Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-03-12
he terrace is excellent"

| the terrace is excellent"
Fitzgerald stood silent, musing at the
girls side. To dwell in a haven like
this-no care. no worry. no bother OF
grubbing about In ones pockets for
overlooked coins. no flush Of excite
ment!
"You must think me an odd girl"
pray why?"
by the manner in which ! brought
sou here"
ION the contrary, you are one Of the
few women ever met who know some.
thing about scoring a good joke Didn't
your friend, Mrs. Coldfeld, know my
mother? And wasn't your father q
great friend Of my fathers? As for
being odd, what about me7 believe
stood on the corner and tried to sell
plaster casts just to win foolish club
wager"
Men can jest that way with i'm
punity. but woman may not Still.
I really couldn't help acting the way ]
did," with tinkle In her voice and
twinkle in her eyes.
Convention Is made up Of many
idIotic laws. suppose that's why l
am always happy to leave convention
behind. to be sent to the middle Of
Africa. to Patagonia or sign an agree
ment to 90 to the north pole"
The north pole2 Have you been to
the arctic?"
mo, but l expect to 60 up in June
with an Italian explorer"
Isn't It terribly lonely up thereT
1T can't be worse than the Sahara
or our own Death Valley. One e1.
treme is as bad as the other. Some
time ! hope your father will take me
along on one of those treasure hunts.
! should like to be in at the finding OF
a pirate ship. It would make boy
out of me again"
His eyes were very handsome when
he smiled. Boy? she thought he
syas scarce more than that now.
PIRATES gold! What a lure it has
been. is and will be! Blood money.
b-r-r-r! | can see no pleasure In
touching It. But humanity has gone
on. The pirate is no more. and the
highwayman is q thing to laugh at"
THANKS to railways and steamships.
It is beautiful here"
I'VE are nearly always here in the
summer. In the winter we cruise.
But this winter we remained at home.
I, was splendid. The snow was deep.
and often l Joined the village children
on their bobsleds. made father ride
down once. He grumbled about max.
ing a fool of himself. After the first
slide l couldn't keep him or the bill
he wants to go to st. Moritz next win
ter" She laughed joyously.
II shall take the arctic trip" he SAID
to himself irrelevantly.
"Let Us 60 and pick some apple
blossoms. They last such little
while, and they are so pretty on the
table. 80 you were in Napoleon's
tomb that day7 have cried over the
king of ROme's toys. Did Mr.. Brett
mann receive those scars in battle"
"Oh, no! 1t was phase Of his stu
dent life in Munich. But he has been
under fire. He has had some hard
luck" He wanted to add. poor
devil!'
"You fought with GreeceT
"Yes."
"How that country always rouses
our sympathy! Isn't there a little
too much poetry and not enough truth
about it?"
There Is. I fought with the Greeks
because | dIsliked them less than the
Turks"
"And Mr.. Breitmann?"
He smiled. HE fought with the
Turks to chastise Greece. which he
loves"
What adventures you two must
have had! To be on opposing sides
like that!'
Opposing newspapers. The two an
giles of vision made our copy interest
Ing. There was really no romance
about 1t. 1t was purely a business
transaction. We offered our lives and
our pencils for hundred a week and
our expenses. Rather sordid side to
II, eh? And q fourth rate order or
two
"You were decorated?' excitedly.
II am sure it was for bravery"
Don't you believe It. The king OF
Greece and the sultan both considered
the honor conferred upon US as good
advertising"
You are laughing"
"Well. war In the Balkans Is gener'
ally laughing matter. Sounds bru'
tai, 1 know. but it is true"
"I know" gayly. "You are conceit'
ed and are trying to make me believe
that you are modest"
"a bullseye"
"And this Mr.. Breitmanu has been
decorated for valor2 And yet today
he becomes my fathers private Sec
retary. The two do not connect"
MAY l ask you to mention nothing
of this to him? It would embarrass
him. l had no business to bring MIN
into It"
She grew meditative. brushing her
lips with the blossoms. He will be
something Of a mystery. am not
overfond Of mysteries outside OF book
covers"
"There is really no mystery. But It
Is human for q man In his position to
wish to bury his past greatness"
BY and by the sun touched the
southwest shoulder Of the hill, and the
two strolled back to the house.
From his window Breitmann could
see them plainly.
Course those scarsp' he murmured,
striking with his fist the dishgured
cheek which upon time had been
source of pride and honor. "Curse
themW