Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-04-09

1htU TtHttthcS otoit"U Wv WIZ y'Ns"'So'
mute fascination, engaged in futile
mental speculations as to the valuables
they might have saved If only they
had been little more deliberate in
their movements.
Apparently there was not enough
will power left among the four Of them
to decide upon the next step to be TAX,
en-. They stood watching the heroical,
" reckless maneuvers Of the firemen
with a sort Of detached interest that
did not seem normal in people who had
just lost all their worldly gear. In the
matter of toilets there was delightful
scorn for convention among them.
Mr.. Bixby-a man Of portly pres,
ence and great dignity-had on an as,
trakhan trimmed overcoat, cream col.
ored pyjamas. no hat and gayly en-
broidered velvet slippers. From force
of habit, he had seized his gripsack in
the moment of departure. Ultimate
investigation showed 1t to contain a
soiled collar and an old railroad time
table. The train Of Mrs. BiXby's best
satin tea gown protruded from under
the heavy travelling rug she had thrown
around her half clad shoulders. Her
entire assortment Of jewels flashed
from her neck, her bosom and every
other available coign Of vantage. In
her fat hands she clasped tightly a
heavy Satsuma jardiniere which
would have taxed her strength to lift
under ordinary conditions. There was
no explicable reason why she should
have snatched that particular brand
from the burning. but women are apt
to become erratic under fire.
Miss Bixby's lovely frightened eyes
viewed the scene of destruction from
under the brim of her newest theater
hat, an inconsiderable thing Of bril-
liant hues and tiimsy fabric. She
shivered in cloakless elegance, having
wildly thrust her slim little body into
the first garment that came to hand
This happening to be yellow silk
waist, she was cruelty reminded of the
beloved canary bird she had left to
perish in the flames. This reminder
brought a rush of tears with 1t, and
she sobbed aloud to a running murmur
of sympathy from the mob that had
followed close on the heels Of the en-
gines. Mrs. BiXby returned from an
anguished mental overhauling of the
closets and drawers then being joy
ously licked by the flames to chide her
daughter for this public exhibition OF
emotion.
"For goodness sake, Florence, dry
up. Canary birds are plentiful enough
heaven knows"
At this juncture young Bixby, an
undisciplined cub Of 13 or thereabouts
lifted up his voice In scotfing.
Gee. ma. l wish had saved a look
ing glass. You've forgot your back
hair. and you've tied your hat on hind
side before"
The mob laughed as readily as 1t had
sympathized.
The familiar sound of his sons ir'
reyerent voice aroused Mr.. Bixby from
his trance Of inaction. He had been
silently computing his losses In dollars
and cents and wondering II the compa
nv would "kick."
well" he said testify, I'VE can't
stand here all night"
mo. indeed" said Mrs. Bixby. ener
getically punching her shoulders to
keep the travelling rug from seeding
There's mas. We'd better 60 there
for the night" And they boarded the
next car that passed, carrying with
them a distinct suggestion Of a frag
mentary circus procession.
This was the event that drove the
Bixbys to keeping house in a fiat, IL
spite of Mrs. Bixby's violent and oftel
repeated assertion that nothing shor
of wild horses could ever drag her int
one of those miserable little apologize
for house.
1t was fully q week after their mid
night exodus before they were hnali.
settled In a double fiat which held ou
the usual number Of fallaciOus prom
ises.
AS Johnnie-young Bixby-had to b
slowed away in the closet called, b.
courtesy, '.the servants rOom," tn
question Of help was left in abeyanc
until they should have time to decid
whether they were standing on thei
heads or their heels.
Mrs. Bixby leaned strongly to tn
heads theory.
Miss Bixby threw herself into tn
breach, declaring that 1t would be pei
fectly lovely to cook in that dear littl
kitchen, where everything was 8
handy, and all in the world one had t
| do was to whistle the janitor up ant
the ashes and things down by way 0
| that cute little dumb waiter, which
would be prime fun to run. She mad