Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-08-22

for their miSfOrtuneS, ana sometimes l
do not mind their dinners. But 1t all
went against the grain today And
Hopkins pushed his chair back impa-
tiently and rose to 60, the others fol-
lowing his example.
"St AIMS church, Belden," Hopkins
called to the cOachman rs he followed
his two friends into the carriage. and
when they were seated Carroll threw
his head back, laughing heartily, and
commenced story to explain the fun
of it, when Hopkins interrupted him In
. queer sort of way as if he were talk
ing partly to himself and partly to
some one outside of the window.
"I forgot to say" he began in low
tone, "that between the sluns and the
Parkhills | saw ghOst-that !s. first
cousin to a ghost. | thought it was
dead, and wish it was, and 1t ought to
be and it Is not"
And Carroll said very sharply, Non
sensew and Maltby leaned forward and
asked hastily, What do you mean"
Hopkins studied the burning end Of
his cigarette with careful attention be-
fore replying and then sail slowly II
have about decided not to 90 into that"
and he looked out of the window again
us IL he were searching for something
else to talk about. and then, facing
them, he added quickly: "Still, | have
begun, and want u tell YOU fellows
about it. Five years ago when l went
to New York on the street railway
business that turned out so badly for
us all met Agnes Fielding. That WAS
long before Tom Borroughs had seen
her. SIZE was even prettier then than
now, and she had more Of the attrac-
tive enthusiasm and innocence and
freshness Of young girlhood about her.
fancy most men would like the world
ly wise Miss Fielding Of today much
better than the one first knew, but |
don't. The way she shook hands with
me made me like her, and what came
to know of her in the next few months
only strengthened my first impression.
Now-but that is not part Of my sto-
ry. IL Tom had turned up there then
and fallen In love with her we would
not be going to his wedding tonight: at
least not with her in the leading role.
You see. she was in love with another
man then, and, II 1 reckon the thing
right, our friend Tom would have been
turned away very promptly and would
probably have gone to Africa or some
other outlandish place for solace. Men
who fell in love with the Agnes Field
ing of those days did not forget 1t very
easily or very soon, and they were apt
to go of ut Il tangent.
you remember Harry Goodloe at
Princeton, don't you? OF course you
do-that giant fellow from Pittsburg;
senior in our first year. Well, he was
the lucky man in this case. He was a
fine sight in the way Of man to look
at. His father died about the time
went to New York and left Harry Il
big pile. If had been girl don't
know any man it would have been
easier for me to fall in love with than
Goodloe. And he had, with his good
looks and money, Il lot OF brains, too
good stuff all through and 4 fine pros
pcct for making handsome name for
himself as an electrical expert. Harry
and Miss Fielding were always to-
gcthcr, and everybody said they were
engaged. | don't know whether it had
gone that far or not, but | saw enough
of them to know that they were des
perately in 1t with each other.
Zone day Goodloe went out to look
over and report on Il new electrical
plant ut Plaintield. He got engrossed
in his Investigations and into place
he had no business to be, among the
machinery and wires. Something went
wrong. and smashup occurred. An
electric current went aStray, and Har'
ry got it badly. Well, they took him to
Il hospital and saved his life, but when
he came out the sight was gone from
one of his eyes and his face was
shockingly SCARED, to say nothing of
other injuries. He was Il terrible sight
and even |, cold blooded as | am, fell
the repugnance Of the thing. the desire
TO turn away when | SAW him. Miss
Fielding saw him once and only once
after the accident. She went to see
him as soon as the doctors would allow
him to see anybody. That was the end
of II. When he came out OF the hos
pital she had gone to Europe. When
she came back year ago the family
thought it best not to return to New
York. and, as you know, they came 10
philadelphia to live. have only seen
Harry once since then. He went to the
far west and to the dogs. He got
down so low after he blew In all his
money that understand he dealt faro
at gambling house. when he wasn't
drunk. for living. 1t ruined him-the
mishap-physically, financially, mental
" and morally. I don't know that
can blame the girl, but think Of him
think Of his hell on earth!'
There was d pause at the end OF the
story, and Maltby was the one to break
the silence rs the carriage stopped
In front of the church door with NUT
tered. well, that is Il corker,' and thel
he whispered while Bcldcn was open
ing the door: "But we must forget this
ding now. Remember there is to bt
nothing but smiles here tonight
The three young men hurried VI
through the awning in the blaze ol
light from the open church door. rs
they reached the vestlbulc Hopkins pu'
Il hand OIL the shoulder OF each of his
corlulnion:; anu drew them step IL idt
into the shadow and said in low
voice:
.'This fellow GoOdloe has not beer
seen in thi part of the country since
but met him here on the street today
He was worn To shadow almost. rag
ged and drunk. Do YOU suppose his be
ins here has anything to do with thi'
business tonightY" And then, with
out waiting for IN answer. he passed
rapidly into the church, followed by hl'
wondering companions.
People came to this wedding with the
rush that is characteristic of weddings
and i'm the busy moments which fol
lowed the bridcsroom's friends forgo
for the time being in their duties IL
ushers the story told In the carriage
The big congregation had soon fillec