Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-01-12

bless everything in which we are con-
cerned. as we are certain to be above
reproach. I'm afraid that's quite OF
a piece with the calm confidence we
have in our own superiority. although
dare say should never have realized
It II 1t weren't for Mr.. Potter Parker
and his perky nose.
1t began to be less perky when we
were all settled at q table In perfect
ly charming restaurant the most rest
full place to eat In that ever saw. !
can't imagine even q fiend being I'll
tempered In 1t for long, and 1t was de-
liciously cool. as II We had come into a
shadowy green wood after the blazing.
brassy glare Of the streets.
The big room really was rather like
a wood, so the simile isn't farfetched
an open space in wood, ringed
around with tall trees bending their
branches low over still pool. The
soothing brown Of the wainscoted
walls gave the tree trunk effect; the
great hanging baskets Of ferns and
moss that swung from the ceiling were
the tree branches, and the many round,
snow white tables with green velvet
chairs grouped closely around them on
the polished floor were the water lilies
with green pads floating on the sur
face Of the pond.
Nearly everything We had for lunch
was in a more or less advanced state
of frozenness. from the bouillon, ever
so far along to the ices in the shape OF
different colored fruits, toward the
end. Nevertheless, all Of us, except
Potter, drank iced water instead OF
wine whenever we stopped eating for
an instant or couldn't think Of any
thing particular to say, and the more
we had the more We seemed to want.
There was kind Of iced water curse
upon US.
It has never occurred to Vic or me
10 lie down in the afternoon, though
she tries to sleep a little sometimes II
she's going to ball. But when we
got home, Mrs. Ess Kay and Sally
took it quite as a matter Of course tLat
we would lie down before going to
Coney island to dine and see FIRE
works and other things. they were
surprised when l didn't want to, but
Mrs. Ess Kay said in that case Potter
fv, xr,hfIa fhav roSfad
I told her 1t wasn't necessary, but Pot
ter wanted me to bet my sweet life
that it was just the one proposition on
earth for him, so he and Vivace and
sat in the fountain court while Mrs,
Ess Kay and Sally went upstairs.
Potter was suddenly changed man,
as soon as he and | were alone to-
gether, becoming exactly what he had
been yesterday when first ran down.
stairs and he introduced himself.
He didn't chaff me about my coun-
try and make fun Of our government
or hint that American men were the
only men living who knew how to
treat women, as he seemed to delight
in doing when his sister and cousin
were with US. He began by Offering
to teach me some Of his best slang,
but as the lesson went on, 1t turned
out to be rather more like lesson In
Irritation.
would have been even more startled
than I was. II hadn't already had
little experience on board ship with
Mr.. Doremus. At home I've often
thought 1t must be very pleasant to be
out and able to flirt. but never had q
chance, because. as Vic said, 1t was
her turn first, and the only young man,
not a relation. that ever talked with
-lone was the curate. who would as
soon have tried to flirt with bishop
ess as with one Of mothers daughters.
But I like Mr.. Doremus' kind Of fir
tation almost better than Mr.. Parker's.
Mr.. Doremus makes you feel as II you
were a beautiful young heroine In a
play, and you are almost sorry there
Is no audience to applaud the witty
things he says and the smart answers
he inspires you to think Of. just as II
he were giving you u cue.
Potter is different, and instead OF an
audience you want kind OF perpetual
| chaperon, not Briareus creature with
lots of hands to applaud.
1t Is silly. | know. to blush and SIM
per, but | couldn't think OF anything
else to do, Potter was so alarming. and
wouldn't allow him to tell my for.
tune by my hand, for 1t was much too
hot. Even II it hadn't been l shouldn't
have wanted my hand held, for dc
hate being touched by any one I'm moi
fond Of. When told him that he said
It was very simple. What l had to dc
was to get fond of him, and then II
would be all right.
81 shan't have time" said
."There'll be too much for me to think
about, and then shall be going home
"How long does 1t take an English
girl to get fond Of man?" said he.
told him l didn't know anything
about that, as I wasn't out, but sup
posed it depended on the kind Of girl
81 guess 1t depends more on the man
| in your climate, doesn't it?" asked Pot
ter But over here it's sometimes q
question OF hours for both sides. Why
q chum of mine went out to San Fran
cisco on business which was going tc
keen him Just one day. He met Cir
at dinner, fell in love with her while
she was eating her soup and told hei
so before dessert came along. She
yacillated over the ice cream, but said
YES with the peaches and pears. Mex
day they got married, and he brought
her back east for a wedding trip"
"What did they do about the bannsr
"Oh, Americans have done away with
banns since the Revolution, guess
When we fellows fall in love we're In
a hurry"
Marry in haste. repent at leisure"
quoted primly. =.
1--WE don't repent. We just get dl
yorce. It saves worry. Incompatible
ity of the affections or fatty degenera
tion of the temper or something like
that-but don't need to talk OF sucf
things to you. Nobody who got prize
package like Lady Betty Bulkeley
would part with 1t while he had but
ton left on his coat"
81, don't see what buttons woult
have to do with it, said. but rs
had always been sent out Of the room
at home directly any one began ever
TO mention divorce. thought hat
i a,J Iracc for Itpna