Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-01-31

him unintelligibly. after which he took
Mildred's hands once more with such
an air Of unconscious proprletorship
that Willis Marsh grew pale to the lips
and turned his back. Other people
whom Boyd had not noticed until now
came down the deck-men and women
with feldglasses and cameras swung
over their shoulders. He found that
] he was being introduced to them by
Mildred. whose voice betrayed no
tremor and whose manners were as
collected us If this were her own draw
Ing room and the man at her side a
casual acquaintance. The strangers
mingled with the little group. leveled
their glasses and made senseless re-
marks after the manner Of tourists the
world over. Boyd gathered somehow
| that they were officers Of the trust or
heavy stockholders and their wives.
He led Mildred to deck chair, and
seated himself beside her
AT last" he breathed. You are
| here. Mildred. You really came, after
all?"
"Yes. Boyd"
And are you glad?"
Indeed | am. The trip has been
wonderful"
! "It doesn't seem possible. can't be-
lieve that this Is really you-that l
am not dreaming. as usual"
"And you! How have you been?"
I've been well-I guess I have. l
haven't had time to think of myself.
oh. my LADY, His voice broke with
tenderness. and he laid his hand gently
upon hers.
She withdrew 1t quickly.
Not here! Remember where we
are. You are not looking we'll. Boyd.
don't know that ever saw you look
40 bad. Perhaps 1t is your clothes"
II am tired" he confessed. feeling
anew the WEAKNESS Of the past twen-
ty-four hours. He covertly stroked a
fold Of her dress. murmuring: You
are here. after all And you love me.
Mildred? You haven't changed, have
you?"
Not at all. Have you:'
His deep breath and the light that
Named into his face was her answer
Il want to be alone with you" he
cried huskily. MY arms ache for You.
Come away from here: this Is torture
I'm like a man dying Of thirst"
No woman could have beheld his
burning eagerness without an answer
ing thrill. and. although Mildred sat
motionless. her lids dropped slightly
and a faint color tinged her cheeks.
Her idle hands clasped themselves rig
Idly.
you are always the same" she
smiled. you sweep me away from
myself and from everything. l have
never seen any one like you. There
are people everywhere. Father is
somewhere close by"
IL don't CARE
81 do"
my launch Is alongside. Let me
take you ashore aud show you what !
have done. l want you to see"
81 can't. promised to go ashore
with the Berrys and Mr.. Marsh"
Marsh
"Now don't get tragic! We are all
going to look over his plant and have
lunch there They are expecting me
Oh, dearv' she cried pluintively. Il
have seen and heard nothing but can
neries ever since we left Vancouver.
The men talk nothing but fish and
packs and markets and dividends. Its
all deadly stupid. and I'm wretchedly
tired Of 1t. Father Is the worst OF the
lot, Of course"
Emerson's eyes shifted to his own
cannery. "You haven't seen mine
ours" said he.
"Oh. YES, | have. Mr.. Marsh pointed
II out to father and me. 1t looks just
like ul the Others" There was an In
stant's pause before she ran on. DO
you know. there Is only one interesting
feature about them. to my notion. and
that is the way the Chinamen smoke
Those funny crooked pipes and those
little wuds of tobacco are too ridicu'
lous." The lightneSs of her words
damped his ardor and brought back
the sense of failure.
~ wus down with the fishing fleet at
the mouth of the bay this morning
when you came In. I thought might
see you." he said.
"At that hour? Heavens! ! was
sound asleep. II was hard enough to
get up when we were called. Father
might have instructed the captain not
to steam 50 fast"
Boyd stared at her IN hurt surprise
but she was smiling ut Alton Clyde III
the distance and did not observe bis
look.
Don't you care even to hear what
have done? he Inquired
"Of course" said Mildred. bringing
her eyes back to him.
Hesitatingly he told her Of his dis
appointments. the obstacles he had met
and overcome. avoiding Marsh's name
and refraining from placing the blame
where It belonged. When he had con
cluded she shook her head.
ut Is too bad. But Mr.. Marsh told
us all about it before you came. Boyd
I never thought we'll Of this enter
prise. OF course didn't say anything
against 1t. you were so enthusiastic
but you really ought to try something
big. I am sure you have the ability
Why, the successful men know a
home have no more intelligence thar
you, and they haven't half your force
AS for this-well. I think you can ac
complish more important things thar
catching fish,
"Importantg' he cried. why, th'
salmon industry is one Of the most I'm
portant on the coast 1t employs lO.OO'
men In Alaska alone. and they produc'
$1O.OOO.OOO every year."
"Oh. let's not 60 into statistics" sait
Mildred lightly; ''they make my heat
ache. What mean Is that fisherman
Is nothing like-an attorney or bro
ker or an architect. for instance; n
is more like a miner. Pardon me
Boyd. but look at your clothes" sh'
began to laugh. why. you look hk'
a common laborer!"