Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-01-05


chose, you would probably wish you
had had the other. whereas at home
you did what you could and were per
fectly satisfied.
I decided that l would toss up q
coin; heads the big marble tank, tails
the shower 1t came tails, and ! had
dreadful qualm. but, noblesse oblige
one must be sporting. So I was. only
the hot water r'wouldn't come and ap
parently there was ice in the cold
which wouldn't stop coming. and II
was very violent. l, screamed once
and Mrs. Ess Kay and Sally and Lou
lse ran to the door. which was EN-.
barrassing. but fortunately I'd locked
It, and they told me how to stop the
Iced water. When 1t was all over
felt like marble statue for hours.
Dinner was at half past Z, which
seemed odd in such a grand palace Of
a house, because Of course at home, for
some extraordinary reason unless you
are In the middle classes, you never
have an appetite before 8 at the very
earliest. II you're In France or other
countries on the continent you can be
hungry sooner, and evidently it Is the
same in America. Perhaps, II were
scientific, / should be able to classify
these differences as natural phenome-
ma.
/ had dressed myself early and was
ready little after Z, because
thought 1t would be nice to sit in the
fountain court, but just as l was 60
ing down Louise knocked at the door.
81 have come to help miladi and to
bring her these flowers" said she.
"They are with million compliments
from monsieur the Lieutenant Parker.
the brother Of madame"
But l have never met him." said.
gazing with wonder upon a group
(bunch is too mean a worO Of NAM
moth pink roses, with thickly leaved
stems longer than walking sticks.
There were at least a dozen Of these
splendid creatures, loosely held togeth
er by trails Of pink satin ribbon, wide
enough for sash. had never dream
ed of such roses almost expected
them to speak.
"Aliladi and the lieutenant will meet
at dinner" explained Louise. ut is an
American custom that the messieurs
send always flowers to the ladies'
Mime. and Mile. Woodburn have re-
ceived bouquets also. but these roses
for miladi are the most beautiful. Is
It miladis wish that / unite the rib
bon and take out one or two for her to
carry"
was on the point of saying "Yes. y
because the flowers were so lovely and
because 1t would please Mrs. Ess Kay,
but on second thoughts l said NO,
thanking Louise and asking her to put
the creatures feet In water. Perhaps
it would be as we'll, reminded my.
self, to see this brother of Mrs. Ess
Kay's (of whose existence I'd never
beard) before | went about armed with
his roses. I had already tucked the
white bud which had come to me OH
the dock like dove with an olive
branch into the low neck Of my frilly
white muslin frock, and I gave 1t nG
rivals.
"Has madame gone down." ! asked
for 1t occurred to me that II would be
awkward to find myself alone for near
ly half an hour with strange man.
81 think madame will be in the hall,
said Louise. And. satisfied. descend
ed in a stately way suited to the
house into the fountain court. Nobody
was there, however, except young
man In evening dress. who jumped VI
from q chair and set down a small
glass out Of which he had been drink
Ing.
"Allow me to introduce myself
said he. II know you must be Lady
Betty Bulkeley. My name is Potter
Parker"
couldn't help wondering whether
his friends called him "Pot" for short
and the thought made me smile mor'
than would have smiled at stran
ger If 1t hadn't popped into my head
This seemed to encourage him. which
| regretted, because you can see a
once by his face that he isn't the kline
who needs encouragement 1t Is some
thing like Mrs. Ess Kay's face. only
younger, with her square chin and
bold blue eyes as pale as hers. The
likeness Is all the stronger because
Mr.. Parker wears no mustache or
beard, and his dark hair. which falls
In two straight. thick blocks over his
forehead. is parted In the middle. You
would know If you saw him riding
white bear at the north pole that lie
was an American young man. why
or how, I'm not experienced enough In
Americans to tell, but Pm beginning
to think that all American men and
nil American women have dim sort
of family likeness to each other. With
the girls, it's their chins and the way
they do their hair. But with the men
It's more mysterious. They look less
lazy and more feverish than our men,
yet at the same time more humorous,
and their clothes seem always to be
new.
Mrs. Ess Kay's nose turns down,
md her brothers. turns up. which Is
the principal difference in their fea-
lures, and his makes him look very
Impudent, though rather clever and
amusing
"My sister wrote me about your
iimples. Lady Bettv." said he when ]
smiled, and screwed my mouth into
prunes and prisms as quickly as !
could.
II should have thought such things
were hardly worth writing about >
said /.
my impression Is that they're worth
about million dollars an eighth Of an
inch" he replied, land bet they'd
fetch that In bear market"
began to wish that Mrs. Ess Kay
or Sally would come, for I'm not used
to having persons who have just intro.
duced themselves make remarks on
my dimples or other features.
Don't be mad with me-" he went
on, "or l shall think I've estimated
them too low. On mature considcra
ton, as we soldier chaps say at q
court martial. should be inclined to
set them higher. II you'll just show
them again.
IT think. IF you don't mind" said l.
"that I'd rather speak Of the weather