Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-05-12
struggling timidly beneath the big

possessing this queer bit Of money as
pocket piece. intend to keep 1t for.
ever and let it descend as an heirloom
to the generations that follow me-" he
said laughingly. "Why are you so Gu.
rious about itT"
Because II comes from the city and
country in which live" she respond
cd. IF you were in land far from
your own. would you not be interested
i'm anything-e coin-that remind.
ed you of homc!"
Especially if had not seen one OF
its kind since leaving home." he replied
insinuatingly.
"Oh. but i have seen many like It
In my purse there are several at this
minute"
Isn't it strange that this particular
coin should have reminded you OF
home?"
You have no right to question me.
sir" she said coldly, drawing away,
only to be lurched back again. In spite
Of herself she laughed audibly.
81 beg your pardon" he said tan
talizingly.
"When did he give it you"
"Who"
''The porter, sir"
"You have no right to question me-
he said.
"Oh! she gasped. II did not NEAR
to be inquisitive."
But | grant the right. He gave II
me inside of two hours after first en-
tered the car"
"At Denver?"
"How do you know I got on at Den
yerT'
why you passed me in the aisle
with your luggage. Don't you remem-
oer?'
Did he remember! His heart almost
:urned over with the Joy Of knowing
chat she had really noticed and remem-
oered him. lnvoluntarily his glad fin
gers closed down upon the gloved hand
that lay beneath them.
81 believe | do remember. now that
you speak of it." he said in stifed
voice. "You were standing at win
dow"
"Yes. and l saw you kissing those
ladies goodby too. Was one Of them
your wife. or were they all your SIS
ters? / have wondered"
"They-they were-cousins." he In
formed her confusedly. recalling an in
cident that had been forgotten. He
had kissed Mary Lyons and Edna Bur-
rage. but their brothers were present.
"a foolish habit. isn't IT."
81 do not know. have no grown
cousins" she replied demurely. "Yor
Americans have such funny customs,
though. Where ! live no gentleman
would th:rk of press! {; :; ...Jy's hand
until it panied her. l. il necessary"
In the question there was Il quiet dig
nifty, half submerged iii scOrn, so point
ed. so unmistakable, that he flushed,
turned cold with modification and has
tily removed the amorous fingers.
Il crave your pardon. 1t Is such
strain to hold myself and you against
the rolling Of this wagon that l un-
consciously gripped your hand harder
than | knew. You-you will not mis-
understand my motive" he begged,
fearful lest he had offended her by his
ruthlessness.
81 could not misunderstood some
thing that does not exist" she said
simply, proudly.
"By Jove, she's beyond comparison"
he thought.
"You have explained, and am sorry
l spoke as did. shall not again for
get how much l owe YOU"
"Your Indebtedness, if there be one,
does not deprive you Of the liberty to
speak to me as you will. You could
not say anything unjust without ask
ing my forgiveness, and when you do
that you more than pay the debt. 1t Is
worth a great deal to me to hear you
say that you owe something to me, for
| am only too glad to be your creditor.
If there is a debt, you shall never pay
it. 1t is too pleasant an account to
be settled with you're welcome II
YOU insist that you owe much to me,
shall refuse to cancel the debt ana al
low it to draw interest forever"
"What a financierr she cried. "That
Jest was worthy Of courtier's deepest
flattery. Let me say that l am proud
to owe my gratitude to you. You will
not permit 1t to grow less"
"That was either irony or the pretti-
est speech q woman ever uttered ne
said warmly. 81 also am curious about
something. You were reading over my
shoulder in the observation car
81 was notw she exclaimed indig-
nantly. "How did you know thatT
she inconsistently went on.
"You forgot the mirror in the oppo-
site side of the car"
Zach! Now l am offended!'
with poor old mirror? For shame!
Yet in the name Of our American glass
industry, ask your forgiveness. 1t
shall not happen again. You will ad-
NIT that you were trying to read over
my shoulder. Thanks for that immuta-
BILE nod. Well, / am curious to know
what you were so eager to read"
"Since you presume to believe the
mirror instead of me, ! will tell you.
There was dispatch on the first page
that interested me deeply"
81 believe l thought as much at the
time. Oh, confound this road! For
half q mile or more the road had been
fairly level, but, as the ejaculation In
dicates, a rough place had been reach
ed. He was flung back in the corner
violently, his head coming in contact
with a sharp projection Of some kind.
The pain was almost unbearable, but II
was eased by the fact that she had In
voluntarily thrown her arm across hls
chest, her hand grasping his shoulder
spasmodically.,
ooh Ua shall no killedW she half