Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-01-14
NUMBER 2.
for Abe Morningstar. It seemed incon-

for Abe Morningstar. 1t seemed incOn-
sistent with everything else about her.
| 1t made him feel an unreasoning i'm
patience with her and put damper
upon the sympathy he would otherwise
have felt for her situation. He was
possessed. however, with strong curl
osIty concerning her, and during all the
rest of the day he was on the lookout
for an opportunity to talk with her
alone. He realized with grim sense
| Of the humor of 1t that 1t was the first
time in his life he had ever voluntarily
sought to talk with girl.
He found himself astonished and an
noyed as the hours went by to realize
| the difficulty the well nigh impossible
ity, of finding the opportunity he sought.
The girl herself added to the difficulty
with her shy reserve and a certain dig
nifty about her which made him feel
almost guilty of an impertlnence in
seeking her confidence.
So intent was he upon securing the
chance he desired that he careles.
| let himself be discovered by Georgiana
and Daisy loafing on the kitchen porch
| In the middle of the afternoon when
they would naturally expect him to be
| in the fields with his employer
"Have you headache again this
afternoon?" Daisy curiously inquired
as the two girls, looking warm and
tired from n long walk. sank upon the
porch steps where he sat.
"Yes, have it in my head somepin
wonderful" he readily lied
81 am surprised" declared Daisy,
that Mr.. Morningstar would employ
such an invalid as you are, Peter-as
much on the make rs he Is"
"If farmhands wasn't so scarce to
get" Peter answered, recklessly i'm
provisng Pennsylvania Dutch dialect,
ne wouldn't keep me-"
Mrs. MOrningstar, who had stepped
out to the porch bench to pick over
a pan OF gOoseberries, just in time to
hear this remark of Peters. bent t. -.
her head and gave forth a loud In
'You bet he wouldn'tw she cried
"Well, since you aren't WORKING
Daisy suggested. ''you can put in vonr
time forgetting your headache by
amusing me. Can you play euchr"f'
II don't play nothn' but hymn
tunes"
"Oh, my graciousw groaned Daisy.
"Well, It isn't any Of my business to
butt In, but should think" she observ-
ed reprovngly. that you would at least
make good your lost time Pete, by help
ing Mrs MOrningstar to pick those ber-
ries But | suppose" she added. TAX
ing on her air Of acquiring useful in
formation, that to help IA woman
would not fall in with your ideas Of
manliness, would It? The Germans Of
rural Pennsylvania are just like the
Germans Of the fatnrrland in that re-
spect at lcast-thcir lack Of gallantry
| to women. | was in Germany three
days last summer, and in all that time
| never once saw man chiyalrouS'y
help woman. And about here" She
rolled up her eyes eXpresSively.
"Now," protested Pete, Il seen ma
tive help woman with basket this
mornin'."
You must have been mistaken, Pc
ter" Daisy said incredulously.
mo. | amt neither. | seen him
| when he done It,"
WAS he Pennsylvania German|
she asked .skeptically.
"Dutch as snitz."
"I'd like TO make note Of IT," she
said, gathering up her pencil and book.
"Tell me, Peter, what were the cir
cumstances and how did he help herr
"She was his wife, and he helped her
| fasten n basket on her back to carry
into the village"
Daisy dropped her notebook and look
ed at Peter severely, while Georgiana
| gazed at him pensively.