Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-02-15

In movement ana In speech, klnQly
and thoughtful. talked in corner
with Ernest C0lburn, who was just
out Of college and who worked in a
bank. Orde. standing In the doorway,
looked upon quite the usual thing,
only he missed the Incubus. Search
ing the room with his eyes. he at
length discovered that incoherent, des.
located. but persistent youth vis-a-vis
with q stranger. Orde made out the
white Of her gown in the shadows. the
willowy outline of her small and slen-
der figure .and the gracious forward
bend Of her head.
$50 you're back at last. are you,
Jack?" drawled Jane In her lazy. good
natured way. "Come aud meet Miss
Bishop. Carroll. l want to present Mr.
Orde."
Orde bowed tremendously. The girl
inclined gracefully her small head
with the glossy hair. The Incubus,
his sallow face twisted in q wry
smile, held to the edge Of his chair
with characteristic pertinacity.
"Well, Walter" Orde addressed him
genially. "are you having a good
time?'
"Yes, indeed!
His chair was planted squarely to
exclude all others. Orde surveyed the
situation with good humor.
"Going to keep the other fellow from
getting a chance. see."
"Yes, indeed!
Orde bent over and. with great ease,
lifted Incubus. chair and all. and set
him facing Mignonne Smith and the
croquet ball.
Here. Mignonne." said he, "fve
brought you another assistant"
He returned to the lamp to find the
girl her dark eyes alight with amusc'
ment. watching him intently.
walter Is Il very bright man In his
own line" said Orde. swinging for
ward chair. but he mustn't he oil.
lowed any monopolies."
How do you know ! want him 80
summarily removed?" the girl asked
him.
"Wrr." argued Orde. II got him to
say all he ever says to any girl. Yes.
lndeedr so you couldn't have any more
conversation from him. Besides.
want to talk to you myself"
"Do you always get what you want?
inquired the girl.
Orde laughed.
ANY one can get anything he wants
If only he wants 1t bad enough" he
asserted.
"Some people," she amended. How
ever, l forgive you. will even fiat.
ter you by saying l am glad you came
You look to have reached the age OF
discretion. l venture to say that these
boys idea of lively evening Is to
throw bread about the table"
Orde flushed a little. The last time
he had supped at Jane Hubbard's that
was exactly what they did do.
"They are young, Of course" he said
"and you and are very old and wise
"Now. tell me, what do you do?
"What do do?" asked Orde, puz'
sled.
"Yes. Everybody does something
out west here"
Ppm a river driver just now"
"a river driver?" she repeated
"Why. rve Just been hearing a grea,
deal about you from Mrs. Baggs."
"Ohr' said Orde. '"Then you know
what a drunken. swearing, worthless
lot of toughs we are, don't your"
"There is Hell's Half Mile," she re
minded him.
"Oh. YES" said Orde bitterly. there's
Helrs Half Mile! Whose fault Is that
My rivermens-my boys? Look here
| suppose you couldn't understand 1t II
you tried month. But suppose you
were working out In the woods nine
months OF the year. Suppose you SLEPT
In rough blankets on the ground or II
hunks, ate rough food, never saw
woman or book, undertook work Il
scare your city men up tree, risked
your life a dozen times week In
tangle Of logs. with the big river roar
Ing behind Just waiting to swallow
you; saw nothing but woods and river
were cold and hungry and wet and sc
tired you couldn't wisgle. And ther
suppose you hit town, where there
were all the things you hadn't had
and the first thing you struck wal
Helis Half Mile. Say. you've seen wa
ter behind jam, haven't your Wate'
powers a good thing in mill course
where It has wheels to turn, but be
hind a jam 1t just rips things. Oh
what's the use talking2 A girl doesn'
know what It means. She couldn't un
derstand-"
81 think begin to understand lit
| tle," said she softly. "But they are
| heartless class in spite Of all theil
courage. aren't theyT
"Heartlessy exploded Orde. '"There'i
no kinder lot Of men on earth. Their
isn't a man on that river who doesn'
chip in FIVE or ten dollars when a mai
| is hurt or killed. and that means thret
| or four days hard work for him. Ant
he may not know or like the injured
man at all. Why
whats all the excitementT drawi
ed Jane Hubbard behind them. Can
you make It a to be continued IN on
next? We're most starved"
"Yes, indsedr' chimed the Incubus.
The company trooped out to the din
Ing room, where the table. spread Wit
all the good things, awaited them.
10 Orde's relief no one threw an!
bread, although the whole hearted ful
grew boisterous enough before th'
close Of the meal.
In spite Of her half scornful refer
ences to bread throwing Miss Bishol
Joined with evident pleasure In tn
badinage.
After the meal was finished orde