Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-05-14

safe distances tile boys shouted scorn'
fully: Huh. Got his picnic in pail
Never again during that picnic did the
little girls speak of him as Jimmie
Trescott. His name now was Him.
His mind was dark with pain as he
stood, the hangjog, kicking the gravel
and muttering as detiantly as he was
able, well, can have ii in a pail If
want TO-" This statement Of freedom
was Of no Importance, and he knew it,
but it was the only idea in his head.
He had been baited at school for be-
Ing detected in writing Il letter to lit
tie Cora, the angel child. and he had
known how to defend himself, but this
situation was in no way similar. This
was social affair, with grown people
ON all sides. 1t would be sweet to
catch the Margate twins, for instance,
and hammer them into a state of bleat.
Ing respect for his pail. but that was
matter for the jungles of childhood,
where grown folk seldom penetrated.
He could only glover.
The amable voice of Mrs. Earl sud
denly called: Come. children! Every
things readyw They scampered away,
CHANGING back for one last gloat at
.Iimmie's standing there with his pail.
He did not know what to do. He
knew that the grown folk expected
him at the spread. but if he approached
he would be greeted by Il shameful
chorus from the children, more espe,
cially from some Of those damnable lit
lie girls. Still. luXuries beyond oil
dreaming were heaped on that cloth
one could not forget them. Perhaps
If he crept w mol"stly and was very
Centle and very nice to the little girls
they would allow him peace. or course
it had been dreadful to come with a
pail to such grand picnic. but they
might forgive him.
oh. no. they would not. He knew
them better. And then suddenly he re-
.ncmbered with what delightful eXpec.
tatious he had raced to this grove. and
self pity overwhelmed him. and he
thought he wanted to die and make
every one feel sorry.
The young lady in white duck and 4
sailor hat loolel at him and then SPOKE
20 her sister. Mrs. Earl who's that
lowering In the distance. Emily?"
Mrs. Earl peered. "Why, it's Jim
Il 10 70 hl
picnic! Why don't you come to the
picnic. Jimmie?" He began to sidle
toward the cloth.
But at Mrs. Earl's call there was an.
other outburst from many Of the chill.
dren. Hes got his picnic in a pail
In pail. Got 1t in Dail!'
Minnie Phelps was shrill fiend.
"Oh, ma;.ma, he's got it in that pail!
See! Isn't it funny? Isn't it dreadful
funny?"
what ghastly prigs children are
Emily" said the young lady. "They
are spolling that boys whole day,
breaking his heart. the little cats!
think I'll go over and talk to him."
Maybe you had better not" answer,
ed Mrs. Earl obviously. Somehow
these things arrange themselves. If
you interfere, you are likely to prolong
everything"
"Well, III try at least" said the
young lady.
At the second outburst against him
Jimmie hal crouched down by n tree,
half hiding behind It, half pretending
that he was not hiding behind II. He
turned his sad gaze toward the lake.
'rhe bit of water seen through the
shadows seemed perpendicular, a slate
.olored wall. He heard noise near
him, and, turning, he perceived the
young lady looking down ut him. In
her hand she held plates. MAY | sit
near you?' she asked coolly.
Jimmie coIll hardly believe his ears.
After disposi.ig herself aud the plates
upon the pine needles, she made brief
explanation. They're rather crowded,