Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-03-26

touchln. his forehead US subtle hint
that In his opinion the foreigner car
ried no ballast.
In the intervening time the subject OF
this light suggestion was climbing the
hill with that tireless resilient step OF
one born to mountains. No task ap
peared visibly to weary this man. Small
as he was. his bones were as strong
and his muscles as strlngy as a VOLTS
IL the butterfly was worth while he
would follow till It fell to his net OF
daylight withdrew Its support.
So It fell out very we'll that Admiral
Killigrew was fond of butterflies. Still,
he should have been equally glad Ia
know that the sailors hobby inclined
toward tho exploits Of pirates. NJ
Ferraud was q modest man. That bis
exquisite BROCHURE on lepidopterous In
sects was In nearly all the public
libraries OF the world only grati1ed. but
added nothing to bis vanity.
AS II oftentimes happens to a man
whose mind Is occupied with other
things. the admiral. who received NJ,
Irerraud In the library. saw nothing In
the name to kindle his recollection.
He babe the savant to be seated while
he read the letter Of introduction which
had been written by the secretary
Of the navy:
My Dear Killigrew-This will Introduce
to you NJ Ferraud Of the butterfly fame
He has learned Of tho success Of your Of.
forts in the West Indies and South Amer
lea and is eager to see your collection.
Do what you can for him. know you
will. for you certainly must have his
book. | myself do not know q butterfly
from June bug. but It will be pleasure
to bring you two together.
Breitmann arranged his papers neat
ly and waited to be dismissed. .He
had seen Nj. Ferraud at Swans. but
had formed no opinion regarding him
In fact. the growth Of bis interest
had stopped at indifference. On bis
part the new arrival never so much
as gave the secretary a second glance
the first was sufficient And while
the admiral read on NJ. Ferraud eI
amined the broken skin on his palms
mir. Ferraud! Well. we'll; this ID
a great honor. I'm sure 1t was very
kind Of them to send you here Where
is your luggage"
II am stopping at Swans hotel"
I'VE shall have your things up this
very night"
"Ohr said Ferraud. In protest
though this was the very thing he de.
sired.
mot word!'' The admiral sum
moned the butler. who was the gen
eral factotum at the Pines. and gave
n dozen orders.
"Ah. you Americans" laughed NJ
Ferraud. pyramiding his fingers "You
leave US breathless."
"Your book has delighted me. But
I'm afraid my collection will not pay
you for yOnr trouble"
IN tuc " uCSiuS. uAJ
South American specimens are all sec
onds. On the other hand. you have
netted yours yourself"
And straightaway bond OF friend
ship was riveted between these two
men which still remains bright and
untarnlshed By either absence or for
getfulness. They bent over the cases
agreed and disagreed. the one with
the sharp gestures. the other with the
rise and fall of the voice Fer them
nothing else existed: they were truly
engrossed.
Breitmann. hiding a smile that was
partly a yawn. stole quietly away
Butterflies did not excite his concern
In the least.
M. Ferraud was charmed. He was
yoluble. Never had be entered more
homelike place. large enough to be
rallied a chateau. vet as cheerful as a
writer's fire. And the daughter! Hef
French was the elegant speech Of
Tours. her German Hanoverlan. In
rompa ra BILE. And she was not married
Helas. How many luckless fellows
walked the world desolate? And this
was NJ. Fitzgerald the Journalistic And
NJ. Breitmann had also been one? How
delighted he was to be here! All this
flowed on with perfect naturalness
there wasn't a false note anywhere.
At dinner be diffused a warmth and
geniality which were infectious. Laura
was pleased and amused: and she ador'
I'd her father for these impulses which
brought to the board, Unexpectedly
such men as NJ. Ferraud.
NJ. Ferraud did not smoke. but be
dissipated to the extent Of drinking
three small cups of coffee after din
ner.
You are right" he acknowledged
there had been a slight dispute relative
to the methods Of roasting the berry
Europe does not roast its coffee; u
burns It. The aroma, the bouquet!
am beaten"
$50 am l." Fitzgerald reflected
sadly, snatching a vision Of the girls
animated face.
Three days he had ridden into the
country with her. or played tennis. OF
driven down to the village and In
sppcted the yacht. He had been lonely
80 long and this beautiful girl was
such good comrade. One moment be
blessed the prospective treasure hunt
another he execnted 1t. To be witt
this girl was to love her: and whittier
this pleasurable idleness would lead
him he was neither blind nor self de
reiving. But with the semihumoroui
recklessness which was the leaven o1
his success, he thrust prudence behind
him and stuck to the primrose path
He had played with are before. bu'
never had the Goals burned 30 brightly
he did not say that she was above
him; mentally and BY birth they wert
equals; simply. he was compelled L
admit Of the truth that she was be
yond him. Money. That was tht
obstacle. For: what man will live OF
his wlfe's bountyi That bodice end