Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-11-19
Fl Summer
Storm.
By A. M. DAVIES OGDEN.
Copyrighted, 1907, by Homer Sprague.
Copyrighted, 1907, by Homer Sprague.

| the lake, furnishing the waves to gold
and bringing out soft glints In Mar
garet Allstons hair. The girls eyes
gazed dreamily over the water. Her
hands-frm, capable little hands-were
| clasped loosely behind her head as she
leaned back in the rustic chair The
clear, delicately penciled features, the
plant figure relaxed to a happy aban-
don-all breathed rare atmosphere OF
refinement and charm. Mrs. Rushwell,
looking critically at her, wondered for
the thousandth time why Margaret
had never married.
| They were seated I'm one of the pref
| ty piazza crowned lighthouses which
| decorate the Adirondack shores. Mar
garet had been reading aloud while the
other sewed. Mrs. Rushwell carefully
threaded her needle.
ut has been so lovely to have you
all to myself this way, Margaret she
said sincerely. 81 almost wish Ned
was not bringing up all that mob to-
night"
A CLINT Of laughter fickered in the
girls eyes.
" And who all are coming" she
| auericd idly. She knew Mary's social
tastes-NIary. who was never SO happy
as when entertaining roomful. For
herself, the fresh, cool breeze. the
fringe of green edging, the sparkling
bit of blue. the distant glimpses of
| purple mouutains-thcse filed her with
| an unspeal;ublc sense of peace and
| comfort. She did not think that the
people would bother her greatly. Mrs.
Rushwell reflected.
| "Well, there are Susie Hoyt and Billy
| Morris and lin Blackwell and-and-
| oh, YES, YOU remember Townsend Las
sitter. lie is just returned from Chile,
| where believe he was the most popu-
| lar minister ever sent there from
| Washington. And Belen di Herrera
| arrives too. she is n sort OF ward OF
his, | Bc,icYe. He knew her parents
| intimately, and when they both died
he rather took charge OF the girl ana
has lust brought her up to her moth
er's people. She was an American.
The girl is awfully young, only sew
enteen. but they develop early in those
| countries. SO when ! asked him IN
| vited her too. He brought her to see
| me lust before left town. and in spite
| of his being SO much older | believe
he is going to marry her. It's quite
/ romantic story. isn't it!'
"Very." murmured Margaret. she
had grown Il tribe palcr, but that
| might have been attributable to the
heat The breeze was going down
with the sun. Her manner was quite
unrutlled."
81 remember Mr.. Lassiter very well.
she said qniet!y. at Will he pleasant
to meet him again"
But as she dressed for dinner that
evening Margaret found herself using
| even more than her usual dainty care
| When she had finished the girl lifted
the hand glass ana surveyed herself
carefully. A little sigh liuttercd be-
tween her parted lips. She was still
slim and straight and tall, but the
| thoughtful mouth had Il tired curve.
and the soft hair showed patch of
silver.
"And he Is engaged to n girl OF sew
| enteen," she reflected rather wistfu!ly.
"Will he think me very changed,
wonder?" Then with sudden change
NJ mood she blew out the candle and
smiled. "TIe has probably forgotten
the whole episode ages since. she de
cided. Don't be goose. Margaret
Eyoking ghosts is foolish pastime."
But despite her philosophy Margaret
was conscious Of Il quick throb OF in
terest as Townsend Lassiter came FOR
| ward to greet her He at least hau
not changed. or If he had 1t was bu'
to improve. conceded Margaret The
straight thick hair on his temples was
touched with gray; the pleasant. frank
ewes had serious look In them. But
the old flashing smile was there. Mar
caret experienced sudden sense OF
relief. There was no hint of awkward
ness I'm his manner The note OF cor
dial greeting to an old friend was ex
actly right Then he turned.
T want you to meet Miss di Her
| rera." he said.
During dinner Margaret looked at
the little South American. She seem
ed mere child. with her great, dark.
velyety eyes and sensitive. quivering
! mouth. And Townsend Lassiter cared
for her. He treated her with grave,
careful tenderness that considered her
every want. Yet all mt once Margaret
| WAS conscious Of sudden, swelling
sympathy for the shy. half frightened
little thing. She seemed so young. so
helpless. AS they all rose to leave
the dining room Margaret spoke to her
in kindly. hating Spanish. The small
face lighted up. the soft olive cheeks
flushed duskily. as the girl stammered
some grateful reply. Margaret was
almost startled at the lovellness Of the
child. and young Morris. close behind.
caught his breath.
The house party had been invited
for two weeks. but hardly three days
had passed before Mrs. Rushwell be-
gan dimly TO surmise something wrong.
To all appearance her guests were well
chosen and congenial, but some subtle
sixth sense made her aware OF a
strain. tension, carefully hidden, but
acutely present. She fell to watching.
but conclusions baffled her. The little
South American girl. her eyes wider
and darker than ever. clung to Mar
earet with an almost passionate devo'
tion The Norris boy moped. Mar
garet. In n mood difficult Of analysis,
enveloped herself in wayward bril-
liancy impossible to penetrate. Once
or twice his hostess caught Lassiter
studying with curious eyes his little
6ancee. What was the matter with
them ALL wondered Mrs. Rushwell.
Was Lassiter jealous? There could be
nothing serious IN the Morris boys at
tentions.
1t was the last night Of their stay.
All day heavy clouds had been pilins
up in tile west. threatening masses OF
violet. The sun had sunk below the
horizon in sulIen blaze Of dull red
The stiffness and the heat were In
tense. Margaret. restless and wea'
ried. had slipped outside. seeking ref
uge breath among the stately pines
Above her head they murriured In
endless cadence. musical and mysterl
ous Rut to her troubled mind the tran