Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-07-01

What do You mean| exclaimet
Colonel Todhunter.
All colT had gone out OF the girl:
face as she spoke.
"I'll show you what l mean sht
half whispered. her fingers Hutterinl
at her throat. I'll show you! AIM
q good girl no more. Colonel Todliun
ter. l amt titten to breathe the same
air with your daughter Mary. Ton
Strickland and the rest of ems might!
anxious to get me out of the way. I'm
a-goin', too. But not till I've said my
little say to Mrs. Todhunter. sir. Not
till then-not even If Judgment day and
hell itself come to me the next min
uter'
stop that. Lottie-Mny" cried Colo
mel Todhunter sternly. You can't talk
that way without reason and you ain't
got no reason to say what you've just
said bout Tom Stricknnd.'
For reply tile girl laughed in his
face--and the next instant she had
darted past him.
Her head high. her eyes flashing. her
little hands clinched ut her side. her
frame all aquiver with excitement
LOttie- May sped ominously to where
Mrs. rodhunter stood with II group OF
other Ninevch ladies'. Mary Todhunter
standing close behind her mother.
Mrs. Todhunter." said the outcast
girl. her eyes defiantly holding those
of the person whom she addressed. ~
understand that you want me to leave
this party because you think ain't
ftten to be here-that I'm bad woul-
an. Ain't that so, ma'am|
Mrs. Todhunter was ut first shocked
INTO shrinking from the girl. Then she
looked ut her pityngly.
"Lottie- May she replied, with q
frank dignity. I'm sorry you've !aade
such scene 1t is true that we think
you should not be here. But | was 20
Ing to tell you this privately. to spare
you aS much rs possible
mo. you wa'n't!' interrupted tie
girl passionately. You was II goin' TO
put all the shame on me you could.
But Ill say my say before you do It..
Mrs. Todhunter. And amt denyin'
anything. either. nor amt a.heggin
any Of you for mercy. You're goin' to
make me pay for my sin. amt you
me. the sinful daughter of sinful
mother? But why don't you make the
man pay at the same time, Mrs. Tod
hunteri That's what Pm asking you.
Why don't you make the man pay,
toof"
A dead silence followed these words.
Maybe you don't know who the
man is?' inquired the girl. Maybe
you can't name him? Maybe that's
the reason you amt doln' nor sayln'
nothin' against him?'
There was no reply.
"Then III tell you who he is!' cried
the girl. And at this her voice broke
and her fingers again went huttering
to her throat. "I'll tell you his name!
It's Tom Strickland, the man that
wants to marry your daughter, Miss
Mary Todhunter. ma'am-it's Tom
Strickland. that's who it isr'
A piteous little cry came from Mary
Todhunter. Lottie- May Doggett heard
1t and laughed.
Now you've got 1t good and plenty
both Of you-more'n you bargained
''r!' she cried tauntingly. Already she
uad moved toward the nearest door.
Her reckless eyes were full Of scorn-
full defiance.
Make the man pay. tooT' she flung
back at the group Of which now a
mother and her downward swaying
daughter were the central figures
Make Tom Strickland pay-along
with me!'
The next moment she was gone.
Colonel Todhunter saw Tom Strick-
land spring to Mary's side, catch her
in his arms, and. thus holding her, face
the group of women who had fallen
back from him.
The next moment Mrs. PodlNnter
had passed her own arms around the