Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-12-16
A DETECTED
OOII J. hampton
Copyright, 1901, by ". J. hampton
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

why didn't l marry Mirandy
Howe? exclaimed Hiram Hostetter
flushing angrily in response to taunt
from the hostler. 'S'pose you ask Milt
Burgess over there why he didn't marry
her.
The little crowd loafing in front Of
the livery stable in the country town
pricked up its ears and concentrated
its interest on the hostler and Mr.. Hos
tetter. Mr.. Burgess in the meantime
becoming more intent upon the corn
cob pipe he was laboriously construct
ing.
"How's that, Milt?' inquired the
hostler in the same taunting tone. Ev-
identity he knew more OF the inner his
tory of Hostetter and Burgess than the
others did. for they We're all curiosity
and had no comments whatevT TO
make. Both men Were considerably
past middle age and had come TO the
town several years before from the
hill country, bringing no credentials
other than desire 10 better their con-
dition and 4 fair ability 10 do SO. They
were sober. honest and industrious.
and beyond that their acquaintances
took no concern. The hOstler in his
more prosperous days had made a
number of trips into the hill country.
buying horses, and had heard some OF
the legends Of that section.
"Oh. you git ii out of Hi If you kin"
responded Mr.. Burgess, without look
ing up from his work.
Il never did hear the straight OF ii"
said the hoStler. the taunting tone Civ
ing place 10 one of soft persuasion.
land I'm sure these gents ought 10
know it just for the sake Of your rep.
utations. Don't you think so:'
well. amt objectin'." admitted
Mr.. Burgess. If Hi wants TO tell about
it."
You tell it. Milt." pleaded Mr.. Hos
letter.
NO. you do It. Hi" insisted Mr..
Burgess. Il kin make better cob
pipe than you kin. but you kin outtalk
me. You know that's what Mirandy
al'ays said
Mr.. Hostetter's face flushed. partly
with pride. partly with embarrassment.
1T you rely want TO know the per
tickelars," he said. "and Milt's wiIlin'.
reckon / might as we'll tell il SOS
You'll Git it kerrect You see. me and
Milt was both courtin' Mirandy tit 10
kill and murder. and It was nip and
tuck atween us fer two year er more.
As Milt says. was Il talhin'er man
than him. but he owned a farm. and
there IS women that sees more in
farm than perlite conversation. other
things bein' equal. As fer me and
M!lt. disrespective Of substantials. Mi.
randy liked me-
Hi was heap sight better lookin'
In them days than he is now" eX'
planned Mr. Burgess. whose persona!
beauty was not. TO put it mildly, exact
ly phenomenal.
Much obleeged Milt," said Mr.. Hos.
letter modestly. But. as was sayIn.
Mirandy kinder liked ME shade bet.
ter, and with that and my talkin' was
neck and neck with Milt'S farm. II
KEEP gittin' from bad to wuss 'twixt me
and Milt though we'd been pardners
fer years SOS lords the last we SOt
riled every time we met up with each
other. and folks begun sayin' there was
as likely TO be funeral on the creek
as weddin'. Mirandy seemed 10 in
Joy it. though and KEEP Us OF the tenter
hooks. smilin' fust one way and then
tother. and aggin' us on all the time
"Mirandy could be the aggravatinest
critter." commented Mr.. Burgess half
to himself and dreamily, as out of the
dead past.
Much obleeged. Milt." acknowledged
Mr.. Hostetter. "As was sayin'. things
KEEP gittin' more skeow-wowed. and
me and Milt KEEP gittin' coseter ana
closeter. and like as not we'd clinched
some day right where we met. but Mi
randy packed up her duds and went
over into the admin county TO teach
winter school. and when she was gone
me and Milt SHE'D off for awhile and
didn't have no grievance aS'in each
other, leastways not in sight. Mirandy.
so we heard. had sight OF beaus
where she was teachin', but she never
told nobody at home about her busi-
ness In that line when she come back