Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-07-20
! MAJOR AND
A MASHER.
The Gruff Old Soldier Conquered
In Spite Of Himself.
BY SUSAN II. ENDIcoTT.

copyright. 1908. by Associated Literary
Press.
Major james Godfrey. U. s. A., re-
tired and living In his own villa with
wife and daughter. had several fads
and fapcies to keep the family and the
neighbOrs busy. but one particular fad
was destined to get him into trouble
sooner or later.
He could read In his morning paper
with the greatest equanimity Of MUIR
ders. robberies. assaults, thefts and
burninrs at the stake. but when he
came across an item about masher
he fred up at once and shouted Out
that he would give $500 out Of his own
pocket to see the scoundrel lynched or
sent to prison for life.
His daughter used to look ut him In
wonder when he broke out In this
fashion, while the wife was discreet.
" silent. Perhaps the latter had hirt
ed bit before giving her heart to the
major and he was remembering 1t In
his old age.
For three months Miss Kate had
wanted to attend an art school In the
city and receive Instructions. During
those three months there happened to
be an unusual number Of "mashes" re-
corded In the papers. and the father
would not hear Of her even running up
to town to do little shopping unless
he or the mother went along. He
was as firm as the rock OF Gibraltar.
After time. however. the record be-
gan to peter out. and us he was pleas
ed with what his daughter had already
done with the brush and had hopes of
her future the major finally gave his
consent. 1t was only eight miles I"
the city. and then II street car would
take her right to the doors OF the
school All she had to do. going and
coming. as the father told her over and
over. was to keep her eyes cast down
and her purse cutched tightly In her
hand.
Unknown to her, he took the same
train to the city with her for wsek.
and then. rs nothing happened and his
rheumatism got worse. he left her I"
make her way alone.
Two weeks had passed when Miss
Kate came home one afternoon in Il
hutter. Her mother happened to be
out. and she must tell some one. She
therefore related to the father that
while on the street car en- route to the
depot and home some thief had snip
ped the chain of her purse and borne
the prize away. The prize held her
return ticket and dime.
At the depot she found her tears
falling. but good Samaritan had
come forward and handed her change
enough for the fare. She couldn't ex-
actly say whether ne was a grand.
father or a young man. homely or good
looking. BE had spoken only few
words and lifted his hat and retired
1t might have been a white hat or q
black one-she could not tell Obey
ing her father, she had kept her eyes
on the floor, and they were filed with
tears besides
The major heard the story to the
end. and then he roared. The man
who had taken pity on her financis
condition at the depot was masher
Of course. He had followed her home
on the train. He would meet her
again and make the matter an excuse
for addressing her.
He was no grandfather. but young
man and no doubt professional
masher. Miss Kate should have re-
pulsed him with scorn. She shoe. ]
have had him arrested. She should
have hired a truck to bring her home
or walked If all the trucks were busy
For quarter Of an hour he scolded
and growled and then wound up by
saying that the art school business
was at an end. She could attend nc
more. He would sit on the front We
randa with u shotgun across his knees
and If that plotting masher even
passed the house he should carry
away buckshot. Tears were shed ant
loving appeals made. but the rock OF
| Gibraltar was right there.
Two weeks passed, and the mashel
did not appear. At least the major did
not fire upon any Of the young mer
driving or walking on the highway.
The daughter felt that the stranger
had been actuated by the kindest mo
tives He had spoken just enough
not a word more. He had not offered
his card. The fare was only % cents
but she felt ashamed that she could
not return 1t. Had opportunity offered
for IL second meeting she would have
insisted on doing so.
Two weeks passed away. and ther
the mother went to the city to do
little shopping She also came home
with tale to tell She thought she
was telling 1t to her daughter alone
but II so happened THAI the major was
Just outside the window and heard
every word. She had finished hel
shopping and reached the depot wher
she realized that she hnd spent all heI
money. A good Samaritan came for
ward. He smiled. riised his hat. and
that was all.
But Mrs Major Godfrey's eyes hat
not been filled with tears and cas-
down. She had seen that he was /
gentlcmanly looking young man o
twenty-five and that he took the SAM
train as she did and evidently live,
farther down the line. Then Mis-
Kate thought She remembered that II
the one instant she had raised he
ryrs--quite involuntarily. you know
she had made out the same sort %
man
This decision had just been arrive,
at when the voice Of the major wa
heard IN the land 1t was heard as
had not been heard since he led
charge in battle. He stormed at th
two poor females until they were hell
less with terror masher had al
peared to break up his family, and hi
family were willing to be broker
Such carryings on might do for Africs
but this was America. and he wouldn
stand for them.
He talked the women upstairs, an
,. he talked the cook out Of the hous'
and the good Samaritan was respons
BILE for very bad night.
1t was three days later. and thing
had settled down a bit. when the mi
jor announced that be had to go to tt
| city OH business matter. There wa