Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-07-01
cHApTER K.
Tho Shame Of Lottie- May Dogsstt-
and Ono Other.

great tnrOnS tnat attenueu Tue
grand reception and ball given
by the Sons Of Confederate Veterans
at the Nineveh hotel.
The hotel dining room. festooned In
bunting for the occasion, was doing
duty as a ballroom, the Nineveh brass
band was stationed upon temporary
platform at one end, and the members
Of the Nineveh Light infantry, all Sons
of Veterans. were there in full uniform.
Half an hour after the ball began
Tom Strickland came to the colonel
with n troubled face.
Colonel" he said. THAT little Lottie-
May Doggett is booked for a mighty
unpleasant experience in few min
utes If somebody don't give her q
friendly warniee."
Whats the matter with Lottie-M May
now, TomY'
"Well. sir. it's pretty serious. There's
an ugly story about her that's got to
the ears Of the ladies tonight, some
thing scandalous. in which the name Of
the man doesn't seem to be known, and
I've just had a dp that she's going to
be asked to leave the ballroom. It'll
shame her beyond redemption. SIR"
"Do you know the storyf"
"Only as It's being whispered around.
colonel. about some man being seen to
leave her house at hours Of the night
or early morning that can't mean but
one thing. folks are claiming. Pm
afraid Lottie-May's In a bad 6x the
way things look"
you amt mixed Up IN this trouble.
are you. Tom?
Tom Strickland flushed. If was,
colonel" he replied. II reckon I'd be
man enough to try and get Lottie-M May
out Of 1t myself without bothering any
body else. No. sir. | amt mixed up in
1t. But. good Lord. colonel. went to
school with Lottie-May when she
wasn't knee high to duck, and
swear I'd hate to see her publicly dis
graced And you know-and | know
it would hurt old Rafe Doggett so. 1t
would break his heart, Sir.
Colonel Todhunter made no reply.
II thought maybe. II you could get
the chance. colonel" resumed Tom anx-
iously. that you might tell her and so
make It possible for her to slip away
,efore the ladies can do what they're
threatening to do. sir. She'll take II
from you. knowing that her grandfa-
her WAS in your old regiment and that
you're telling her for her own good.
where she might flare up and kick over
the traces If anybody csc limited at
such thing. Don't y"n think you
could work il. coionel:"
IF ! do, Tom.' replied Colonel Tod
hunter. it'll be for old Rafe Doggetts
sake. He's too good man to be
brought face to face with shame In his
old age. Yes. III try to do 1t. Tom.
But Id like to wiring the neck Of the
young rascal that's got old Rates.
granddaughter In such mess, suh."
In accordance with this promise Colo
mel Todhunter found opportunity to
speak with tie-May DOggett. Very
frankly he told her Of the danger In
which she stood. The girl. vitally beau.
tiful. apparently as constituencies as
some wild thing Of the woods, flashed
her hot resentment Of his words.
II amt thankin' you for what you've
just said, Colonel Todhunter." she
cried. 1T strikes Inc you're in mighty
small business to come to me with this
story"
II reckon 1 am, Lottie-May." agreed
Colonel Todhunter In all honesty. But
| wanted to save you and your old
grandfather from shame. and that's
why done II"
The girls bosom was heaving with
passionate anger. "I'd just like to
know who 1t was that got you to
come and speak to me about it!' she
exclaimed. "Who was 1t, Colonel Tod
hunter? Was 1t one of them ladies
what thinks l amt good enough now
to associate with their daughters? I've
got the right to ask you this. and do
ask it. Who sent you here. Colonel
Todhunter?"
ut wasn't none of the ladies'. Lottie-
May" Colonel Todhunter made answer
without the slightest hesitation. 1T
was Tom Strickland. He heard what
was goln' on. and lie felt sorry for
you, the little girl he went to school
with when he was boy. And 1t
want meddlin' on his part, either. 1t
was plumb good heartedness."
The girl shlvered as II she had been
struck. tom Strickland!' she re-
peated. almost as II speaking to her.
self. "TOm Strickland-of all men!
He's maxim love to Miss Mary Tod
hunter, your own daughter. And he
knows that Id lay down and die for
him any day he give the word. And
it's Mrs. Todhunter that's been told OF
all this talk about me, and that's goin
to shame ne here before all Nlneveh!
Oh, but It's fine game you all are
playin' to get me where can't do no
harm to Tom Strickland or to your
daughter Mary, his sweetheart"
She stood rigid. her hands clinched.
Then swiftly she spoke again. ''rhey
shan't ruin me this wayp she cried.
Neither Tom Strickland nor Miss
Mary Todhunter nor Mrs. Todhunter,
nor you. neither! III bring you all to
law. I'll make Tom Strickland come
in for his share Of my trouble. Since
him and his sweetheart and his sweet
hearts mother have set the ball roll
In. he's got to face the music along
with mer'