Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-03-20

in out in de stable an git down on my
knees an retu'n thanksgivin' to de
good God case he hole Carewe street
in de dahknes; las night"
This was the speech lie chose for his
exit, but after closing the door behind
him he opened it again and said cheer
fully:
"Soon's git de trunk fix f yo' pa !
bring 'roun' dat bay colt wild de side
saddle. Yo' better set bout g;t:in'
on yo' ridin' habit, missy. De roads Is
mighty good dis sunshiny wedduh."
"Nelson."
"Yes'm."
"Do you think such an attack as IA
ther had this morning-is-dangerous"
He had hoped for another chance to
laugh violently before he left her, AID
this completely fitted his desire. "Ho,
no, hov' he shouted. Nom; no. no,
honey! He jass git so mad it mex him
sick! You couldn't kill dat man wild
q brOadax, missyw
And he went down the hall leaving
the reverberations Of his hilarity be-
hind him. The purpose Of his visit had
been effected, for when Miss Betty ap-
peared upon the horse block IN her
green habit and gauntlets she was smil-
ing, SO that only wOman-or wise
old man-could have guessed that she
had wept bitterly that morning.
She cantered out to the fiat. open
country to the east, where she found
soft dirt roads that were good for the
bay colts feet, and she reached
crOssroad several miles from town be-
fore she was overcome by the convic-
tion that she was wicked and I'M
grateful girl. She could not place the
exact spot Of her guilt, but she knew
it was there. somewhere, since she felt
herself a guilty thing.
For the picture which Nelson had
drawn rose before her-the one man
standing alone IN his rage Oh the plat
form, overwhelmed by his calm young
adversary, beaten and made the butt
Of laughter for thousand. Her IA
ther had been in the wrong in that
quarrel, and somehow she was sure.
too, he must have been wrong In the
personal one as well-the myster-
Gus difficulty over FanchOn's Mr. Gray.
who had looked SO ashamed last night.
What feud could they make over him,
of all people in the world? He looked
strong enough t. take care of his own
quarrels, even If he was so vigorously
bound by Fanchon's apron string when
It came to Il word with another girl.
But the conclusion that her father
had been in error did not lessen the
pathetic appeal Of the solitary figure
facing the ridicule Of the crowd. She
felt that he always honestly believed
himself In the right. She knew that
lie was vain; that he had an almost
monstrous conception Of his dignity.
and realizing the bitterness of that pub
lie humiliation which he had under
gone she understood the wrath tie I'M
speakab!e pain and sense OF outrage
which must have possessed him.
And now she was letting him 90
forth upon journey, his way beset
with the chances Of illness and acct
dent, whence he might never return.
She was letting him 90 without seeing
him again, letting him go with no word
of farewell from his daughter. In
brief, she was wicked girl. She
turned the colts head abruptly TO the
west and touched his fianks with her
whip.
So it fell out that as the packet
fOamed its passage backward from
Carewe's wharf into the current the
owner of the boat. standing uron the
hurricane deck. heard Il cry from the
shore and turned to behold his daugh
ter dash down to the very end Of the
wharf on the well lathered colt. Miss
Betty's hair Was blown about her face
her cheeks were rosy. her eager eyes
sparkling from more than the hard rid
ing.
papa" she cried, I'm sOrryw
She leaned forward out Of the saddle
extending her arms to him appealing!
I'm n charming gesture and absOlutel,
ignoring the oilers on the wharf ant
the passengers OH the steamer. was
singly intent upon the tall figure Oh
the hurricane deck. Papa. soodby
Please forgive mel"
by the Almighty. but that's Il fine
woman" said the captain Of tie boat
to a passenger from Rouen. us she
his daughterw
please forgive me. Inc Gear voice
came again, with It's qiavcr of en-
treaty. ac:oss the widening water. and
then as Nh C.!.ewc i.:1.,c 70 slg:l by
word or movement OF hearing i!ei and
stood without the slightest alteration
of his attitude she cried To him once
more:
"Goo;lby"
The paddle wheels reversed. the boat
swung down the river, Mr.. Carewe still
standing immovable on the hurricane
deck. while to the gaze Of those Oh the
steamer the figure OH the bay colt at
the end of the wharf began to grow
smaller and smaller She was waving
her handkerchief in farewell. and they
could see the little white speck in the
distance. DINNER and DINNER, yet fiut-
tering still as they passed out Of sight
round the bend nearly three-quarters OF