Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-04-14

DR.. Van Every. See how beautifully
everything fits! Oliver here has power
to issue marriage licenses. and. as for
witnesses, that need not be mentioned
with such houseful."
"But Alice?" said the major. 81 can
not believe her party to such plans"
"Oh, yes; | know she will be agree
able" answered Garden. "She has said
so.''
"Yct am sure she shall have
changed her mind by this time. She has
had time to think it over collectively.
Pll 20 find her
\"No" put in Oliver. rising. LET me
do that for you"
Garden lid placed his fob upon the
table. and. p.a"i@g Il tattoo with his fin
gers III, arGsly on the crystal of the
watch. lie said: '--
I'll give yau just three minutes"
Now the major looked Garden over
carefully. ard the other returned his
scrutiny with signal seriousness, mulch
as he might have looked out of an ear
nest commercial dispu,ation upon an
other business man with whom he was
discussing some fine point in mercan-
tile ethics. 1t occurred 10 the major In
a fumbling, bewildering fashion that
this was a state of affairs of which he
had often sanguinely dreamed, but
never-heaven. nO-never with such
unheard of precipitancy. Garden was
even then exceptionally wealthy, and
with his tireless devotion to money get.
ting no man might estimate what
would be the end. His own (the ma
iors) affairs were in rather precari-
GUS condition. although few knew OF 1t,
and indeed he had closed the city
house. sold the country place and sent
Alice off for protracted visit with his
deceased wifes relations in England
in order that he might get a breathing
space in which, if possible, to retrieve
his declining fortunes. He had always
had Garden in his minds eye for Alice,
for he had always admired the fellows
sterling qualities. Then the girl had
always entertained fondness for Car
den. looking upon him since childhood
with the veneration and confidence OF
q brother, for she had no brother her.
self. The major had certainly expected
they would marry in moments OF ex-
altation. but what nonsense to think or
such proceeding!
At this period of his reflections Oliver
returned with Alice upon one arm ana
his wife upon the other. Jack himself
was smiling blandly. Mrs. Oliver SEEM
ed somewhat amused, but Alice was
picture of loveliest Indignation.
She addressed herself first to the ma
jOr:
"My dear father, hope you do not
believe | could have been so absurd.
Him. said the major, in which ut
terance there lowered the very ghost or
an infection of disappointment.
thought you did not consent, certainly
How could think otherwise? But that
fact does not reflect upon Percys theo-
ries. | think they are very admirable
Garden thrust his fob into his pocket.
"Oh. dearw said he. 81 see one has
to be conventional. 1t is part Of the
primordial curse"
This remark of Gardens seemed to
have the effect Of dispensing the little
party, perhaps on account OF Its EN-
barrassing pathos. Again, 1t may have
been conspiracy or merely desire to
avoid the scene which Alice's cold, im-
personal glance toward Percy very
surely indicated. Her eyes were upon
the carpet when the others stole quiet
ly out She seemed gathering from Its
dim scarlet flowers the secret fires or
her scorn under which Garden must
presently vince. When at length she
looked up and found the others were
gone, all save Percy, singular look q
helplessness came into her eyes. In
stinctively, it must have been, they
sought Garden. He was still sitting
with his face buried in his hands.
"Well," she said to herself, show lone
ly he must be after all!"
Just then Garden looked up.
The action was fatally exact. A mo-
ment later, moment sooner, and all
might have been different perhaps.
Garden seemed conscious Of its fateful
opportunities, nor was he slow to take
advantage Of it. Hurrying over to
Alice, he caught her hands impulsively
while she was still in that dawnlike
thrall when woman's mystic self Is
revealed to her for the first time abso-
lutely.
"Ohw said she dazedly, drawing
away from him. You were not In ear
nest. Percy?'
NO. perhaps not, Alice. But what
matters it? We have but taken time by
the forelock, haven't we, dearest"
The rest is conventional. 1t was the
old, old story, and Percy's pseudo COM
mercial imp ct was sealed after fash
ion that may be traced back to the be-
ginning Of things.