Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-04-04
NUMBER IA.

NUMOcn IT.
He had thought that Gladys had
known he was next OF Kin to Jobs
| turkey. Everybody else did He did
not mind. In n way II rendered him
harmless with undesirable parties so
far as matrimonial intentions were
concerned. But Gladys was desirable.
| He had Known that she loved him.
He had left the day after the accident.
1t had been her frank betrayal then
that had shown him his course for her
sake. They had been on the train with
party bound for the Whitney place at
| Rosemead. There had been an acci-
| dent in the tunnel TO the train ahead,
| and the one they were on crashed into
| the rear cars. In the darkness there
had come the sudden jolt and jar of
grinding brakes. Some people came In
| headlong rush from the front ears,
and womans scream rang out shiilly
above all. He had just stopped be-
and she was laughing up at him when
| the collision came. 1t was over in an
| instant. All he knew was the vivid
sense of her arms clinging around his
| neck as he caught her up out Of the
seat and their lips had met for the
| first time with death three car lengths
| away.
He had left Rosemead that night.
1t was all lie could do. He thought
she would understand. If not, there
was no danger but Mrs. Wilmington
would enlighten her.
The Manchuria business had been an
opening held out by the old Darby
Thornton for some time. 1t was a
chance to make good by going out there
and clearing up the old boys mercan-
tile interests before the war broke out.
He had stuck to il and made good, and
the reward had come most unexpected
ly when said old boy had taken a no
ton to die comfortably and oppOrtune-
ly and leave his accumulated posses
sions to the prodigal in the far land.
There had been no thought during the
year Of work but Of Gladys. He had
left on the first boat for home TO claim
the promise of the tunnel kiss and had
found instead Estevan. warranted
imported antique. tall. suave and
slightly gray, with an eye out for
ready money.
The thought Of it all made him des-
peratc tonight He put her from him
almost roughly. In three weeks she
would be the Countess E;t2van, chatc-
laine of some dnky little old caStcl-
lated ruin in Austria. He was sorry
that he had tried to see her, sorry lie
had come back, sorry he had made
Culverton change places with I'm.
You had better stop crying. j." said.
Well be there IN Il few minutes. Is
tevan might not Ike t.
She smiled back ut him, her eyes
bright with tears.
so yoa Try T. frightcn the bad little
girl into good behavior: We'll. she
doesn't scare worth Il cent. Darby.
Your bogy man Is such n fragile. prop
er, tissue paper bogy man that the
bad little girl has decided he isn't
worth being afraid Of"
What do you mcan:'
cant you guess? You expect others
TO be so good ut guessing. You KNOW.
You expect II kiss Il girl and - away
to ManchuriI-or was IL the moon
and then come back and find love In
her eyes. What was it! Like this!
She was laughing ut him. lie felt
ang,y amG ob innate.
can you say that YOU never loved
me-"
'N2. cannot" Her eyes met his Will
calm. defensive candOr. "Of course
| loved you. DO you think | would
have ki.scl yol tia; lay If lad not:
AuG sou alc r.gl; ;l'.out TIE other too.
s..all always love You.
lie Lent toward her with keen, half
shut eyes.
And vet in three weeks you will be
his wife
NO. | won't. Do YOU think could
after tonight: | shall break the en-
gagement tonight. You have accom-
plished that ut least. Now. take the
first boat back TO Manchulia.
He smiled slowly and happily. She
had not heard yet of the accumulated
possessions.
We've turned out of the park" he
said. Il don't want TO go to the house
and face crowd. Gladys, look at me.
No, straight in the eyes. please. Try to
think quickly. I've come all the way
around the world to 81 you. I've al
WAYS wanted you, you know that.
was afraid before. and ran away Ike
a coward and didn't even give you the
chance to refuse me. Will you refuse
me now!'
As If it made any difference" Her
eyes were clear and true and some
what indignant. IF | have enough
money TO satisfy even Aunt Victoria
and her little count. isn't there enough
for you: II you 20 back there
"What?"
II shall give away all the money and
come after you:
"Come, now
Her lips were half parted. her eyes
wistful and troubled.
1T will be easy TO come back ana
break the engagement then. lon VIII
only have to present your husband
"If dared
He tapped OH the glass slide ana
gave an order to the driver. and they
turned back down the avenue just as
the bells were Ginning midnight.
Ready For an Emergency.
The long haired WOMAN from New