Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-11-15
TWO IN A
GALE
The Results Were Pro-
pitious
By CLARISSA MACKIE
Copyright, 1910, by American Press
Association.

Young men WatcneQ the noteI puS roii-
ing up the incline to the many WIN
dowed hostelry perched on the eastern
mountain.
Dick Fancher lifted a pair of field
glasses to his eyes and scanned the
tiny objects emerging from the bus.
Girls, girls. everywhere, and not q
man in sight" he misquoted complain
ingly.
Lester Pennington leaned back in his
chair and yawned widely; then. as II
suddenly reminded Of something i'm
portant. he jumped up and found a
seat on the railing.
Did you see the masculine young
woman that came with the Bowker
party ?" he asked. with animation.
They nodded assent.
Say" he went on. tell me why a
good looking girl will get herself up to
look like half baked dude? Did you
note the dlnky panama hat, the stih
collar and four-in-hand tie, the white
shirt waist and black cutaway coat!
| Who could make love to girl of that
sortY'
81 couldn't" said Dick bluntly. I'm
fond of fluffy ruffly. lacy sorts OF
girls"
$50 I've observed" chuckled Billy
Satterly, knocking his pipe against the
railing.
You haven't expressed your opinion
Of the mannish young woman. Billy
suggested Pennington.
"Mairs in. Are you chaps going up
after our share" asked Satterly ir-
relevantly.
Going after our own letters; then
we shall sit on the piazza with the
Bowker girls Come up and get your
own mail. you lazy beggar." Penning-
ton poked Billy suggestively as he saun-
tered past. Come on. Dick. Perhaps
we can ring In a game Of tennis. so
long. Billy boy"
"Great Scott, it's hot here. j believe
I'll climb up to the peak where the
wind must be blowing some miles a
minute" Billy pulled his hat down
over his eyes and set forth on the
narrow trail that wriggled up the
mountain.
The wind was increasing. ana the
pines and cedars rustled and whisper
ed noisily. All the wild scents OF pine
and hemlock and trailing sassafras ana
other more elusive odors assailed MS
nostrils as he climbed upward. STOP
ming now and then to rest and gaze
over the view that widened below as
he went on. The long afternoon was
before him, and he outlined vaguely
delightful period Of repose on the peak
with nothing above him but the tender
blue sky and the fieecy white CLOUDS
sailing along toward the south.
"If none Of those giggly girls from
the hotel break In on me | ought to
have a bully old time" painted Sat
terly as he toiled up the last steep
ascent.
He crammed his hat down farther
over his eyes In defense against the
| gale that was blowing up here. brac'
ing himself against the wind. he turned
TO look down into the valley below
when he became aware that he was
not alone on the peak.
Near him, and apparently oblivious
to his presence. was slender. boyish
figure, whose black cloth skirts whip
ming back in the wind accentuated the
masculine appearance Of what proved
to be a girl. land mighty pretty girl
at that" thought Satterly as he looked
at her
This was the girl who had arrived
with the Bowkers-the one Penning'
ton had been making all sorts or asl'
nine remarks about. Billy maneuvered
himself into her range Of vision and
barred his head.
"Stiffish gale" he remarked pleas
antly.
The girl swept him with contemptu'
Gus eyes from which all the softness
had fed and bowed her head 80 very
slightly that Billy admitted 1t would
have been better If she had made nc
sign of recognition whatever.
His brow darkened under the brim
of his hat: then he pulled the hat Oh
again and stood bareheaded In the
| wind, He would make her speak, he
vowed.
"Stifish gale" he said again.
No reply this time The girl had
dropped her hat and framed her eyes
with her hands. looking intently at the
figures like mannikins dotted about
the hotel grounds below.
"Stifish gale" repeated Billy obsti'
nately. still looking at her.
She made no reply to this original
remark, but the young man thought
he detected a quiver Of the sensitive
mouth.
"Stiffish galew he yelled angrily. just
as the gale took her light hat and
swept It with stinging force against
his face. 81 told you 1t was a stifash
gale" he added rebukingly as he held
the hat toward her.
1.-THE hands came down. and the soft
eyes cleaned mirthfully upon him al
she took the hat
THANK you" she said demurely.
Then you're alive. after all,
breathed Billy relievedly. "You were
80 silent I thought you were petrihed
with amazement or admiration or
something. you know"
81 was petrihed-with surprise that
you should address me at all" said the
girl. with unfriendly emphasis In her
low voice. Satterly had to draw closer
to hear what she said: between the
wind and the rushing sound OF the
lswaying trees below there was tu'
mutt of harmonious noises.
"why" demanded Billy satterly
Sluntly, fixing his honest eyes on hers
81 was in the upper balcony Of the
pavilion a little while ago." she said
curtly.
"Ohw gasped Billy.
81 heard what you said." she went
on resentfully. Listeners never heal
any good Of themselves. butt thought
It was unkind In you to say
thought
Billy redeemed to bis forehead. "Oh
'II say" he apologized, "the fellowl
| si5r,t vooop onv harm. tt'a inst thu