Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-04-29
9 Tar > By FRANCES
8 xEOl = CROFT
! |Helplessness
COPYRIGHT, 1909, by the
s. s. Mcclure Company

|; ;uelpleSSntSS; ;
IL COPYRIGHT, 1903. by TIE =
iS s. s. Mcclure Company b
DoOoOoOoOooooooooo ooooooooooo
lie Froy. engineer of the new street
railway company. was not at all sur
prised to meet at the euchre party
given by the president Of his road his
landlady's daughter. He was becom.
Ing thoroughly accustomed to the DEM
ocratic social life of this midwest city.
Moreover. he was deeply interested In
this same landlady's daughter.
He had heard that her parents, the
vintons. belonged to fine old Phila-
delphia family and had come west
when adversely crossed their path.
Certainly all the outward and visible
kigns in Franks case indicated born
right to fine linen and idleness, and
apparently the fall in the family for
tunes had never reduced her to giving
up either. lie Froy thought her gown
4 marvel OF elegant simplicity. But
he was only q man. The appraising
ryes of the rich lawyers daughter
ncrOss the table read different story.
lie Froy won the BOBBY prize that
night because he studied the languid
,!roop Of u certain brown head and the
rurve Of a white neck instead Of bis
rards. And what the evening under
electric lights commenced the witch.
cry OF the walk homeward in the
moonlight with Frank and her young
er brother George completed.
The weeks that followed found him
speculating and drawing conclusions
on everything that happened about the
house. He remembered that oil the
time he had been there the only serv-
ant ever seen was the gawky young
girl who waited on the table. Frank
came to her meals daintily dressed.
languid and unrutfied. but very late.
and LIE Froy began to suspect that she
was not so helpless as she looked. Try
as be would. he never could discover
any traces Of what she did. Stout,
sweet. motherly Mrs. Vinton must be
wonderful housekeeper. and so might
Frank be with house Of her own.
But in this comfortable house there
was one Bluebeard's chamber. the
kitchen The entrance to the dining
room was protected by double screen.
From that chamber Of mysteries there
came such rich, we'll favored soups.
meats juicy and hot. pastry fluffy and
delicate. as boarder never before put to
mouth. The vintons' cook was no doubt
b treasure.
How was all this and everything
about the house done with so little
friction? Even the boots which he.
true Rriton. stuck outside his door
each night had never been polished so
we'll. but the boots" who did them
was as noiseless as the dead. One
morning when lie Froy opened his door
and the boots were not there he sud-
denly resolved to do little detective
work. Boots" might give a clew to
the rest OF the mystery. he sat by the
door 4 short wait was rewarded by
the softest Of steps OH the stairs He
drew the door to gently until the
stealthy footsteps reached 1t. then sud
denly flung it wide open and faced
Frank. holding his great boots at arms
length. Her hand dropped. and tears
of humiliation fell on the bright polish
ed surface of the boots. he looked at
those glittering drops and then drew
her inside.
II can't talk to you in the hail." he
apologized. and for once In his life he
became eloquent you've polished my
boots with your tears. I'll put them
under glass and worship them because
you've touched them unless you'll let
me kiss the tips Of yours for the rest of
my days. III wait on you and take
care Of you and keep you from harm.
You'll be the wit and I'll be the muscle
OF the family If you'll only say the
word"
And that was how It came to pass
that Frank and lie Froy two months
later were sitting In luxurious state,
room Of vessel about to port 10 Liver
pool Frank. a dainty color rising In
the pale cheeks q mischievous light In
her eyes. was questioning her husband.
"You have never told your mother
and sisters you married the daughter
OF your boarding house keeper%
"Never remotely hinted at 1t. dar-
ling."
said mother belonged to one Of the
most aristocratic Philadelphia fami-
lies: It's true"
"Yes, my star. I enlarged on that"
IL found out long ago that most peo-
Die respected men who worked. but
rather looked down. especially women
who didn't work. on women who did.
know American women. and I've
heard English women are worse. and
II you don't follow my directions I'll
torment you to death. Swear on this
book"
"It's the Bible!'
ayes. Now. swearv'
This Is becoming serious Did
ever break a promise? What am to
swear. light Of my eyesr' said the big.
fond fellow.
THAT you'll never remotely hint that
father made soups. and mother cooked
the meats. and l made the pastry and
did the chamber work. and George
washed the dishes and scrubbed. and
this was the way your wife's family
we're enabled to hold their hesds up In
the world. Do you suppose that II ]
waited on the table the way that girl
did down the street you'd have ever
looked at me twice7 II your sisters
knew what you know now. they'd look
down on me. have read that country
bred English women are narrow. and
what I ask Is easy-your part Now.
Clumsy. swear on the book again a
.c0rinq Medicine