Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-12-17

i patting her plump hand affectionately.
IT don't know what I'd do for pie II
you didn't remember me-"
"You can count on pie once OF
twice a week till you get married.
| laughed Mary as he drove Oh.
~Now you're putting premium on
my keeping SINGLE" he called back.
As he drove up the slight incline
that led to his own house. which was
next to Flamm's place. he was think
ing about this subject, which was ever
a popular topic with his sister. II
was true that he would be forty-two
this month. and as yet he was not
married, and there seemed no prospect
Of his ever entering the matrimonial
state. In Little River he had the rep
utation Of being unlucky. but the III
fortune which had seemed to attend
his affairs the past ten years might
have been attributed more to his whole
souled generosity and unselhshness
..ather than mere trick Of fate.
Once he bad been engaged to marry
a girl. and she had died on the eve OF
their wedding. That was when he
was very young. A few years later ne
again wooed n Little River girl. only
TO lose her to his faithless friend. Dave
Raybold. whose note he had also In
dored Af,erward It developed that
the treacherous. David had spent the
borrowed money OIL m extensive wed
Ing trip. which Frank Peters unluckily
had to pay for.
Inside his bachelor abode Frank pro-
ceeded to prepare his dinner With skill
worthy of trained domestic. His
Kitchen was Ms neat and cosy as
ships galley. and the table Mt which
he sat down would have excited the
admiration Of any housewife. It was
not until he had concluded bis meal
and washed the dishes that he sat
down to open the pile Of mall matter
which he had found at the postoffice.
First he sorted out the letters which
might ba of interest. There were only
two. one bearing u Chicago postmark,
the other being from his older brother
in Nebraska. The circulars and cata'
Iogues he left for idle moments.
A perusal Of the Chicago letter left
him open mouthed and staring. In
brief it stated that Messi's. Furrow 4
Sharp desired the pleasure OF meet
ing Mr.. Peters at their office In the
Mammoth building NJ an early date In
reference to his interest In the estate
Of the late David tuybold Of Chicago.
"Frank's gone to Chi"ago." announc.
ed Mary Flamm to her husband the
next morning. "IIe wouldn't say why
he was going" She looked worried.
Hum" snorted Hannibal Flnmm
contcmptuously. Its an easy guess
he's going to buy a gold brick"
When Frank Peters entered the of.
fee Of Furrow & Sharp that morning
he felt little shock at meeting Nellie
Rayb0ld there. She was pale and
worn. but some magic within her had
managed tp retain n certain girlish
look that kept the years at bay. Frank
decided that It was the black gown
and veil that made her look different.
and rs his hand inclosed hers In
warm. firm grasp u pink flush invaded
her paleness and made her like the
Nellie Of old who had blushed at bis
approach.
Mr.. Furrow. pompous little man
with throaty voice. solemnly read
over the last will and testament Of Da-
yid Raybold. It seemed that David
had come into legacy a short time
before his death. and such was bis
remorse ut the manner he had treated
his old friend. that he had in bis incon.
sequent way. left everything to Frank
Peters except the widows portion Of
one-third of his estate. which was small
enough
When Frank Peters heard this his
anger knew no bounds. he 6atly re-
fused to accept the Inheritance and
only after long consultation with Mr..
Furrow would he consent to hold the
money long enough to make the trans
fer to the widow whom he stoutly de-
clared should have It. The settlement
Of this business occupied many days
and necessitated a good many inter
views with Nellie.
At last he returned to Little River.
younger looking, happier and more
alert than he had been for ten years.
Don't call me Lucky Peters when
you want to make a Joke" he admon.
Ished his friends with twinkling eyes.
Nowadays. when you call me that,
you call me right-understandT
They didn't understand fully until
eighteen months afterward he return
ed to his newly furnished home and
brought Nellie Raybold with him.
That's why I'm Lucky Peters," be
smiled proudly. mo man can look at
her and say I'm unlucky."
you're both lucky" half cried Mary
Flanim MS she kissed the bride.
But Hannibal Flamm. who had not
been successful In his efforts to oust
Captain Lemming from the postomce.
wrlng Franks hand and said "Hum."
very significantly