Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-01-21

| cPVNuialiohso obout hSks - Va thS Ia .
time he now found his disguise ir';
some, so much would he have liked
freely to discuss the case with Mis-
Ellery. Surely that philosophical youn,
woman was not so abnormally self en-
crossed as not to be curious elSt
about Eunice. Perhaps If he gave hel
and Daisy an opportunity they woult
question him about the girl, thinking
Of course, that he had known her lont
and intimately. 1t would be a relief
even under the hampering condition
of his assumed character, to talk hel
over with some one. How had hel
extraordinary talk Of the night before
struck Miss Ellery anyway?
He had reached this point in hi!
meditations when he was reused by
the sound of sep behind him. Al
the family had gone to bed, so It mus
be the young ladies. They were com
| ing to join him on the terrace.
"a mere farmland is. after all, Q
man." he shrugged.
But this evening he felt an unusual
readiness to welcome their society.
"If l can't investigate Eunice my
self. at least | can now get at the
impression she has made on Others"
He tossed away the cigar he was
smoking 1t was of the brand smok,
ed by Miss Ellery's father and quite
too choice to be found in the possession
Of farmland. He hoped she wouldn't
notice the aroma.
He turned around and looked up.
There before him, slim and pale In
the starlight, stood Eunice, In the un.
eXpectedness Of her appearing sug.
gesting to his startled fancy vision
of Fra Angelica angel.
His astonishment left no room even
for passing regret for the excellent
cigar so unnecessarily sacrificed.
There was n mingled timidity and
dignity in her manner that brought him
to his feet with an instructive chivalry.
"Will you sit down with me?" he
asked in tone Of uncertainty, for he
could not guess Just why she had come.
She had always appeared to shun and
even to be afraid of him. There was
just now panied sensitveness in her
fine face that revealed the struggle
she was having with herself in ap-
preaching him like this.
"But you would rather not be in
truded upon-even by me?' she asked
wistfully, her voice low and trembling.
81 mean." she hastily explained. 81
don't count, Of course, but perhaps you
would rather be entirely alone"
She had spoken so unhesitatingly
last night to Miss Ellery Why should
she falter like this, in such agony OF
embarrassment, when speaking to him :
True, she had talked to Georgiana un.
der stress Of a sudden strong impulse
she had been caught unawares. as it
were-that had been manifest enough.
Still, in spite of his own lifelong bat
tie with shyness, he couldn't quite
understand why any girl under the sun
should be bashful with him. Certain
ly his experience with bashful girls
had been limited-or, rather, nil.
Ever since last night" he said to
her. 81 have been looking for an ap-
portunity to talk with you"
He saw the color food her checks
and her bosom rise and fall in long.
deep breath.
"You have wanted to talk with me?"
she breathed.
Tt's the only thing l have wanted
ever since last night"
"Since last night?"
"Yes, since last night-naturally."
as it." she asked, that you are con-
cerned in this controversy about Miss
Ellery's frock:''
"No''-he repressed Il smile-"it is not
about Miss Ellery's frock l wanted to
talk to you"
1t was evident that the episode Of the
frock had been, to her mind, the only
notable one Of the previous evening.
"I.et us sit down." he repeated.
Her face lighted up as she obeyed
him with brightness that transform
ed it. He marve!ed why she should In
one moment shrink from him and falter
In painful shyness and the next be
radiant with pleasure. To him the
reason for the transformation was not
apparent.
What made you say you don't
count?' he began as he seated himself
beside her.
You said so-that evening-by the
fence"
"When l said you didn't annoy me?
But | didn't mean that!
"What did you mean then" The
question seemed to spring from her
without her vOlition.
What had he meant, indeed!
81 suppose" he speculated, 81 meant
that you interest me too puch to an
noy me-"
"And the young ladies-you avoid
them because they don't interest you?'
Was there note Of eagerness in Eer
wistful voice? And to think that she
should volunteer to ask him questions!
II he could make her feel more at ease
with him, perhaps he could get her
to talk to him Of herself. His pulse
bounded with pleasure in anticipation
of his quest of her secret, and he felt
thrill of satisfaction in his present
isolation with her.
81 can't say they don't interest me.
Everybody interests me, even Ollie.
even Abe"
He looked at her narrowly as he
spoke her lovers name with this inti-
nation of his insigniicance. He could
not see whether or not 1t disturbed
her.
But" he went on, "there are de-
grees of interest. None Of them have
a mystery about them"
Her face as she listened to him ex-
pressed anxious attention, like one who
tries to follow a foreign tongue. and
she seemed to weigh for moment
all that he said before she answered.
"But neither have mystery about
me-" she replied wonderingly. "a mys-
terry"
Haven't you?" he questioned grave
ly In the tone of one reproving child
for telling fib.
"Indeed, no." She shook her head In
denial Of such an accusation. II
haven't"
"No? I'm surprised to hear 1t, for,
do you know, you seem to me the most
mysterious young person | ever metz
81 do" she marveled. "But why?''
In her establishment she was forget