Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-02-18

spite of its coldness-an uprightness OF
character that perhaps justified, some
what, her pride Of blood.
ut is good to see you again, DR..
Kinross," she began as they sat down
together. 1T is always pleasure to
me to meet old friends. Did you know"
she continued volubly, 81 had call
from your brother one day last winter.
when he had run on to Washington
from New YOrk-it was on one of my
at home days and Of course he met a
| lot of his old friends-and lie remark ed
as he was leaving how pleasant 1t had
been to meet them. told him he
would never meet any but old ac-
QuaintanceS at my house. In our circle
we don't meet the new people. for
tunately."
This was good beginning, certainly.
"But what tragic deprivation to the
new people" he remarked, with per-
| functory smile intended to take the
edge of his sarcasm.
81 am aware" she said sti.Ily. that
you do not share my strong feelings
about such things"
NO" he said. I'D associate with the
devil IL | found him interesting"
"Such bohemian views are unworthy
of your blood" she said with grave
reproachfulness. II hope you don't
90 so far as to be willing to marry out
Of your rank?
"No, | draw the line there. I'm not
willing to marry out OF my rank-nor
yet in it. I'm quite unwilling to marry
| at all"
"You haven't been an easy prey" she
admitted. How have You managed to
escape falling in love all these years.
"But love hasn't anything to do with
rank-if you'll pardon my p!atltudes.'
j "No one. man or woman. need per
NIT himself to fall in love outside OF
his own station I'm life" she said dog
matically. "or II he is so weak let him
conquer himself"
KinrOss smiled and was silent He
would not argue.
Miss Wolcott abruptly changed the
subject
"Nell, Peter. what is this important
business matter which gives me the
pleasure of 4 call from you? Your tel
egram has made me very curious.
didn't know how to wait until you
got here"
"But you must really wait few mo
meuts longer. ] must not he precipi
tate. That's the one thing I've been
telling myself all the way here-not to
be precip;tatc. but to break 1t to yon
gently. to lead up to 1t automatically.
/ rhetorically, If possible. Unfortunate
ly my style was ever Ii cookbook
direct and TO the point"
"Dear me! We'll. do adhere to your
customary style and spare me the
rhetoric prefer to heur your news
or whatever 1t Is in your most Saxon
form"
1.-THE shock might he too great"
This was not at all US he had meant
| to steer his communication, for no one
could have felt more earnestly the
gravity of what he had come to COM
/ municate, and his chatting was far
from expressing his true mood. but
| he felt that his case was lost already,
that rhetoric could not save it, and his
tongue ran away with him.
Its something shocking then?" In.
uuired Miss Wolcott
"That depends on how you look at
It."
"Well? Do hurry. please"
"AIiss Wolcott," he said solemnly,
"rm afraid what have to tell you
will not he welcome news"
She looked surprised at his sudden
seriousness and waited. with what pa
tience she could command. for him to
60 on.
He rose and walked the length of
the piazza. then came back and stood
before her.
81 am very stupid don't know
how to begin It,"
"Gracious. Peter. you're not thinking
of proposing to me, are you?"
at would require less daring than
what have to tell you"
"If you don't say 1t soon. shall have
Mysteries"
He cleared bis throat, and his voice
was not quite firm as he plunged in.
"Let me begin with question. Tell
Inc, were you perfectly convinced at
the time of your brothers death that
bis little daughter was with him and
lied with him? Did you ever have any
doubts about it?"
Her eyes opened wide In amazement
OF course not"
"Did you see the dead child who was
identified as your niece?"
"No. I was In Florida at the time
Of the accident and did not get back in
time for the funeral"
The woman had turned white and
was looking dazed.
| "The child was not with her father,
Miss Wolcott"
Miss Wo,eott sat upright, her hands
clutching the sidas Of her chair.
"Wel?" she half gasped.
"That child is living"
"Impossiblp." she exclaimed sharply.
"She is alive" repeated kinross.
"Alive! My brothers child! But It
can't he true"
"Dld YOU ever receive. few months
lafter Mr. Wolcott's death. any commu-
hications telling you that your niece
had been stolen from her home and
would be returned to yOu-for a re-
Iwardw
"Neverw
Kinross looked at her uncertainty.
Was she telling the truth? If she was
mot, she was genius at acting. for her
'bewilderment seemed very genuine.