Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-09-26

ANS seemed always to have somethin
on her mind. For q time she wa
sought by her admirers as before, bu
like seeks like, and the young mer
finding her preoccupied and unentel
tanning, gradually drew away to NOR
animated companions. !, too, with th
secret on my mind, was moody an,
Ill disposed to join in the gay sport
our host provided for Us. And short
ly before the expiration Of the tern
for which I had been invited I mad
an excuse to leave. Charlie drove m
to the station and while we were wait
ing for the train said to me:
EILEEN is greatly disappointed q
the failure of her effort to make .
match for you"
I'm sorry not to oblige her, but 70,
know those things can't be forced
Possibly had l known the girl you
wife picked out for me I might hav'
done better"
"She's splendid woman"
II say, Charlie, since we've not mat
ed and it's all over, suppose you tel
me who she is."
"Eileen would divorce me II did"
ION my honor, she shall never know
from me-"
There was q whistle, and the trair
rolled up. Just as I was about to ge
aboard Charlie whispered in my ear:
"Hester Adams"
I hurried into the car and sank II
my seat in a semi-stunned condition.
The little god likes startling things
Better disagreeable episode thar
none at all. Some Of the most VIC
lent loves have started with quarrel
The secret l carried with me had KEEP
Hester Adams in my mind to the eX
clusion Of all others. Eileen Duncan
had told me that the girl she had pick
ed out for me had shown me q pref
erence. And now comes Charlie and
reveals her as the girl ! had caught
pilfering. Surely Cupid must have
chuckled over such q complicated sit
uation.
Charles information capped the
climax. 1t revealed to me that the
plan to mate me, so far Us was con.
cerned, had been eminently successful
but plan to marry me had resulted
In catastrophe. The happy issue in
my case would be paradoxical-mar.
riage with thief.
Soon after the Duncans returned to
the city l received q note from Eileen
as follows:
A confession has been made to me con-
cerning something that occurred during
your recent visit to U.s. One Of our guests
Ono / esteem very highly-has made me
her confidant. I believe every word she
says, and your and my friendship here
after depends upon your believing her too.
l paused to remark that this was a
very womanly statement. 1t confirm
ed my ideas Of the inconsiderateness
Of the sex.
Please come over on Tuesday evening
and hear what Is due the lady that you
should know.
To describe my feelings at this
promised explanation Of what re-
garded inexplicable would be impossi-
BILE. I counted the hours till Tuesday
evening, then went to the Duncans'. l
was ushered into a drawing room,
where stood single person. That
person was Hester Adams. She SEEM
ed to have lost twenty pounds since l
had last seen her. I bowed defer
entially, and without seating herself
or asking me to be seated she said:
During my visit at the Duncans'
one day l went upstairs, SO wrapped
In something Of which / was thinking
that passed over two flights Of stairs
instead of one and entered the room
directly over mine. Advancing to the
dresser, still thinking Of what was on
my mind, 1 picked up scarfpin. At
that moment my reverie was broken
by a footstep in the hall, and In the
glass before me saw you"
"Saw me!" l interrupted.
ut flashed upon me that was in a
mans apartment. l have since seen
how unwise was not to come out and
take the consequences. I feared not
to be believed. 1t seemed to me that
I must bear the imputation Of having
gone to a mans room for purpose.
l preferred that purpose to be consid-
cred theft. I put the scarfpin l had
inadvertently taken up in my corsage
and turned slowly enough to enable
you to pass on without our meeting"
II have been fool" I exclaimed,
mot to have known that you could
see my reflection as well as I could see
yours. 1t is 1 who have been to
blame, not you. should have been
chevalier enough to attribute your
presence In that room to mistake.
Had I known that you saw me
should have certainly assured you OF
my perfect confidence In your inno-
cence."
And so 1t was that my friends ef-
fort in my behalf, Notwithstanding my
folly, turned out to my advantage.
They were much pleased at its ult-
mate success, and I was made happy
in the wife they had placed In my
way.