Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-11-24
Mary's Letter.
IT Is INTERPRETED As MEANING PER
HAPs MORE THAN IT DID.

"It's Q letter from Mary" said the
mans wife, looking up at her husband.
"I'll let you see It In minute"
"Don't hurry" said the man, taking
another bite Of toast. II don't think I'd
have time to read it, anyway. Nothing
exciting, is therep"
II don't know what you call exciting"
said his wife. "She says the baby's be-
ginning to talk already.
"Thats important, If true" observed
the man. "Just think of that!"
"It certainly 10 remarkable" said the
mans wife. "She's not more than .
year old. You always sneer at Msry's
letters"
81 don't mean to-" said the man. ~
think you imagine 1t. wonder when
she'll learn to stop talking. I don't re-
fer to Mary, but the kid. Mary won't
be able to teach her, though. The
mother tongue! What Q particularly
apt phrase that IL! You never quite
realize It until you think how absurd 1t
would be to say father tongue
"Or father wit, suggested the mans
wife. "My dear, ! notice that you can
talk now and them"
whenever I get chance" admitted
the man. "What else has Mary got to
sayp"
mans wife. II guess 1 won't let you
see the letter, either, come to think OF
it,"
you wouldn't disappoint me in that
way, would your" pleaded the man,
"You know how sad that would make
me. OF course, l won't urge 1t II you
are determined not to, but must say 1t
isn't like your usual wifely confidence.
I'll apologize for what I said, II that's
it,"
"Oh, don't mind what you say" de-
clared the mans wife. I'm used to 1t.
l don't want to hurt your feelings, that's
all. They've moved into their new
house and they like it very much"
"Being a new house and having just
moved into it, they naturally would like
it," said the man. "That doesn't give
me any sharp stabs of anguish, though.
I'm glad they like it and l shall be sorry
and sympathetic when they don't. =!
hav emit any feeling of animOsity toward
Mary, or her husband, either. You're
just little too considerate of ne,
dearest"
THAT wasn't what / was thinking of
when said l wouldn't let you see the
letter. 1t was something altogether
different. / don't think Mary meant 1t
as reflection on you. If / had been In
her place I don't think would have said
anything about it. She lacks tact"
Don't let it prey on your mind at ALL"
said the man. II feel confident that
she didn't mean anything; II she had she
would not have said 1t. What was she
knocking me about, anyway"
~ tell you I don't think she meant to
reflect on you," said the mans wife.
"As matter of fact, she didn't men,
ton your name. It was just little piece
of news that she thought she'd give
me-"
The man looked uneasy. "Mary
doesn't know anything about me that
wouldn't be perfectly willing to tell
you myself" he said. "Let me see her
letter."
"No, sir" said the mans wife, quick
ly withdrawing the criss-crossed pages
from his reach.
"Tell me then"
ut wasn't anything"
"if it wasn't anything, why don't you
tell me or let me see the letter."
ut was only that Robert had bought
her beautiful new set of furs-Russian
sable. That was all, really. You can
read the letter II you want to-"
The man stared. what on earth
made you think that would hurt my
feelings9'
The mans wife hesitated. "Well,"
she said, ~ supposed that when you
thought of my shabby set you might
feel little bad because you can't at
ford'-
"Wait till Christmas and we'll see
what happens" said the man, hastily.
"Mary's always getting me into trouble"