Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-12-22

Something ought to be done to show
him that the passengers admire bis
bravery not anything fulsome, but
something nice"
81 guess you don't know the Amer
can disposition yet us well as you will
after you've wrestled with 1t on its
native heath for few months" re-
marked Mr Doremus In his quaint
way. 'That chap down in the steer.
age Is an American. whatever else he
may be. or I'll eat my best hat, and
l wouldn't for five cents be in the depu-
tation to present him with the some
thing not fulsome, but nice on q lit.
tie silver salver ! should expect him
to give me the frosty mitt."
This expression struck me as being
SO funny that l burst out laughing.
though had to stop and think for a
second before | could quite see what
Mr.. Doremus really meant, but I
wouldn't forget my point In laugh.
perhaps 1t wouldn't do to offer
money" l went on. Suppose we got
up subscription to buy him a second
class passage for the rest Of the
way. That would show appreciation.
wouldn't IT."
at would" replied Mr.. Doremus
gravely. land If you'll start the sub
scription, Lady Betty. it'll go like wild.
fire."
Every well. then, WILL" said l..
though I'd rather some one else did
It."
at wouldn't be so popular from any
other quarter I'll help you. Well go
floating around together and pass the
plate, and If you like I'll do the talk
ing"
l agreed to this, and II I'd thought
about it ut all should have supposed
that Mrs. Ess Kay would be AS
pleased as Punch with such an ar
rangement. because Mr. Doremus. as
q relative Of Mrs. Van der Windts.
is the only man on board to whom she
makes herself agreeable. 1t appears
that he has started several fashions
in New York, the most important be-
ing to drive In some park they have
there without hat. But probably II
the truth were known he lost 1t, like
the fox that tried to make his friends
chop off their tails.
Mrs. Ess Kay had gone to her state
room soon after lunch, as the motion
of the ship had given her headache.
and l didn't happen to be near Sally
Woodburn. So | said yes" to Mr.
Doremus on the impulse Of the mo-
ment without stopping to think wheth-
er | ought to ask permission first.
We had great fun going about. for
Mr.. Doremus was so witty and said
such amusing things to the people he
begged OF that could hardly speak
for laughing, and every one else laugh
ed too. wished that he wouldn't put
me forward always and say 1t was my
idea and had started the subscrp-
ton But he argued that ] must sac
rifice myself for the success Of the
charity just as | would at home If ]
had to work off damaged pincushions
or day before yesterdays yiolets at
bazaar. or course, not being out.
I've never sold anything at bazaar.
but Victoria is continually doing 1t In
the season, and she makes quite
virtue of forcing perfect strangers to
"stand and deliver" as she calls 1t
This seemed much the same sort OF
thing to me. and so felt nice and
virtuous, too. as Vic does when she
comes home with new frock torn
and stepped on and lies in bed late
next day, with Thompson to brush her
hair and me to read to her.
People were very kind, and. though
they laughed great deal. they gave
so much that before we'd been half
the rounds Mr. Doremus said we had
more than enough for our friend He
wanted to know If would like to "hit
the nail on the head" and settle mat
ters at once by arranging with the
purser for second class cabin to be
put at the hero's disposal. | wanted
him to do that part alone. but he pre-
tended to be shy and said he had
grown to depend so entirely on my co
operation that he felt unequal to un'
dertaking any responsibility vii houi