Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-12-04

June! All, we shall not remain so
long-I at least have promised to
stay one month longer. but more than
that-impossible!'
She reached out and took up clga-
rette from pile which lay on taboret
beside the couch.
ut was thus the curtains caught"
she laughed and, after Whit or two,
flung the still blazing taper over her
shoulder. "Pouf! And they were all
in flame. A moment before l was
longing for excitement, any excite
ment whatever, but that sudden burst
of fire frightened me. rushed out.
cried for help, and" she finished, with
charming little gesture, spoiled your
smoke. Try one of these"
There was no resisting her. 1t was
like playing with fire. took clga-
rette and lighted 1t.
"At Fond-Corr there was much to
do," she continued, with little sigh.
"Here there Is nothing but to smoke.
smoker
Fond -Corre?" queried.
"Just beyond st. Pierre" SIZE ex-
planned, closing her eyes with delight
at the memory. There was our home.
I can see 1t again in Its grove Of cocoa
trees running down to the gray sand,
with the waves tapping gently over 1t.
Tambou! How sigh for IT,! and she
stretched her arms above her head with
a gesture of infinite longing.
A key ratified in the lock. the door
opened and a man came in. 1t was
quite in keeping with the dream-the
enraged husband with naked sclmiter.
Even here in New York it was hardly
the proper thing to be discovered thus,
though not till that instant had !
thought Of 1t.
"Ah, now," I said to myself, "stilet-
tos and pistols! You're in a tickllsh
place, my friend"
But before I could rise, Cecily had
sprung from the couch and thrown her
arms about his neck.
"Oh, coument ou We. doudoux" she
asked In a voice like-well. have never
heard anything to compare with 1t.
Tout douce. che-et ou!" he an
swered. and kissed her. Then he per-
ceived me. seemingly for the first time,
though this somehow doubted. "Good
evening, sir" he said. standing with
his arm still about his wife and gazing
at Inc with look so sharp that / found
myself for an instant unable to meet it.
His wife uttered In his ear sen-
tence so rapid chat was utterly unable
to catch the words, but suppose 1t eX-
planned the reason Of my presence. for
he turned to me instantly with out
stretched hand.
"Cecily tells me that your presence
of mind prevented a general confasra-
tion. Mr.
Lester" said. II am your neigh
Dor across the hall"
"AIy name is Trcmaine, and I'm ex'
ceedIngly glad to meet you," he con-
tinued, with courtesy which charmed
me from the first moment. I'VE must
pour lIbation to honor the escape"
Cecily, who had been hanging on his
lips, few to the next room and was
back in a moment with decantcr and
glasses-three of them-and she Joined
US with IN imperturbable matter OF
course air which somewhat surprised
me. Only l noticed she left a little
wine In her glass, and with 1t she ap-
preached a square cage Of fine Gilt
mesh hanging over the radiator In the
warmest corner Of the room.
"She's most extraordinary woman"
Tremaine said, with smile that seem
ed a little forced. "She's about to do
what no other woman in the world
would dare do. and she thinks nothing
Of 1t. Come and see."
Ceclly had already reached the cage
and was bending over 1t, humming
a weird little refrain that rose and fell
and turned upon itself. reminding me
family of the negro spirituals I had
| once heard at q camp meeting In the
Jersey woods. After a moment I saw
| a movement within the cage and q
head erected itself, broad, triangular
head, deep. orange barred with black
with eyes like Goals Of fire. It swayed
to and fro, to and fro. as Cecily fitted
words to the refrain-queer, chopped
Of creole words.
"Oh, ou jojolli, oui. oh. thou ar'
pretty, pretty. Fe-Fe! Pa ka fai molr
be! l do not fear her, not at all! IL
she not prettyT
] Gradually we had drawn nearer