Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-07-28

wonder II catch one before you dc
anyway"
Truly It would have taken phlloso
pher to decide upon the values Of tn
theories held by the two friends Lou
lacking that certain pride and fastid
iousness that keep stores and desk
filed with girls working for the bares
living. thumped away gayly with he
iron in the noisy and sitting laundry
Her wages supported her even bcyont
the point OF comfort. so that her dres
profited until sometimes she cast ;
sidelong glance of impatience at tn,
neat but inelegant apparel Of DAN
Dan, the constant, the immutable. tn
undertaking.
AS for Nancy. her case was one o
tens Of thousands. Silk and jewels ant
laces and ornaments and the perfume
and music of the fine world Of goot
breeding and taste-these were made
for woman: they are her equitable por
ton. Let her keep near them II the,
are part Of life to her and II she will
She is no traitor to herself, as Esal
was, for she keeps her birthright. ant
| the pottage she earns is often very
| scant.
In this atmosphere Nancy belonged
and she throve in 1t and ate her fruga
meals and schemed over her cheaI
dresses with a determined and con
tented mind. She already knew WON
an, and she was studying man, the an
imal, both as to his habits and eligiDili
ty. Some day size would bring dowl
the game that size wanted. but sht
promised herself 1t would be wha
seemed to her the biggest and the best
and nothing smaller.
Thus she kept her lamp trimmed and
burning to receive the bridegroom
when he should come.
But another lesson she learned. per
haps unconsciously. Her standard ol
values began to shift and change
Sometimes the dollar mark grew blur
red in her minds eye and shaped It
self into letters that spelled such word:
as truth" and "honor" and now and
then just kindness" Let US make O
| likeness of one who hunts the moose
or elk in some mighty wood. He sees
little dell. messy and embowered
where a rill trickles. babbling to hin
Of rest and comfort. At these times
the spear Of Nmrod himself grows
blunt.
So Nancy wondered sometimes II
Persian lamb was always quoted at Its
market value by the hearts that 1t GOV
cred
One Thursday evening Nancy left
the store and turned across Sixth ave
nue. westward to the laundry. She
was expected to go with Lou and Dar
to musical comedy.
Dan was just coming out Of the
laundry when she arrived. There was
a queer. strained look on his face.
81 thought would drop around to
see II they had heard from her." hi
said.
Heard from who?" asked Nancy
isn't Lou there?-
81 thought you knew" said Dan
"She hasn't been here or at the house
where she lived since Monday. Sh'
moved all her things from there. She
told one Of the girls in the laundry
she might be going to Europe"
Hasn't anybody seen her any
where| asked Nancy.
Dan looked at her. with his jaws Sc
grimly and steely gleam In his steady
gray eyes.
"They told me In the laundry" ht
said harshly, that they saw her pass
yesterday-in an automobile. With ont
Of the millionalres, suppose, that yol
and Lou were forever busying you
brains about"
For the first time Nancy Quailed be
fore a man. She laid her hand. tina
trembled slightly, on Dams sleeve.
you've no right to say such thint
to me, Dan-as II l had anything to dt
with itv'
81 didn't mean 1t that way" sale
Dan, softening. He fumbled IN hi'
vest pocket.
"I've got the tickets for the show to
night" he said, with gallant show O
lightness. "If YOU
Nancy admired pluck whenever sh'
saw It.
"Tll go with you, Dan," she said.
Three months went by before Nanc!
saw Lou again.
At twilight one evening the shoI
girl was hurrying home along the bor
der Of little quiet park. She heart
her name called and wheeled about II
time to catch Lou rushing into he
arms.
After the first embrace they drew
their heads back as serpents do, read!
| to attack or to charm. with thousant
questions trembling on their swif
tongues. And then Nancy noticed tina
prosperity had descended upon Lou
manifestlng itself in costly furs, fash
Ing gems and creations Of the tailor
art
"You little foolw cried Lou loudl!
and affectionately. ~ see you are still
| working In that store and as shabb.
| as ever. And how about that big catcl
you were going to make? Nothing Dc
ing yet, suppose"
| And then Lou looked and saw tha
something better than prosperity hat
descended upon Nancy-somethlng tina
shone brighter than gems in her eye
and redder than a rose in her cheek
| and that danced like electricity anxiou
to be loosed from the tip Of her tongue
"Yes, I'm still In the store" SAT-
Nancy. "but I'm going to leave 1t mex
week. I've made my catch-the big
gest catch In the world. You won
mind now, Lou. will you? I'm goin
to be married to Dan-to Dan! He
my Dan now. Why. Lou"
Around the corner Of the par
strolled one Of those new crop. smoot
faced young policemen that are maE
Ing the force more endurable-at leas
to the eye. He saw woman with a
expensive fur coat and diamond ringe
hands crouchlng down against the iro
fence Of the park sobbing turbulent!
while a slender, plainly dressed work
ing girl leaned close, trying to consol
her. But the Gibsonian cop. being o
the new order passed on, pretendin
not to notice, for he was wise enoug
to know that these matters are beyon
help, so far as the power he repre-
sents is concerned. though he rnp tn
pavement with his night stick till tn
sound goes up to the farthermost stars