Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-03-09

Brought three tCOmen smiling and lCdp
ing to a door under verdnda.
meadows with white horss gazing In
bored way over rather u queer fence,
and some cows asleep under u clump OF
maple trees on our side OF young
birch grove.
"Wheres the rest Of it:" went on.
"Where are the other shops and the
houses and the people:"
"Oh. the other shops and the houses
aren't built yet. but they may be any
time. and then the people will come.
But the fact that they haven't come-yei
doesn't prevent this from being Aristo
But you mustn't think this is the only
place you will have to do Your shop
ping when you're ut the Valley farm.
Wait till you see Hermann's Corners.
There's a great emporium there, and
you'll ruffle the feelings Of half the
ladies' of Summer county If you don't
fall In love with it and its proprietor,
Whit Walker. Promise you'll let me
be the first one to introduce you to
both?"
We were In sweet and gracious
country now. 1t looked as II Mother
Nature would never allow any OF her
children who obeyed her to be pool
or unhappy here. AS we whlzzed along
the up and down road between bill.
lowing meadows Of grain we could see
here and there farmhouse showing
between trees or peering over the brow
of a rounded hill, but there was none
where longed to stop until we came
In sight of dear, old. red brick house
really old, not what some Americans
call old. 1t was set back several hun.
dred yards from the road and al ave.
nue. Of magnificent maples-eGch one q
great green temple-led up to the com
Portable, rose draped porch which shell
tered the door. There was IN old
fashioned garden on one SIDE. with
running fame Of hollyhocks hemmlns
It in. The background was a dark green
oak and maple grove. and in clover
meadow beyond the garden was col
ony Of beehives. 1t looked an ideal.
story book place. and wished II
might be the Valley farm. but thought
such a thing too good to be true.
When one Is going to stop at house
one has never seen, as Vic says, 1t
usually turns out to be the one Of all
others you like least.
c. oI ,.hnn frpr nod
in at the open gate. with its guardian
apple tree on either side. We sailed
up the avenue under the NAPLES. but
instead of making for the front en-
trance, turned of into a farm road
which led round the side Of the house,
and the footing Of our horn brought
three women smiling and waving to
door under long. narrow veranda
before we stopped.
One was tall. thin. middle aged
woman, with gray-brown hair pulled
away from her forehead and done In
a knob at the back Of her head. Her
skin was sunburned; she wore black
and white print frock, without SO much
as ruitie or tuck. and her sleeves
were rolled up over her sun-browned
arms above the elbow; she had no real
pretensions Of being pretty, and yet,
somehow, she was one Of the incest
looking women ] ever saw. She had
the sort Of expression In her eyes and
In her smile you would like your
..1.l1. o., t,,u, yn,, ro1ld havQ had
your mother made to order exactly ac-
cording to your own ideas.
On her right stood very pretty girl
with dazzling white complexion,
all the whittier for gold powder OF
freckles, black eyes rather deep set,
dimples and a quantity Of curly, bright
red hair wound In a crown Of braids
round her head She was In print, too.
but 1t was blue and very becoming.
On the tall woman's left was an
other girl, also pretty, though in a
forid way, with great blue eyes, full
mouth and a mouse colored fringe
down to her eyebrows. She was more
elaborately dressed than the others,
with q lot Of coarse lace on her blouse
and a pink skirt. But she hadn't the
look Of simple refinement which the
hrst two had In spite Of their plain
clothes and rolled up sleeves. All
three waved something excitedly. One
had a huge kitchen spoon, another =
book and the third a. towel.
"Howdy, Cousin Jim" cried the nice
woman with the expression. as Mr..
Brett stopped the car in front OF the
door. Were mighty glad to see you
again. This is the young Lady Bulke-
ley. isn't It? We're mighty glad to see
her. too, and we're going to try to
make her as happy as We can"
II knew you would, Cousin Fanny,
! or wouldn't have brouRht her to