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

he. since I'd given him up for the rea'
sons | had? He was Catholic, and he
went into monastery we have In
Kentucky and became monk. No one
ever wrote to me about 1t. All my
friends thought the less heard Of him
the better. And two years later, when
| went back home-not engaged. and
thinking in my heart that there was
and always would be only one man for
me in the world-it was to learn that
that man had taken the final vows
which would separate him from earth.
ly love forever
"Oh, Betty, you don't know what !
suffered. I'd been saying to myself
that when | saw him again-as ]
meant to-I would know by his eyes
at the first glance whether he still
cared Us much as ever. and II he did
| would ask him to marry me. But ]
never saw him again. except with the
eyes Of my heart, and ! always see
him so. Not an hour passes that !
don't see him so"
You poor daring!' ! exclaimed.
And there was note In her voice that
made my eyelids sting How little
guessed. And You seem so cheerful
and even merry"
zone isn't In the world 10 be a wet
blanket" said Sally. Besides, one
isn't actively miserable every minute
FOR years because one has thrown away
One's chance Of real happiness. One
gets along contentedly enough except
In the bad hours. when instead Of be-
Ing mild gray the world Is ink
black. But / haven't told you this
to get sympathy. dear. II hasn't
been quite easy telling. for ! don't
talk much about the deep down
things In myself. I've told you In the
hop. that you'll remember me and my
wasted years II your chance comes to
be happy. even il it should be II chance
which you think. in worldly way.
wouldn't be prudent or what your peo-
pie would like. People have no right
to try and order our lives. no matter
how near they may he to us. It's We
who have to live our lives, not they"
For Il minute we were both silent.
and then Sally said quietly. as If she
were glad to speak: Here comes some
one we've seen before. Do you recos-
uize him? And shall you bow"
Vivace gave such leap that his
leash, which I'd been holding careless
ly, was jerked out Of my hand. 1t
was my brown man who was coming
Jim Brett.
My face did feel red! Vivace was
making such fuss over him that Sally
could hardly help guessing whose the
dog had been before he was mine.
But l made the best Of It "Of course
| recognize him, and Of course | shall
bow" said l. "He was very kind to
me on the dock when was at let
ter b.
Sally didn't make any remark about
yivaces capers. though by this time
he was wagging all over with Joy at
his masters feet and jumping up to
his knees. was grateful to her.
In another moment we three had met
in the shady path far away from ev-
erybody else, and yivace began run.
ming back and forth between his mas
ter and me, as II he wanted to make
us good friends and not hurt either OF
our feelings.
How do you doY' said l, holding
out my hand. What coincidence
meeting you here. And my dear little
dog that somebody sent me does seem
to take an extraordinary fancy to you
doesn't he!"
Mr.. Jim Brett laughed and kept hi
hat off. which made him look very nice
with the dappling green and gold light
waving over his thick, short black
hair and his forehead. which is whittier
than the rest of his face.
He had OH better clothes than he
had worn on shipboard. but they were
blue serge, with the air Of having
been bought ready made at cheap
shop In spite Of them. however. he
looked very handsome. and every inch
Of him a gentleman. | don't think
many men, even In STAINS set. could
wear those badly cut things and look
as he did In them. though he does have
to travel In the steerage.
asked Sally II | might introduce
Mr.. Brett to her, and she said yes and
smiled up SO sweetly that | was de
lighted, because for all her talk about
natures noblemen felt didn't know
her well enough to be quite sure how
she would take 1t. But she talked tC
him charmingly and complimented hin
upon his bravery on shipboard. "Ev
cry ole Of US admired you for It," she
said. "and I'm very glad to meet you
this morning"
Mr.. Brett thanked her and, of course
said how pleased he was too. II ar
taking a holiday" he added, looking N
me. l was glad to hear that, be
cause seeing him out at this time thu
thought had occurred to me that ht
might have lost his employment at the
club. But l only answered that 1t wal
q lovely day for holiday and that
didn't believe he could fnd better
place to spend part Of It than in Cen
tral park.
"Have you fed the squirrels yet" h'
asked.
"Oh, no. Can one do that?" I ex
claimed. II should love It."
MAY / 60 and get some peanutsT
he said to Sally.