Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-01-21

denly the radiance seemed to die ou
of her face. leaving 1t mournful.
"You-you love herr' she said falter
ingly.
"Of course I love her! The differ
ence between you and Miss Ellery," ht
went on, following the idea in his owl
mind and not seeing in the dimness
the pallid hopelessness that had come
to her face, "is that Miss Ellery thinks
she's complex, but isn't, and you think
you're simple, but aren't. And the
most mysterious thing about you is
that you hadn't noticed 1t yourself
that you were mysterious, / mean.
don't see how it escaped you"
She did not answer him.
"For instance, why are you so differ.
ent from Ollie when you two have had
the same rearIng?"
She swallowed hard and seemed to
make an effort to speak to him.
"Is that mystery!" she said. "But
it is easily explained. We are not OF
the same parentage."
"Do you know anything Of your own
parents?"
There was scarcely perceptible hes.
itation before she answered.
mo" Her voice sounded remote, as
though she shrank from his question
ing.
"That in itself is strange, isn't it?''
he venturcd, hesitating to force his
Investigations against her evident re-
inctance. but his keen curiosity getting
The better Of his finer feeling.
81 suppose 1t is" she answered, her
soice subdued, her eyes downcast.
"Do Mr.. and Mrs. Morningstar know
aothing about your parents"
81 don't know"
"But have you never asked them"
| T have never discussed 1t with
them"
His questions agitated her, he saw,
and he didn't believe she was being
candid with him. so he reluctantly
dropped them. He remained silent to
give her n chance to tell him why she
sought him here Mt an hour when all
the rest Of the family were abed.
81 want to ask you" she began tim
idly. "to tell me something If you are
quite willing to spare your time to
me-"
The occasional unusualness Of her
mode Of expression struck me as touch
| ing Of foreignness Here was another
| phase of the mystery Of her.
81 couldn't make better use Of my
| time" he answered. "Ask me any
thing you like. child"
The kindness Of his tone rs he called
her "child" made her eyes grow sud-
denly misty. 50 novel it was to hear
herself spoken to as though she We're
| not chattel or slave. Her voice
as she answered him was very low ana
sweet.
81 am anxious to have you tell me
whether girl like me could find a
place out in the world where she could
earn her living?"
1t was to ask him this that she had
come TO him tonight But would It
not have been more natural thing
for her to have gone to Georgiana or
Daisy with such an inquiry? he won
dered why she had chosen to ask him
In preference to them.
1T depends upon the sort OF place
you would want. Some sorts of work
are easy to secure. Others are not.
What kind of work do you mean!"
That's what | hoped you could tell
me-the sort of work there is in town
whereby girl like me could earn her
living"
Domestic service" he hesitatingy
suggested. But somehow In spite of
her servitude to the farmers family
this struck him as utterly incOngruous.
places for domestic service can be
secured easily-almost on your own
terms. But If you are thinking of
some other sort Of occupation
He paused questioningly, but she
said nothing. Only her reprcssed
eagerness urged him on.
81 should have to know more about
you before I could judge Of your
chances"
Again he paused, but she remained
silent.
"If you will tell me something of
yourself" he suggested.
She looked surprised. "But there Is
nothing to tell of me more than what
you yourself have seem
He looked at her with searching
eyes. isn't there?"
mo" she answered with n frank
ness that ought to have carried con-
viction.
could you do any other sort Of
work than what have seen you do
sewing and housework"
81 don't know. What other things
are done by women?"
well there are shopgirls. stenogra-
piers, milliners, bo6kkcepers, teach
ers"- He turned and again looked at
her keenly. would you like to teach?'
he asked abruptly.
"But | haven't IN education.
"Just how much schooling have you
had"
II was taken out Of school when |
was twelve years old"
"And have had no instruction Of any
sor.. since then?''
mo"
"And never have been Off the farm?'
"Never except the few times that ]
have been In town to the market for
a half day"
"Then. Eunice," he inquired with I'm
pressive earnestness. may ask how
you happen to speak language so
unlike that Of the Mornngstars?"
He watched her closely as he put
the question. Her face. so near to him.
cleaned like ivory in the starlight. and
he could plainly see her countenance.
| His question brought startled look
| to her eyes, and again he saw her
bosom rise in long. deep breath.
She did not attempt to answer him.
"Well?" He pressed his inquiry with
q tense interest.
"I-I didn't realize that 1t was no.
ticeable-my not speaking as the rest
speak," she faltered.
"And how does it come that you
don't speak as the rest speak?'
"I-never thought about it. II have
come to speak like the-differently
from the rest of the family. 1t has
been unconsciously."
"Ah" he commented thoughtfully.
Remarkable! Remarkable-that you