Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-03-12

you're talkin'! He pays cash an dom.
make no .argain rates when he wants
job done Go wan. y Oh nag. What
y dreamin' off,
There might be history In that cor
ner of the graveyard" said Breitmann.
"Who knows? Good many strange
bits of furniture found their way over
here during those tremendous times.
/ Beautiful place in the daytime. ehy'
Fitzgerald added with an inclination
toward the Pines.
more like an Italian villa than an
Englishman's home. Good gardeners.
| should say"
Culture and money will make q
bog attractive"
as the admiral cultured. then"
"I should imagine so. But ! am sure
, the daughter IL. The admiral. l be-
lieve, occupies himself with his books.
his butterflies and his cruises"
"a daughter She is cultured, you
say? So long as she Is not capricious
and does not interfere with my work.
"Or peace of mind" interrupted Fitz-
gerald. with prophetic suddenness.
which was modified by laughter.
NO, my friend; no woman has ever
yet stirred my heart. though many have
temporarily captured my senses. a
man In my position has no right to
love-" with a dignity which surprised
his auditor.
Fitzgerald looked down at the wheels.
There was something even more than
dignity, an indeflnable something, su-
perlority which Fitzgerald's present at
tItude Of mind could not approach.
This man." he mused, will AFFORD
some interesting study. One would
think that nothing less than a grand
duke was riding in this rattllng old
carryall." There was silence for q
time.
"How long will you be hereT asked
Breitmann.
Cant say. Three or four days per-
haps. 1t all depends. What shall say
about you to them"
"As little as possible"
"And that's really about all ! could
say" with a suggestion.
But the other failed to meet the sug-
gestion halfway.
"You might forget about my ragged
linen in Paris" acridly.
or,fk <hokU 0nN6 nafI1ro6IV-
Come, be cheerful Fortunes wheel
will turn, and 1t pulls up as well as
down. Remember that"
81 must be on the ascendency, for l
am at the nadir just at present" he
breathed In the sweet freshness which
still clung to the morning and settled
his shoulders like a recruiting sergeant
How we'll the man has studied his
Englishw thought Fitzgerald. he rare
ly hesitated for a word. and his idioms
were always nicely adjusted.
The admiral was alone. He received
them with an easy courtliness. which
Is more noticeable In the old world
than in the new. He directed the serv.
ants to take charge Of the luggage, and
to Breitmann there was never word
about work. That had all been decided
by letter. he urged the new secretary
to return to the library as soon as be
had established himself.
Breitmunn was rather grateful for
Fitzgerald's presence. This occupation
was not going to be menial; at least.
there would be pleasant sides to It
And, then. It might not take him q
week to complete his own affair.
There was no misreading the admiral
He was gentleman. affable. kindly
and a good story teller. too. crisp and
to the point. sailor fashion.
"Do you know butterflies. Mr.. Fitz-
gerald?"
"Social?"
The admiral laughed. mo. The law
doesn't permit you to stick pins In
that kind. No; mean that kind" In
dicating the cases.
Both young men admitted that this
field had been left unexplored by either
of them.
It was during q lull, when the talk
had fallen to the desultory. that the
ball door opened and Laura came In.
Her cheeks glowed like the sunny side
Of Persian peach: her eyes spar
kled. Between her moist red lips there
was a fash Of firm. white teeth. The
seal brown hair glinted Venetian red.
for ut that moment she stood In the
path Of the sunshine which poured IN
at the window. and blown tendrils In
picturesque disorder escaped from un.
der her hat.
The three men rose hastily-the IA.
ther with pride. Fitzgerald with glad
ness and Breitmann with doubt and
wonder and fear.