Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-07-07

SE@n2
The ,calls of the seine hung room vdr
tShed.
headlonR over q fOotStool Jessie lluSh
| ed so heartily and long that he had Il
throw all the couch pillows at her tt
make her hush.
In such wise life was speeding fo
them on the day when Bob Babbit
first felt the power that the giftie gi'et
him.
But let us get back to our iamb ant
mint sauce.
When Bob got home that evening III
found Jessie in long apron cuttin;
up q lobster for the newburg Usual.
when Bob came I'm mellow from hi
hour at the bar his welcome WAS hilari
Gus. though somewhat tinctured Will
Scotch smoke.
BY screams and snatches Of son:
and certain audible testimonials to do
| mestic felicity was his advent pro
claimed. When she heard his foot ol
the stairs the old maid IN the hal
room always stuffed cotton into he
ears. At first Jessie had shruaG f:oa
the rudeness and flavor of these spiI
itual greetings, but as the fog OF TIT
false Bohemia gradually encompasse,
her she came to accept them as love;
true and proper greeting
Bob came in without word, smiled
kissed her neatly, but noiselessly. tool
up a paper and sat down In the hal
room the old maid held her two plug
Of cotton poised, filed with anxiety.
Jessie dropped lobster and knife ant
ran to him with frightened eyes.
whats the matter, Bob? Are yo'
illT"
"Not at all, dear"
"Then what's the matter with you?
Nothing"
Hearken, brethren. When She-who
has-a-right-to-ask interrogates you con
cerning change she finds in you
mood answer her thus; Tell her tina
you in sudden rage have murdered
your grandmother; tell her that yo'
have robbed orphans and that rcmors'
has stricken you; tell her your FORTUNE
is swept away; that you are beSet b.
enemies. by bunions. by any kind o
malevolent fate. but do not. II peac,
and happiness are worth as much as
grain Of mustard seed to you-do no
answer her Nothing"
Jessie went back to the lobster Ii
silence. She cast looks of darkest sus
picion at Bob. He had never actet
that way before.
When dinner was on the table sh
set out the bottle of Scotch and tn
glasses. Bob declined.
"rell you the truth. Jess" he said
"I've cut out the drink. Help your
self, of course. If you don't mind III
try some of the setzer straight"
you've stopped drinking?" she said
looking at him steadily and unsmillne
ly. What for|
at wasn't doing me any good" salt
Bob. Don't you approve Of the idea?
Jessie raised her eyebrows and on
shoulder slightly.
Entirely" she said, with sculr
tured smile. 81 could not consi len
tiously advise any one to drink o
smoke or whistle on Sunday"
The meal was finished almost In 81
lence. Bob tried to make talk. but hi
efforts lacked the stimulus of previou
evenings. He felt miserable. and one
or twice his eye wandered toward tn
bottle, but each time the scathin
words of his bibulous friend sounde
| in his ear and his mouth set with de
| termination.
Jessie felt the change deeply. Th
essence Of their lives seemed to hay
departed suddenly The restless fevel
the false gayety. the unnatural excite
ment of the shoddy Bohemia in whlc
they had lived had dropped away i
the space Of the popping of a cori
She stole curious and forlorn glance
at the detected Bob. who bore tn
| guilty look Of ut least a wife beate
or a family tyrant
After dinner the colored maid wh
came in daily to perform such chore
cleared away the things. Jessie, wit
an unreadable countenance. brough
back the bottle of Scotch and tn
| glasses and bowl Of cracked ice an
set them on the table.
"May 1 ask" she said, with some
the Ice In her tones, whether l am
be included in your sudden spasm
goodness? If not, III make one fo
myself. It's rather chilly this evenin
for some reason"
"Oh, come now, Jess" said Bo
good naturedly. don't be too rough o
me. Help yourself by all means
There's no danger Of your overdoin
It. But / thought there was with mi
and that's why l quit. Have yours
and then let's get out the banjo an
try over that new quickstep."
"I've heard" said Jessie in the tone
of the oracle "that drinking alone
a pernicious habit. No; don't thin
feel like playing this evening. II "
are going to reform we may as we
abandon the evil habit Of banjo pla!
ing too"
She took up a book and sat in he
little willow rocker on the other sid
Of the table. Neither Of them spOk
for half an hour.
And then Bob laid down his papt
and got up with strange. absent loo
on his face and went behind her cha
and reached over her shoulders. tai
ing her hands in his. and laid his fac
close to hers.
| In a moment to Jessie the walls q
the seine hung room vanished. and sh
saw the Sullivan county hills and rill
Bob felt her hands quiver In his rs q
began the verse from old Omar:
Come all the cup and in the FIRE
4 spring
| The winter garment OF repentance fling
The bird Of time has but little way
/ To fly-and. 10. the bird Is on the wing!
j And then he walked to the table an