Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-04-17

VIM IL iuh iihS ohSSP AAOA~ Wv >>~S~
greaser-elected him captain yester-
day, and today he received an appoint
ment as major! It dries the blood In
my veins to think Of it-that black dog
a major! Heavens, am I never to
hear the last of him? Cummings wrote
1t, the fool, the lying, fawning, slobber-
Ing fool. He ought to be shot for it!
Neither he nor his paper ever enters
my doors again! And I took the dirty
sheet from her hands and tore 1t to
pieces
"Yes," interposed Mrs. Tanberry, ut
looks as If you had done 1t with your
teeth"
land stamped 1t into the ground"
"Oh, heard your she said.
Carewe came close to her and gave
her long look from such bitter eyes
that her own fell before them. IF
you've been treacherous to me, Jane
Tanberry," he said, then God punish
you! If they've met-my daughter and
that man-while I was away, 1t Is on
your head"
He turned and walked to the door,
while the indomitable Mrs. Tanberry,
silenced for once, sank into the chair
he had vacated. Before he disappeared
within the house he paused.
IF Mr.. Vanrevel has met my daugh-
ter" he said in a thick voice, stretch
ing out both hands in strange, menac'
ing gesture toward the town that lay
darkling in the growing dusk, IF he
has addressed one word to her or 80
much as allowed his eyes to rest OH her
overlong, let him take care Of himself!
"Oh, Robert, RObertw Mrs. Tanber-
~ cried in frightened whisper to her.
self. "All the fun and brightness went
out of the world when you came
home"
But there were other reasons than
the return Of Robert Carewe why
Rouen had lost the JOY and mirth that
belonged to it. Nay, the merry town
had changed beyond all credence. 1t
was hushed like u sickroom and dole
fully murmurous with forebodings Of
farewell and sorrow.
For all the very flower Of Rouen's
youth had promised to follow Tom
Yanrevel on the long and arduous jour-
ney to Mexico. to march burning miles
under the tropical sun. to face strange
fevers and the guns of Santa Anna.
Few were the houses of the more pre-
tentious sort that did not mourn in
prospect the going Of son or brother
or close friend. Mothers already wept
not in secret, fathers talked with husky
bravado, and every one was very kind
to those who were to go, speaking to
them gently and bringing them little
foolish presents. Nor could the hearts
Of girls now longer mask as blocks Of
Ice to the prospective conquistadores.
Eugene Madrillon's young brother,
Jean, after two years Beatrice and
Benedict wooing Of Trixle Chenoweth.
that notable spittire, announced his en-
gagement upon the day after his en-
listment and recOunted to all who
would listen how his termagant fell
upon his neck In tears when she heard
the news. "And now she cries about
me all the time" finished the frank
Jean bllthely.
But there was little spirit for the old
merriments. Fanchon, Virginia and
FIVE or six others spent their after
moons mournfully, and yet proudly,
sewing and cutting large pieces OF col
ored silk, fashioning u great flag for
their sweethearts and brothers to bear
southwark and plant where stood the
palace of the Montezumas.
That was sad work for Fancllon,
though it was not for her brothers
sake that she wept, since, as every one
knew, Jefferson was already so full OF
malaria and quinine that the fevers OF
| the south and Mexico mvst find him
| invulnerable, and even bis mother be-
lieved he would only thrive and grow
hearty on his soldering. But about
Crailey FanchOn had presentiment
more vivid than any born Of the nat
ural fears for his safety. 1t came to
her again and again. reappearinS In
| her dreams. She shivered and started
often as she worked on the flag. then
bent her fair head low over the gay
silks, while the others glanced at her
sympathetically. And when the flag
was completed save for sewing the
stars upon the blue ground she took 1t
away from the others and insisted
upon finishing the work herself.
It was at this juncture, when the
weeping Of women was plentiful, when
old men pulled long faces and the very
urchins of the street observed periods
of gravity and even silence. that no.
ton entered the head of Mrs. Tanber-
ry-young Janey Tanberry-to the ef'
feet that such things were all wrong
She declared energetically that this
was no decent fashion Of farewell; that
after the soldiers went away there
would be time enough to enact the
girls they had left behind them. and
that until then the town should be
made enlivening. So she went about
preaching revival Of cheerfulness.
Nor was her vigor spent In vain. 1t
was decided that ball should be given
to the volunteers Of Rouen two nights
before their departure for the state rem
devious, and it should be made the
noblest festival in Rouen's history.
The subscribers took their oath to 1t.
Miss Betty laid out her prettiest dress
Nat evening, and Mrs. Tanberry came
in and worshiped it as 1t rested, like
foam of lavender and white and gray,
upon the bed, beside the snowy gloves
with their tiny, stin lace gauntlets
while two small white sandal slippers
with jeweled buckles where the straps
crossed each other, were being fastened
upon Miss Betty's silken feet by the
vain and gloating Mamie.
TITS q wicked cruelty, princessp ex'
claimed Mrs. Tanberry. I'VE want to
cheer the poor fellows and help them to
be gay, snd here do you deliberately
plan to make them sick at the thought
Of leaving the place that holds you! Oh
have you discovered that there's one
poor vagabond Of the band getting on
without having his heart broken, and