and walked rapidly
toward the house. He kept among the
tall ferns and In the shadow of the
trees. He was q young looking man.
His hat was drawn down over his eyes,
and there was something furtive In his
movements. He approached the dove
colored door, which opened at once.
and he disappeared within the house.
When the hearts Of Mrs. Dean and
Mrs. Frazer succeeded In pumping
little color back into those white,
shocked faces, Mrs. Hostetter burst out
laughing again.
"Who is itT' said one woman in a
whisper.
"Oh, don't know who It is. He goes
there once or twice week. It's been
a.goin on for three months. Ever since
she left off church and choir and liber-
~ board and everything else. That
amt all. I've see fer long time that
there's some cool feelin's between her
and Mr.. Mayhew." .
"And Mr.. Mayhem such nice mani!
81 never heard q word ag'in him yet"
"And It seems to be on his side. My