Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-02-09

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new invention by way of gun than
anything else.
USED to be IN the army. I've chuck
ed 1t now." he explained affably, be-
ginning to look quite nice, for really.
though small and wiry. with ginger
colored hair and mustache and no col
ored eyes, Mohunsleigh isn't an ugly
man when you come to notice his nice,
sharp features. He's only distant
cousin of mine and so old (he's nearly
forty that in the first years OF our
| acquaintance he made himself agree
able by teaching me to ride on bis
foot, but l always liked him-when-
ever l remembered his existence. Nat
urally, though, this hasn't been often,
as one Of his many eccentricities Is to
be continually prowling at the ends
Of the earth-anywhere where there
may be animals to shoot. What kind
he doesn't seem to care II they are
only large enough Once he was fond
Of tigers, but the last thing he had a
fad for was polar bears. and he sent
mother q skin, which makes the oak
room smell strongly Of camphor.
II hope, anyhow, you're going to pay
4 good long visit to Newport" said
Mrs. Pitchley.
II meant to 60 back tomorrow morn.
Ing" replied Mohunsleigh. "but per.
haps l might stop on bit longer"
"We'll give you some fun" volun-
teered Miss Pitchley, looking frightful
ly pretty.
"Will your said Mohunsleigh. "Jol-
~ nice Of you. l must think about II"
Then he deigned to remember that
was his little long lost cousin, asked
when I'd arrived on this side the
water and few other things, but he
looked more at Miss Pltchley than at
me. l suppose 1t Is difficult to be
much excited about person who has
| taken riding lessons on your foot.
Potter asked Mohunsleigh where he
was staying, and when he heard 1t was
at hotel he said his sister wouldn't
allow that to so on. Lord MOhuns.
leigh would have to come to the
Moorings, that was settled, and his
man must be told to pack up his things
directly. Migntn't word be sent by
messenger ut once?
Haven't brought man, thanks aw-
fully. Shed that habit long ago." said
my cousin. 'T've got precious little
luggage. too; picked this thing up In
shop as came along and they
charged me the deuce of lot for It.
You're awfully good, you know. and
all that, to offer to put me up, brit ]
only came prepared to spend a night
or two"
Then Potter insisted ard blew all
Mohunslcigh's objections away one by
one us If they had been threads OF
cobweb, still my cousin wouldn't give
a definite answer, perhaps not under
standing American hospitality. or per-
haps having other ideas which he pre-
ferred At all events we went to the
bathing machines (Which weren't bath
Ing machines at all, but dear little
houses) without anything being decid-
ed The only invitation which Mo-
hunsleigh had really accepted was
Mrs Pitchley's. for her husbands
bathing box.
She kept her word and called him
"Lord Mohunsleigh" In quite high
voice, just as we passed the man who
had refused to let him go OH to the
beach before, but the man didn't seem
impressed In the least think he
didn't even recognize Mohunsleigh as
the same person. or II he did he pre-
tended very clcverly not to.
had forgotten the horror of the
bathing dress in my surprise at meet
Ing Mohunsleigh. but 1t fell over me
again like a cloud as soon Us ! was
shut up in the bathing box with those
wsps of green silk. wouldn't have
the maid help me- and wrestlcd with
the ordeal alone 1t took me some
time, but when everything was OIL
there were only four things. counting
the cap and smart little Sandalsi !
couldn't say to myself that the effect
wasn't attractive. 1t was. and | did
approve Of myself in the quaint head
dress, which was more like fetching
silk toque with IN Alsatian bow In
front than mere cap.
But the awful moment came when ]
was ready. with my hand on the door
Pm sure Joan Of Arc must have felt
like that when she had let her hair
down and put on that graceful white
dress Of hers one sees In the pictures.
to be burned She may have been
dimly aware that she was looking
quite her best, as I was. hut even that
couldn't have buoyed her up much at
the moment. and 1t didn't me.
AS stood hesitating, somebody
knocked ! peeped out. and 1t was
Sally-quiet. unassuming little Sally.
with her middle aged airs-looking
like one Of Stans gaiety girl photo
graphs, in short, low necked dress of
bright poppy color. with silk legs as
shiny as an archdeacon's. only with
quite different effect.
"Come on, my green Undlne.' said
she. and ! came. because she pulled
me so suddenly that otherwise should
have fallen fat on my nose.
Having seen her dressed so much
In my style. 1t wasn't quite as bad as
before. and when was out Of my
box-like one of those little barometer
women that tell fair weather-there
was Mrs. Pitchley in crimson and Car
olyn Pitchley In white. and lots of
pretty women. all with the same lovely
stockings There hadn't been any
standing about when we arrived. be-
cause we were early. not having gone
to the Casino first Us the others had.
and II was relief to find them. or
it was. until had Il great shock.
Instead of the men being away at
separate beach of their own. they
were put with us. and kept popping
out of boxes every minute. and run
ming up to talk to the girls they knew.
just as calmly as II they were in even
Ing dress. My eyes almost came out
of my head for an instant. Then !
Just swallowed hard aud leaped over
about five centuries Of prejudice as II
were jumping across tiny beck.
"Everything's a matter Of custom"
said to myself. and In another min
ute was racing gayly down to the