Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-03-03
CHAPTER XIV.

| OI uCI laluer nUuSpHOlu. WAS Teduy
to rec eivc with him and do the honor,
aS hostess.
A. she paced the floor. her long skirt:
sweeping alOLt her. her thoughts
seri,ls. aS usual--were occasionally
broken in upoa by the flippant re
marks of Daisy. who. also in gala at
tire. was ready TO assist her this even
ing to receive her fathers guests.
Hadn't Letter 20 and tell uncle tC
hurry Up. Gcorgiana? They will be
gin to come soon." Daisy suggested
from her place OH an Old davenport
which stood against the wall.
HE will he down In time, | suppose
He has watch" Georgiana answered
absently.
But can he tell the time"
Georgiana ignored her.
Because I've always suspected he
couldn't he's so invariably late to ev'
erything"
| Georgiana's gaze was far away.
You look stunning, GeOrgiana
| That's u serum gown"
What adjectives, Daisy"
"If the com binaton of you and that
robe of snowy white doesn't roast Kin.
ross, then he is tireproof. as they all
say he is
| Georgiana laughed indulgently.
81 do hope, George, that you'll be
quite cruel to him to avenge the rest
of them"
Daisy" Georgiana gently chided
her, you put it on such low plane"'
"'It| What's it?"
"My prospective acquaintance with
DR.. Kinross."
"Oh, Georgana! Why, I'm expect
ing it's going to be most inspiring and
uplifting-to see you jilt him, you
know"
"I'm not even sure that he's going to
be here tonight"
"Ohw said Daisy blankly. era
cious! And here I'm standing on my
hind legs in glad expectation"
HE wrote me that he had an en-
gagement for part of the evening with
| a Miss Wolcott. who was passing
through town on her way to New
York, but that If he might come early
and leave early he would be delighted
to do So The tone of his note" she
added critically, was manly"
Dear me. How did he manage to
be manly in note like that?"
"rhere was an atmosphere about it."
Georgiana insisted.
"Why do you keep walking about,
George? Are YOU nervous?'
Georgiana came and stood in front
of the davenport.
Daisy" she said earnestly, "he will
probably be the first one to arrive,
and
Meaning Kinross? Daisy Inquired
sympathetically.
"Dr. KinroSs. yes. fancy he will
We here before any one else comes.
Tell ne. if you were |, would you be
in the room when he comes or would
you enter after he is here?
(Which do think would impress
MIN more?"
Il merely mean," Georgiana explain
| ed. would it seem more easy and
graccrul-to be already in the room OF
| to come in after he is here-or perhaps
to enter from the piazza? Which
would seem more-well''-
effective? Suppose you advance
from under the piano, Georgie! Daisy
fllppantly advised, growing hilarious.
"Daisy. why can't you look at the
serious side of life sometimes|'
"Well, then. to be really serious
Georgiana. don't think Kinross will
be here first That poor poodle, Gates
head. will present himself at the earli
est possible moment and stay until
you will have to hint to him to fee, as
a bird to his mountain. that he may
not lose one second Of the time per
| mitted to the faculty to gaze upon
your charms. And you, GeOrglana
dear, will be meaner than ever to the
poor suffering wretch now that you
have this Kinross on the brain so'-
absurd! Why. I've not even me'
DR.. Kinross"
"But. Gcorgiana." said Daisy. with
unwonted earnestness, ut seriously
does wound me q am speaking quite
in earnesb to see the way you handle
that long suffering Gateshead. Be
nicer to him tonight than you were al
the Gardners' dinner, won't you? Or
shall be tempted to console him b!
catching his heart on the rebound anc
| allowing him to fall. In love with me
| And think Of such fate-to let mar
| console himself with simple me after
having loved the complicated Geor
giana! 'Twould be an awful strain OF
me. He couldn't help realizing con
stantly the lofty height from which ht
had tumbled and how he had stopped
You know. really. Georgiana. you are
cruel, I might say brutal. to Gates
head"
Ills plane Of life is so common
| pIacew said Georgiana impatientiy
"Ic does not stimulate me. He Is no
even receptive.
Hes dear. honest. big hearted fel
low and loves you devotedly. and YOU
spub him and sneer at him until m!
blood boils!"
"Jt Is not | he loves. for the real
he does not know or comprehend.
81 suspect that isn't grammatical
Georgiana. is IT." said Daisy doubt
fully. "He does not know or com
prehend ~ To be sure, you ought tt
know-you went through Wellesley"
"What 1t Is he thinks he loves I'm
sure I don't know" said Georgiana.
"Pm sure don't either. since yor
say It isn't the real L."
az wish, Daisy" said Georgiana sad
". "that the higher life appealed tt
you"
"And to think that you may commi
Gateshead to spending his on my low
plane. Georgiana"
HE is certainly quite incapable Of
living on mine"
II acknowledge he Is weak, or M
would have cut you long ago for thu
way you treat him. With his students
with every one but you, he Is strong
With you he is nothing but penn!
dog. But now. to change the subject
I'm worried. Who Is this Miss Vol