Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-03-16

candescent and blazed up suddenly
with fierce light as II It were vol
canO having an eruption. All the wo
men inside (there was quite crowd
Of them. bareheaGed or In perfectly
fascinating frilled sunbonnets) shrieked
and then giggled. A man who was
surrounded by girls said something VIC
couldn't hear which made everybody
laugh. and Mr. Trowbridge exclaimed
That's Whit, sure. holding court
Couldn't be anybody else"
"And l guess that's the honorable, n
said the voice we had heard-such q
nice voice; 1t was enough to make you
laugh with pleasure just to hear it
and the head we could see towering
over the sunbonnets began to move to.
ward u.s. The girls edged away good
naturedly. and there was a man almost
as fine looking as Mr.. Brett smiling
at US and holding out his big hand.
Everything was big about him-his
voice, his brown throat, his shoulders
and his good white smile, shining with
kindness and two rows Of perfect
teeth; his nature. too, as you could see
by his beaming. humorous gray eyes
and the generous dimple I'm his square
ehin.
whit. this is the little English lady
ship I've told you about who's staying
over at our house." said Mr.. Trow.
bridge. So we were introduced. and
the great Whit shook my hand with q
vigorous magnetism which made me
feel would like to clap and give him
three cheers.
He is the sort of man | should try
to make president of the United State
II l were an American, and I'm sure
he would get lots Of votes from hls
part Of the country IL he were nom
mated.
I'm real pleased to meet you." sale
he. land I'm honored to have you risi'
my store Say. guess some Of on,
American leading ladies' will have t.
get hustle on II they want to save
themselves now you're over here. !
didn't know they made 'em like that
on your side. | tell you what II Is
honorable. won't have much use 10;
some Of our fellows II they let her gC
back. eh? Now. ma'am. you just tel
me what handle I'm to put TO you.
name. but / think I'll call you prin
cess
Then III call you prince"
Accompanied by Mr.. Walker ana
Patty, whom he chose as the compan.
ion Of our explorations, we went up.
stairs and downstairs and LETT no cor.
ner Of the Emporium unyisiied.
Aren't you afraid to leave so man!
things outside on the verGndH?" ! ask
ed. Suppose they should be stolrn?"
The great man only laughed. but II
lanky customer who overheard drawled
out:
What. steal from Whit Walker OF
Hermann's Corners. WAL. guess
the skunk mean enough to do that
would get himself lynched by every
decent chap In this darned county"
i've go; one friend. you see, prin.
cess" chuckled my king of the Empo
rum.
you've got two" said |.
well. now. that's mighty pretty OF
you. Say, do you mean it, honor
brightT'
Honor bright" ! repeated.
"Then | wonder If might ask lit.
tie favor of you:"
"Of course. What is it?"
"I'll tell you before we part. But
come on down now, girls. want you
should both choose n present to take
home"
BY this time the "ice cream festival
was beginning 1t was held in vi.
cant lot behind the Emporium, ana a
canvas awning had been put up over
two or three dozen bare tables on the
grass. Several employees of the
"store," extra hands perhaps. were
kept frantically busy ladling out from
huge freezers into earthenware saucers
big slabs of frozen custard All the
gallant young beauX OF the neighbor.
hood treated" the girls they wished
to favor and spent 10 cents Il saucer
for the lice cream" with big sugared
"cooky" thrown in. The great Whit
himself invited me to sit down with
him So Mr. Brett, who had been com
Ing up to ask Patty ana me both per
haps. whisked Patty away, leaving me.
to Mr. Walker.
"Now III tell you that favor want
said he Il hope you won't think I'm
presuming too much OH q short ac-
Quantancc, but It's a mighty imp0r
tant thing for me. It's about that lit
tie gal over there"
Patty" asked.
He nodded.
Nobody else There amt anybody
else. so far as I'm concerned, meaning
no disrespect TO you, princess. My Old
friend the honorable says she just
worships you and would lie down and
let you walk over her II you wanted
~ didn't know" | said
"Well. it's gospel truth. l guess. and
don't blame her. II YOU
"She has been sweet to me-" l inter-
rupted.
Its just like that pretty. quiet lit
tie thing" said Mr.. Walker. 81 wish
she'd be that sweet to me. | want her
mighty bad to have me. princess. but
she's read novels. | guess, and any
how. she doesn't think I'm romantic
enough WAS always kind Of afraid
there was somebody elsa Now, |
shouldn't wonder II 1t amt that good
looking young cousin Of the Trow-
bridges Couldn't you find out for me,
rs she thinks such lot Of you? And
II she hasn't got her heart too much
set on anY,.'sly else. could you try to
rse your influence for meT'
You can depend on me to do my
hest" said. But | didn't feel amused
md full Of fun any more as looked
over at Patty and Mr.. Brett. II she
admires him-and how could she help
lt?-there's no reason why he shouldn't
admire her when one comes to think
Of 1t. She Is pretty and sweet, per-
feet little lady and an helress.
@~Y--@