Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-10-25

ments, but she turned away from him
as from one who had slapped the face
of her idol and. pulling on the port
rudder rope. headed the boat for the
bungalow
After dinner Alice sat at the table in
the living room with her mother. her
brother and Tomlinson-that is to say.
she was going to sit there, but the
guest spoiled 1t all and drove her away
by asking If Mr.. Mieklejohn read poet
~ to her by the dim light Of the kero-
sene lamp At this reference to the
dear departed Mieklejohn Mrs. Stetson
cast a frightened glance at her daugh-
ter. Roy was reading book on the
game Of football and was oblivious to
the shock to his sisters sensibilities.
Alice arose and. with her eyes bent to
the floor. left the room. Tomlinson
could have bitten Off his tongue. for
long evening was before him with no
other companions than an elderly lady
and a boy. the room in which they
were being lighted by dim lamp.
Mrs. Stetson retired at 8 and Roy half
an hour later. Tomlinson vowed that
If the period Of this seclusion ever ex-
pired-it seemed to him that It never
would-he would not get into such a
trap again. Besides. he was much
piqued after having been sought by
finer girls to be completely ignored.
considered parsonage Of no impor-
lance whatever compared with the Inn
maculate Mieklejohn. A desire came
to him to supplant Mr.. Mieklejohn and
when he had done so leave Lake Was
sapogie with his nose in the air.
The next morning Mrs. Stetson, evi
dently still concerned about her daugh-
ter's sorrow. suggested another boat
ride. Alice didn't seem to care what
she did so long as Mr.. Mieklejohn was
absent She yielded possibly to her
mothers wish. The boat was taken
out. and the guest Of the house, with
the listless girl. again left the bunga-
low.
Tomlinson bore the references to
Mieklejohn. gritting his teeth. but
making no reply. His object was
-ather to draw Alice's attention away
from this remarkable man to other
subjects from which he might the
more easily direct 1t to himself. He
exerted whatever lady killing faculties
he possessed for an hour. at the end OF
which time his companion seemed
really to have plucked up some inter
est in her surroundings. Then for an
hour she failed to mention the lost one.
Tomlinson was encouraged.
Two weeks passed. each day being
gradual drawing away Of Alice Stet-
son from a man who was absent to
man who was present. All the deli
cious little hooks which bordered on
the lake were visited again and again.
and at last Tomlinson chuckled to
himself:
Now bring OH your Mieklejohn.'
One bright morning they were drift
ing idly through some rushes. There's
nothing like some rushes. some smooth
water. a little brush and few over
hanging trees. with Il man and girl
in a boat. to make a picture of young
love. Tomlinson was making IN effort
to complete the shattering Of the sa.
cred image-Mieklejohn. He ovsrshol
the mark and made use Of the word
love" Had Miss Stetson been sitting
ut the other end Of the boat from him,
possibly what happened might not
have happened. at least not then. But
they were sitting side by side. Alice's
head fell on Tomlinson's shoulder.
What could he do? He completed the
transition. The burden was removed
from the shoulders of the dear de-
parted and placed upon those OF the
newcomer
This is Il letter written by Alice Stet-
son to her bosom friend Molly Bawn
announcing her engagement:
"You see. dearest, mamma knew
from Mrs. Tomlinson that Ned was be-
set by a lot Of society girls of that
class which is trying to live In swell
dom without having the means to do
so. Mrs. Tomlinson was afraid some
Of them would get him and, knowing
what a plain. modest, unassuming girl
] am, without a bit Of deception In my
nature. she asked mamma to invite
Ned here, hoping he and might make
a match. Mamma said he wouldn't
look at me after all the fine ladies he
had met. This set me to thinking. and
I determined to be as unlike them as
possible. When he came ! pretended
to have just parted with somebody
else-a Mr.. Mieklejohn. called him
talking. about what fine fellow he
was. how | missed him. and all that.
till Ned got so mad every time men.
toned his name that I thought he
would murder me. Now I'm afraid
he'll murder me when he finds out that
Mr. Mieklejohn is a myth.
"We're going to be married during
the holidays. and wish you to be my
frst bridesmaid. We're not going to
have Il splurge wedding, but quite gay
enough 10 warrant the prettiest gown
you can invent"