Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-04-30

door or his nome. wnere ms manner
| changed to one of tremulous misgiv-
Ing as 1t came upon him to address his
| mother in the dining room. There had
happened that which had happened.
| When Jimmie returned to his two
distinguished companions he was
blown out with q singular pomposity.
He spoke these noble words, "Oh. well,
| guess | don't want to take the gun
out today"
They had been watching him with
cleaning ferret eyes, and they detect
ed his falsity at once. They challenged
him with shouted gibes, but 1t was not
in the rules for the conduct of boys
that one should admit anything what
soever, and Jimmie, backed into an
ethical corner, lied as stupidity. as des-
perately. as hopelessly as ever lone
savage fights when surrounded Mt last
in his jungle.
| Such accusations were never known
to come to any point, for the reason
that the number and kind Of denials
always eQualed or exceeded the num-
Der Of accusations, and no boy was
ever brought really to book for these
misdeeds.
| In the end they went Off together,
| Willie Dalzel with his gun being q
trife in advance and discoursing upon
his various works. They passed along
a maple lined avenue, highway COM
mon to boys bound for that free land
Of hills and woods in which they lived
in some part their romance Of the mo-
ment, whether 1t was Of Indians, min
ers, smugglers, soldiers or outlaws.
The paths were their paths, and much
| was known to them of the secrets OF
the dark green hemlock thickets. the
wastes of sweet fern and huckleberry.
the cliffs of gaunt 'bluestone with the
sumac burning red at their feet. Each
boy had, am sure, conviction that
some day the wilderness was to give
forth to him a marvellous secret. They
felt that the hills and the forest knew
much. and they heard a voice Of it In
the silence. 1t was vague, thrilling.
fearful and altogether fabulous.
The grown folks seemed to regard
these wastes merely as so much dis
tance between one place and another
place or as a rabbit cover or as a dis
trlct to be judged according to the
value of the timber, but to the boys 1t
spoke some great inspiring word,
which they knew even as those who
pace the shore know the enigmatic
speech of the surf. In the meantime
they lived there, In seasons. lives Of
ringing adventure-by dint Of imagi-
nation.
The boys left the avenue. skirted
hastily through some private grounds,
climbed fence and entered the thick
cts. II happened that at school the
previous day Willie Dalzel had been
forced to read and acquire In some
part a solemn description of q lynx.
The meager information thrust upon
him had caused him grimaces Of SUI
fering, but now he said suddenly,
I'm goin' to shoot lynx"
The other boys admired this state
ment, but they were silent for a time
Finally Jimmie said meekly, Whats
lynx% He had endured his ignor.
ance as long as he was able.
The Dalzel boy Knocked him. "Why,
don't you know what lynx IL? A
lynx? Why, lynx is a animal some
thin like cat. an it's got great big
green eyes, an it sits on the limb of q
tree an JUS glares at you! It's q
pretty bad animal, I tell you! Why
when ~
"Huhw said the third boy. "Where
d'you ever see lynx|
"Oh, I've seen 'em-plenty Of 'em
I bet you'd be scared II you seen one
once"
Jimmie and the other boy each de-
manded. "How do you know would p
They penetrated deeper into the
wood. They climbed rocky zigzae
path which led them at times where
with their hands they could almost
! touch the tops of giant pines. Tit
gray cliffs sDrang, sheer toward tht