Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-04-30
A MAN OF
EXTREMES
viii Usually Swing as Far
One Way as the
Other
By MARGARET BRoTHERTON

Edgar Crane from the time he could
talk was considered peculiar. AS
little boy he evinced a distaste for lit
tie girls. and as youth his antipathy
for the opposite sex increased rather
than diminished. BY the time ne
came Of age he was hardened wom-
an hater. Such men usually are de-
voted to their own sex. Not so Crane.
He had but little more use for men
than women.
An aunt vaInly endeavored to get
what she called "this nonsense" out
of him and. falling. told him that ne
would some day become a convert to
her views and surrender under cir
cumstances no more sensible than was
his opposition. When she died her
nephew was still of the same opinion.
The old lady left him her fortune,
100000. with the stipulation that II
he married half the amount was to 60
to a foundlings' home. Thus did she
arrange to show her spleen after her
death.
EdSar Crane had $4,000 Of his own,
and, taking his fortune with him. he
went west to become rancher. He
bought a large tract Of land and built
a house In the middle of 1t, thus keep
ing as far as possible from neighbors.
His house was comfortable, and his
domain was attractive. being made up
of plains and rolling land, partly
wooded. He stocked 1t with a few
sheep. but spent more money for
books to put in his library than for
sheep to stock his ranch.
His lands were so extended that 1t
was some time before he had visited
every part Of them. Indeed. he spent
most Of his time at home reading
When he did ride out 1t was for the
purpose of seeing II there were tres
passers on his grounds Several years
passed and he showed no signs Of dis
satisfaction with his mode of life.
Then one day when riding up on an
emlnence he saw little shanty built
of a few logs. some boards and con-
siderable brush on a spot that he
knew was within his bounds.
With blood In his eye he put spurs
TO his horse and rode to the cabin.
Refining up before the door. he called
for the trespasser to come ont. Re-
ceiving no reply. he dismounted ana
put his head within the door. He sur
veyed one room, all there was. a mud
chimney with an open fireplace stood
at one side. Instead Of n bedstead a
bunk was built In corner There We're
q chest Of drawers. II table and several
chairs, the bottoms of the latter being
imperfect.
Crane went inside with view to
leaving a notice for the trespasser to
quit. A charred stick he found on the
clay hearth served his purpose. and
board which constituted part OF the
wall stood in lieu Of writing paper. He
wrote simply:
Leave al once.
OWNER OF PROPERTY.
he was turning to leave when on the
bunk he saw heap that excited his
curiosity. Removing light covering.
he looked upon the face Of a sleeping
babe. The covering had evidently
been laid to protect 1t from flies and
other insects. There was something in
this little lump of unconscious nonre-
sistance that was diametrically differ
ent from Edgar Cranes combative-
ness.
The child slept on, unmindful Of
being at the mercy Of the man on
whose property 1t had illegally squat
ted.
As Crane looked down upon the
innocent face his pugnacity began to
ooze out. A fly lit on the soft round
cheek. causing slight twitching on
the part Of the sleeper Crane brush
ed 1t away. Then. carefully replacing
the covering, he tiptoed from the bunk
lest he should awaken the baby. Leav'
Ing the cabin. he mounted bis horse
and rode away.
He had no sooner left the influence
Of the innocent little squatter than
the habit Of his life regained its mas
terry. He was pleased at remembering
having left his notice to quit-not that
he expected the child on awakening to
pay any attention to 1t. but when the
parents. who were away doubtless pro-
viding In some way the necessaries of
life, returned they would see 1t and
understand that they must move on.
The rancher gave the squatters three
days to get Off his premises-not that
30 much time was needed. bur he
didn't wish to listen to excuses; then
he went to the spot again. He found
the same status as before. No one
was at home but the baby. and this
infantile sQuatter was asleep. He ap-
preached the bunk to find that, though
the head was covered. foot and Eve
little toes were exposed. Crane was
about to draw the clothing down over
them when he paused for look.
From look he proceeded to a touch.
How wa1y they were! he bent down
to examine them more closely. and the
frst thing he knew he had touched bis
lips to them.
The baby pulled its little foot out Of
sight and that ended its connection
with Cranes visit Turning. be look.
ed for q reply to his message. Though
he searched everywhere. he found
none. With a charred stick he wrote:
VIII give you three days mora
Instead Of giving three days he gave
six and doubtless would have given
more had not herder he employed
ridden up to his house one evening and
said to him:
"Mr. Crane. did you know y got q
foundlin' asylum on yer ranchY
"What do you meanT
"Some one las put up mud and
board shapty over by the creek and
left q baby in 1t. rode past there as
1 come In and. hearin' child squall-
In, looked In, and there was no one
there but the baby"
"I'll 30 and see about that" replied
Crane with severity. though In bis
heart was a fear that the pink toed
baby had been deserted by Its parents
Somehow the conditions under which
his aunt had left him her fortune
came up to mock him. She hao
predicted that be would eventually DC