Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-03-23

IN ~ FELT when got up this
liz a morning that was In a
lLss6sS.Ak@t dreadfully embarrassing
IN and uncomfortable posi-
tion about Patty and my
promise to Mr.. Walker.
Iif kept It and tried to use my influ-
ence with her it might be that l would
be working against Mr.. Brett 1t
would be hateful to do that. as We are
such friends. but ] was afraid there
must be something rather catty in my
nature Though ] thought so
before) because ! could not approve
of a marriage between him and Patty
My private opinion was that Patty
wasn't at all the sort Of girl to make
him happy. but didn't dare to depend
too much on the wisdom Of my opin.
| ion lest 1t should be biased by pref
udice. 1t Is so hard when you have Il
friend who has been all yours to sec
that some otler girl may be more con.
genial to him than you are and that
the best thing for him would be to fail
fI love with her
Mr.. Brett has known Patty for a
long time. and. though he hasn't been
here often. he has made flying visits
| sometimes. know, and even Patty
and lde both call him "Jim," never Mr.
Brett. l reminded myself as thought
| 1t all over that probably one reason
why he wanted to stay with his cous-
lns now was to see Patty again. not
| in the least because Of his friendship
with me, which is quite recent thing
compared to his acquaintance with
| Patty. / was so jealous Of Patty, be-
cause she could perhaps take away my
best friend and have him for her lover,
that all her pretty ways and looks
quite annoyed me. and felt could
have slapped her.
Such feelings made me hate myself,
for 1t Is SO unpleasant finding out sud-
denly that you are a brute. Yet I
would not indulge my wicked heart by
telling Patty that she ought to marry
Mr.. Walker. I could scarcely eat any
breakfast or dinner, and early in the
afternoon I crept out Of doors. very
miserable. felt that Vivace was the
only being ON earth who really cared
| for me, and even he was more interest
| ed ut the time in rabbit hole he had
| found than In my society. He wouldn't
come away from II when called, SO
| bundled him under my arm and walk
ed off with him to the sugar camp,
where could be alone and think
things over without having people say
| | looked pale and ask whether the Ice
cream festival ut Hermann's Corners
had given me a headache.
sat there in the deep green shade
Of. the naples on the log where Mr..
Brett and l had talked the first day
came to the Valley farm. All the dis
agreeable things that ever happened
| to me since l was child took this op-
pOrtunity to stir In their graves and
come to life again. Then they sat
down in front Of me in dreary semi
circle. staring me In the face until ]
couldn't stand It any longer and be-
gan to cry. Vivace was very much
surprised and jumped up. with his
paws in my lap, as If he were saying,
"What is the matterT This was a
comfort, and put my head down on
his, with my arms around his neck.
and cried more.
II you once let yourself 60 like
that. you can't stop. Hearing your
own little chokes and gasps makes
you pity yourself SO much that your
heart nearly breaks. was sobbing
| out loud presently, which made Vivace
whine, and l had almost begun to en-
| Joy my utter forlornness and the dis
tinction of being the most miserable
person in the whole world when dis
tracted voice exclaimed:
| "Why, Lady Betty, Lady Betty. for
heavens sake what's happened?'
looked up, all teary and flushed, and
there was Mr. Brett staring at me
| with Mortified eyes and his face as
desperate as If he had found me struck
by lightning or gored by the black
and white bull.
| was so ashamed and confused that
couldn't speak. but just sat there
gazing up helplessly ut him, with tears
running down my cheeks and my lips
trembling. The most awful look came
into his eyes. and he went as pale as
was red.
"My precious one-my darling" he
stammered. and. dropping down on one
knee by the big log. he put his arms
around me.
"Ohw | said. And then my head
was Nesting down into his neck, and
instead Of being wretched | was per-
fectly happy.
"Who has dared to make you cryY
be asked, holding me close.
"You." answered.
T?'
81 thought you were only being kind
| TO me because-because you're an
American and it's your duty to for
eigner"
He laughed ut that-an excited, hap
py laugh. with queer break In 1t.
T've been half out Of my mind with
love for you ever since the first day |
saw YOU looking down ut Inc In the
steerage. Am quite out Of 1t now,
Or can 1t lie true that you care for me
Just little. little bit!'
II care for you dreadfully." said l.
Why. this isn't friendship. Is It? It's
,ein. IN love" =,
81 should think 1t was-with me-"
le said. TITS all Of me-heart. soul
and y-drownin. in love-"
| 'Dnn't drawn" whispered to him.
II can't s;m;e you"
After tha. we didn't say a word. but
| hadn't supposed It was possible FOL
any human creature to feel so seraph
lcaily happy US did. dont know
how long time passed before we ever
spoke, but It seemed only minute-s
minute stolen straight out Of heaven
And he was SO handsome and dear tha
| would have kept that minute forever
II could, for 1t was impossible to be
lieye that another could be 30 PEI
feet.
But by and by 1t did merge Into Sis
ter minutes just as good. and we begaI
to talk ard tell each other things.
He told me again how he'd loved mn
| tro,, tho vary frst instant. and toll