Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-01-26

1ne wlStarla arDor, winch we soon
reached, was like fairy bower hung
with thousands Of amethyst lamps,
burning perfume instead Of oil, and
the moment we sat down troop Of
the fairy residents, cleverly disguised
as gray squirrels, with adorable little
faces, began excitedly to talk Us over.
With heads on one side. they criticised
our feathers, our dresses, our hats
and finally approved Of them so far as
to decide that we were creatures they
might know. They stole nearer, by
twos, by fours, then raced away again,
gray and soft as undyed ostrich feath-
ers, blown by the sweet smelling
breeze. when they saw my brown man
coming back with vivace.
was afraid that Vivace would make
a dash and frighten them, but he evil
dently knows how TO treat squirrels as
equals, not as edibles, for he behaved
himself like the little brindled gentle
man that he Is. Gravely he looked on
as Mr.. Brett produced six small. brown
paper bags. crammed full Of the most
extraordinary objects. They looked
something like wood carvings Of un-
ripe bean pods, but II appeared that
they were peaputs. They smelt good,
rather like freshly roasted coffee, and
when you shelled them out OF their
woody pods they were large, fat beads,
covered with thin brown skin. !
couldn't help feeling rs II had known
Mr.. Brett for long time, rs he sat
by Il. OIL the bench under the wistaria,
helping Sally and me feed the squir-
rcls and shellng peanuts for us 10 eat
too. do believe there must be some
thing special about peanuts, which
gives you a honey sort Of feeling II
you share them with people. They
form sort Of bond Of good fellow
ship, and can't fancy ever being
prim with man after you had eaten
peanuts with him.
Mr.. Brett didn't tell us much about
himself, but from the few things he
did tell gathered the impression that
he has led an open air, adventurous
sort of life. He showed that he knows
a great deal about horses. and rather
hOre he has been cowboy like 1.-The
virglnian," in delightful book have
found in Mrs. Ess Kay's library. In
deed, | imagine the hero Of the story
must have looked like Jim Brett. 1t
Is splendid type.
Sally and he talked about books. He
spoke about some college In the west
where he had been. and ! was glad
that he was Il university man, though
why I should care don't know. Any
way. Stan would be at sea and houn'
dering in the subjects which my
brown man of the steerage and Sally
Woodburn discussed while the squir.
rels frisked about their shoulders. But
then Stan doesn't care to talk too long
about anything except hunting or
shooting or polo or motoring-not even
bridge, at which Vic says he loses q
great deal of money.
We stopped In the wistaria arbor fol
more than an hour, as ! knew by my
bracelet watch, when Sally said sud
denly we must go-though hadn't
dreamed till then that we had been
half SO long. l shook hands with MT
Brett for goodby and so did Sally. but
nobody spoke about our meeting again
as perhaps we should II he were In Mrs
Ess Kay's set. 1t seemed very sad
and irrevocable, somehow, and l had
a heavy sort Of feeling that life car
be full of hard things.
His eyes looked wistful and l salt
what I couldn't have said to man OF
my own rank. "Tve kept those rose:
you sent to me by that dear, funn!
little black boy all this time In watel
and they are fresh still. though lo
| Of others | have had since are faded.
told him, and in that mood | didn'
care whether Sally heard or not
The brown mans face flushed u
| and the wistful look In his eyes bright
ened into something which felt wa
gratitude for my rather silly speech
81 think those roses will hate to die.
he said
perhaps shall press them In ;
book" answered, ito remind me o
my first hoTs In America"
Then we parted, and there was
fuss with vivace. who had to be takr
up In my arms or lie would have cho"
ed himself with his collar In his d.
perate struggles to get free. He whin
pered even then for Il few minute.
but soon he was comforted and ylslb!
made an effort to content himself wit
the fact that he was my dog.
l set him down on the ground. ant
Sally and | walked on together with
out speaking. But ut last she said
Penny for your thoughts, deah?"
81 was wondering about--class dis
tinctions In America" l answered g
think-oh, l do think It's very silly %
you to have any ut all. always sup
posed till knew you and Mrs. Stus
yesant-Knox that one person was con
sidered just us good as another II
America. And II ought to be Tx
that In a new country. where yo
haven't an aristocracy."
aWo have two aristOcractas" sal