Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-10-25
Mr..
Mieklejohn
He Was a Fine Fellow and
Served ar. Important Purpose
By F. A. Mitchell
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

I'm a0mlraDle Cdtcu. de was u uut
fellow in every way and when ht
came of age fell heir to fortune Oi
some $GOOOOO. He was besieged by
fortune hunting girls.
1t was something of a relief. there
fore. when Mrs. Stetson, an old friend
Of his mother. reminded him that ht
was promised to her for visit at hei
unpretentious bungalow on Lake Was
sapogis for the last two weeks In Sep
tember. He had engaged for this visit
In the spring to please his mother ant
before he had made his round Of house
parties. At that time he looked for
ward to two weeks In Mrs. Stetson's
bungalow as burying himself in the
woods. There was to be no Other
guest, and the family consisted only OF
Mrs. Stetson, her son. Roy, aged six
teen, and her daughter. Alice, aged
twenty. Tomlinson was told that II
would not be necessary to bring even
Ing dress: that he would need tlanne
shirts and any old clothes he might
possess His days would be passed In
a rowboat and his evenings In the liv
ing room of the bungalow with the
family sitting around table reading
by kerosene lamp.
After being hunted by spinsters
TomlinsOn rather liked the idea Of get
ting away by himself. True. there was
Alice Stetson. who might be lying in
wait for him. but 1t was not improb
able that he could get away occasion
ally alone for pull over the waters
Of the lake.
1t was near the 1st Of October when
TomlinsOn was driven up to the reaI
door Of the bungalow the house faced
the lake and was built ON its verge
and the foliage had already begun IL
take on It's varegated hues. Mrs
Stetson and Roy welcomed the guest
Tomlinson noticed the absence of Miss
Alice and was so well bred rs to say
that he hoped she was not from home
He was told that she was In the house
but would not appear before dinner
Her mother vaguely hinted that there
was a reason for her keeping her room
for the present. and from the sympa
thetic tone In which the statement
was made Tomlinson Inferred that
some sad event had occurred.
Alice came out OF her room as din
ner was announced. She did not say
anything about the lugubrious event
but she looked intensely sad. Indeed
her eyes were red, an evidence that
she had been weeping. The effort she
made to seem cheerful was touching
Tomlinson was tempted to inquire
what was the cause Of her melancholy,
but was too well bred to trespass on
the sacred feelings Of young girl
Alice retired to her room early In the
evening.
The next morning her depression
continued. though Tomlinson noticed
that she ate heartily. Mrs. Stetson
suggested that she show Tomlinson
the beauties of Wassapogie lake. Alice
rast IL look Of appeal at her mother
as much us to say. It's cruel that
must exert myself to entertain stran'
ger when my heart Is crushed. but
the mother insisted. telling her daugh
ter that the fresh air would raise her
spirits and that she should make ar
rffOrt.
What kind Of an effort she should
make the mother did not explain. Roy
got out a boat. and as Alice stepped
into Il dressed In very becoming
blouse and Il short skirt Tomlnson
noticed that she possessed u foot and
ankle the curves of which were very
delicately turned She asked Roy If be
was not going with them. and when
he said he was going instead for
ducks she gave him reproachfn
glance. Tominson. relieved at Roy's
refusal. took the oars and pulled ava!
from the front porch. which served as
IN landing for the title bungalow bur
led under trees and shrubbery. dip
ping his oars into water lilies. ther
gliding away into deep water.
There was an autumn crispness II
the mir. and Tomlinson wished the lad!
were in q better condition to enjoy Il
with him. He drew her into converse
t,on and soon learned the cause OF hel
distress When he admired clump o.
trees on the crest Of a knoll she said
"Mr. Mieklciohn always admired that
When he pulled into little cove Will
l. tiny beach overhung with wildwood
land remarked what charming spot i
was she replied sadly. "Mr. Miekle
John and I always used to pull in herr
when we came out boating"
MAY / ask who Mr. Mieklejohn Isl
OH This was an exclamation a.
though she had unwittingly betrayed
herself. "Alr. Mieklejohn Is a yer!
good friend Of ours. He left us yester
day morning just before you came"
II was all out. This bee MieklejohI
had been there. had captured the priz
and there was no sweetness left TO
poor Tomlinson.
"Pardon me-" he said, with a sus
picion Of hauteur 81 did not know tha
I was trespassing on sacred ground"
"Oh, no. I assure you you quite mis-
take me-"
"ln what respect"
Its as | said. Mr.. Mieklejohn Is
very good friend to us all-mother
Roy, all Of U.s."
"But when he goes away you do tn
mourning"
She looked very much hurt at this
almost offended.
Tomlinson was disgruntled. Notwitf
standing that this was very differer
from the social life he had been eI
toying he would have liked tn
change. especially for the company q
this pretty girl. had not MicklejOh
spoiled 1t all by going away. takin
her heart with him. With the gir
Tomlinson had met he was surfeitet
Here was girl so preoccupied wit
another that she couldn't even be con
panionable. This Is specimen OF th
way she talked about Mieklejohn:
"Do you sing? No! Mr.. Miekle1oh
has such u lovely tenor voice. Whe
he sings he thrills me- He used to sin
parts from Faust and | almos
wished had been Marguerite. Nj
Micklejohn Is very versatile. He Is ii
P best whist player. the best billiar
e player, the best horseback rider. I'll
baat awimmer''-