Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-10-15

| Tor the play. For TWO Gays 6ne mao
remained in town with the Bird Wo.
man In order to spend more time prac.
ticing and at her work.
Often Margaret had asked about hes
dresses for graduation, and Elnora had
replied that they were with Q woman
in the city who had made her q white
dress for last years commencement
when she was q Junior usher. and
they would be all right. 80 Margaret,
Wesley and Billy concerned them
selves over what they would get her
for a present Margaret suggested q
beautiful dress. Sinton said that
would look to every one a. II she need
ed dresses The thing was to get q
handsome gift IKE all the rest would
have.
It was toward the close Of the term
when they drove to town one evening
to try to settle this important question.
They knew Mrs. Comstock had been
alone several days, 20 they asked her
to accompany them.
While they were searching the stores
for something on which all Of them
could decide Mr. Brownlee met Wesley
and stopped to shake hands.
II see your boy came out finely" he
said.
II don't allow any boy anywhere to
be finer than Billy" said sinton.
~ guess you don't allow any girl to
surpass Elnora." said Mr. Brownlee.
"She comes kome with Ellen often, and
my wife and I love her. Ellen says
she is great in her part tonight Best
thing in the whole play. OF course
you are in to see It II You haven't re.
served seats you'd best start pretty
soon. for the high school auditorium
only seats thousand"
"why, yes. Of course" said the be-
wildered sinton. Then he hurried to
Margaret. Say" he said, there is
going to be play at the high school
tonight. and Elnora Is in It Why
hasn't she told usT
IT don't know" laid Margaret, but
I'm going"
$50 am l." said Billy.
me, too" said Wesley, sunless you
think for some reason she don't want
us. Looks like she would have told US
II she had. I'm going to ask her moth.
er."
"Yes. that's what she's been staying
in town for" said Mra- Comstock.
"It's some sort Of a swindle to raise
money for her class to buy some silly
thing to stick up In the schoolhouse
ball to remember them BY. / don't
know whether It's now or next week.
but there's something Of the kind to
be done"
"Wel, it's tonight" said Wesley.
''and we are going. It's my treat, anu
we've got to hurry or we won't get In.
There's reserved seats, and we have
none. 30 it's the gallery for Us, but
don't care so l get to take one good
peep at Elnora."
"S'pose she playsY' whispered Mar.
garet In bis ear.
"Ah. tush! She couldn't" said Wes.
ley.
"well. she's been doing It three years
In the orchestra and working like
slave at It"
"Oh, we'll. that's different She's in
the play tonight. Brownlee told me so.
Come on, quickl Well drive and hitch
closest place we can fnd to the build.
Ing"
Margaret went in the excitement Of
the moment, but she was troubled.
When they reached the building
Wesley tied the team to q railing and
Billy sprang out to help Margaret.
Mrs Comstock sat still.
"Come on, Kate" said Wesley, reach.
Ing his hand.
'I'm not going anywhere" said Mrs
Comssock. settling comfortably back
against the cushions.
All Of them begged and pleaded. but
Il was no use. Not an inch would MIS-
Comstock bulge. 50 they left her.
They found seats near the door where
they could see fairly well. Billy stood
at the back Of The hall and had good
view. By and by q great volume OF
sound welIed from the orchestra. but
Elnora was not playing.
Out In the warm summer night q
sour. grim woman nursed an aching
heart and tried to justify herself. The
effort irritated her intensely. She lean
ed back. closed her eyes and tried to
make her mind q blank, to shut out
even the music. when the leading vfo-
lin began a solo. Mrs. Comstock bore
It as long az she could and then slip
ped from the carriage and fed down
the street
Che did not know how far she went
or how long she stayed. but everything
was still save an occasional raised
voice when she wandered back. She
stood looking at the building. Slowly
she entered the wide gates and follow.
cd up the walk. Elnora had been COM
ing here for almost four years. When
Mrs. Comstock reached the door she
went inside. The entrance to the audi
torium was packed with people and
q crowd was standing outside. When
they noticed q tall woman with white
face and hair and black dress one by
one they stepped little aside. 80 that
Mrs. Comstock could see the stage. It
was covered with curtains and no
one was doing anything. Just as she
turned to 90 q sound 30 faint that
everyone leaned forward and listened
drifted down the auditorium. It was
difficult to tell Just what It was; after
one instant half the audience looked
toward the windows, for It seemed
only a breath of wind rustling freshly
opened leaves, just a hint Of stirring air.
Then the curtains were swept aside
swiftly. The stage had been trans
formed into q lovely little corner Of
creation, where trees and flowers grew
and moss carpeted the earth. A soft
wind blew. and II was the gray Of
dawn. Suddenly q robin began to
sing, then q song sparrow Joined him.
and then several orioles began talk
Ing at once. The light grew stronger.
the dew drops trembled, flower per-
fume began to creep out to the audi
snce: the air moved the branches gent.
II and a rooster crowed. Then all the
scene was shaken with babel OF bird
notes and other sounds Of nature. The
voices died and soft, exquisite melody
began to swell and roll. In the center