Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-02-08

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most energetic of large family
that had long since scattered to
diverse cities and industries. BE
and Grandpa and Grandma Orde dwelt
now In the big. echoing. old fashioned
house alone save for one maid. Grand
pa Orde. now above sixty. was tall,
straight, slender. His hair was quite
white and worn little long. His fea'
lures were finely chiseled. Grandpa
Orde had been mighty breaker OF the
wilderness. but his time had passed
and be had fallen upon somewhat
straitened ways. Grandma Orde, or
the other hand. was very small
spry old lady. with a small face. q
small figure. small hands and feet
She dressed In the then usual cap and
black silk of old ladies. Half her
time she spent at her housekeeping
which she loved. jingling about from
cellar to attic storeroom. seeing thai
Amanda, the maid. had everything IN
order.
To these people Ordr came direct
from the greatness OF the wilderness
and the ferocity Of Hell's Half Mile
Such contrasts were possible even ter
or fifteen years ago The untame'
country lay Mt the doors Of the mos
modern civilization.
Newmark. reappearing one Sunda!
afternoon Mt the end OF the two weeks
was apparently bothered. He examin
ed the Ordp place for some moments
walked ON beyond It, Finding nothing
there. he returned and after some hes
itatlon turned in up the tar sidewnll
and pulled Mt the old fashioned wire
bell pull. Grandma Orde herself an
swered the door.
Newmark took of his gray felt hat
"Will you kindly tell me where MIR
Orde livcs?"
This is MIR. Orde's." replied the III
tie old lady.
"Pardon me-" persisted Newmark
"l am looking for Mr.. Jack Orde.
am sorry to have troubled you
"Mr. Jack Orde lives here" returned
Grandma Orde. HE is my son. Would
you like to see himT
"If you please" assented Sewmark
gravely. his thin. shrewd face masking
itself with its usual expression OF
quizzical cynicism.
Newmark entered the cool. dusky In
terror and was shown to the left into
dim. long room. He perched on a ma
hogany chair and had time to notice
bookcase with a while owl atop. an ole
piano with the yellowing keys. hair
cloth sofa and chairs. steel engravings
and two oil portraits when Orde ap
peared.
Newmark had known Orde only al
riverman. Like most easterners. h'
was unable to imagine man In rougf
clothes as being anything but rougf
man. The figure he saw before hir
was correctly dressed In what was
then the proper Sunday costume.
"Oh, It's you. Mr.. Newmark" criet
Orde. "I'm glad to see you. DE iet
the way into the ball and to anoibe'
brighter room. in which Grandm'
| Orde sat, a canary singing above he
head.
"Mother," said Orde. ''this Is Mr.
Newmark, who was with US on th'
drive this spring."
"Mr. Newmark and l spoke at tn
door," said she. extending her frai
hand with dignity. IF you were ol
the drive, Mr.. Newmark. you mus
have been one Of the high prlvales Il
this dreadful war we all read about"
Newmark laughed. At Orde's su2
gestiOn the two pissed back into I'll
remains of the old orchard.
Where have you been for the las
couple Of wpeks!" asked Orde.
81 caught Johnson's drive and wen
on down river with him to the lake.
do not like the life ut all. but the driv
interested me. 1t interested me 9