Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-05-07

| o BY STEPHEN CRANE. {
q Author Of The Red BadSe Of covr. &
AS" Etc.
Q Copuigtht 1900, bv Waliam Ho,pe Crane. 2
|o-O-O-O-O-O-CO-O-O-O-O-O-t
WINNIE TRESCOTTS new veloci-
pede had the largest front wheel
RI Of any velocipede In Whilom.
~ ville When it first arrived from
New York. he wished to sacrifice school,
food and sleep to 1t. Evidently he
wished to become sort Of perpetual
velocipede rider But the powers of
the family laid number Of judicious
embargoes upon him, and he was pre-
vented from becoming a fanatic OF
course this caused him to retain fond
ness for the three wheeled thing much
longer than If he had been allowed to
debauch himself for span Of days.
But in the end 1t was an lmmaterial
machine to him. For long periods he
left it idle in the stable.
One day he loitered from school to-
ward home by very circuitous route.
He was accompanied by only one Of
his retainers. The object Of this de-
tour was the wooing Of little girl in
a red hood. He had been in love with
her for some three weeks. His desk
was near her desk in school, but he
had never spoken to her. He had been
afraid to take such a radical step. 1t
was not customary to speak to girls.
Even boys who had school going Sis
ters seldom addressed them during
that part OF day which was devoted
to education.
The reasons for this conduct were
very plain. First, the more robust
boys considered talking with girls an
unmanly occupation; second, the great
er part of the boys We're afraid; third.
they had 10 idea Of what to say, be-
cause they esteemed the proper SEN
tences should be supernaturally incl
slve and eloquent. In consequence a
small contingent of blue eyed weak
lings were the sole intimates of the
frail sex. and for it they were bolster
ously and disdainfully called girl
boys"
But this situation did not prevent
serious and ardent wOOing. For in
stance. Jimmie and the little girl who
wore the red hood must have exchang-
ed glances Mt least 200 times in every
school hour. and this exchange of
glances accomplished everything. In
them the two children renewed their
curious inarticulate vows.
Jimmie had developed devotion to
school which was the admiration of
his father and mother. In the morn
ings he was SO impatient to have 1t
made knawn to him that no misfor-
tune had bafullen his romance durinc,
the night that he was actually detect
ed at times feverish!y listening for the
"first bell" DR. TreScott was exceed
ingly complacent of the change. and
as for Mrs. Trescott. she had ecstatic
visions of white haired Jimmie Lead
Ing the nations in knowledge. compre-
hending all from bugs to comets. II
was merely the dOins of the little
girl in the red hood.
When Jimmie made Up his mind t
follow his sweetheart home fro":
school, the project seemed such an ar
bitrary and shameless innovation tina
he hastily lied to himself about L. No
he was not following Abbie. He wal
merely making his way homewar'!
through the new and rather longc"
route of Bryant street and Oaklan
park. 1t ha | nothing ut all to do WI!
u girl 1t was Il mere eccentric ao.ion.
"Come on said Jimmie grE.i!y To
his retainer. Lets so home this way"
"What fer?" demanded the retainer.
ooh. b'cause."
, "Huh!'
''Oh. it's more fun-goin' this way
The retainer was bored and loath
but that mattered very little. He did
not know how to disobey his chief.
Together they followed the trail of red
hooded Abbie and another small girl.
These latter at once understood the
object Of the chase, and, looking back
giggling, they pretended to quicken
their pace. But they were always look
ing back. Jimmie now began his court
ship in earnest. The first thing to do
was to prove his strength in battle.
This was transacted by means OF the
retainer. He took that devoted boy
and flung him heavily to the ground.
meanwhile mouthing preposterous
ferocity.
The retainer accepted this behavior
with sort of bland resignation. Aft
er his overthrow he raised himself.
coolly brushed some dust and dead
leaves from his clothes and then seem
ed to forget the incident.
81 can Jump farther'n you can," said
Jimmie in loud voice.
Il know it," responded the retainer
simply.
But this would not do. There must
be a contest
"Come on.' shouted Jimmie imperi-
ously. Lets see you jump"
The retainer selected footing OH
the curb, balanced and calculated
moment and jumped without enthusi-
asm. Jimmie's leap. Of course, was
longer.
"Therer' he cried, blowing out his
lips. 1 beat you, didn't I? Easy.
beat YOU" He made a great hubbub,
as If the affair was unprecedented.
Yes" admitted the other emotion
less.
Later Jimmie forced his retainer to
run race with him, held more jump
ing matches. flung him twice to earth
and generally behaved as IL a retainer
was indestructible. II the retainer had
been In the plot. it is conceivable that
he would have endured this treatment
with mere whispered. half laughing
protests. But he was not in the plot
at all, and so he became enigmatic.
One cannot often sound the profound
well in which lie the meanings Of boy
hood.
Following the two little girls, Jimmie
eventually passed into that suburb OF
h hilomville which Is called Oakland
Park. At his heels came badly bat
cred retainer. Oakland Park was a
somewhat strange country to the boys.
they were dubious of the manners and