Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-05-20

charm. sub. lf get any kind of taiG
with Miss Angelica, colonel, I'll be
grateful to you all the rest Of my born
days"
Colonel Todhunter chuckled. but
made no reply. The next moment he
was headed for the spot where his
wife ruled the dinner arrangements.
"Well. we'll, Colonel Todhunterv that
lady cried. "I'm certainly surprised to
see you, honey But reckon you must
have heard that all the works done
and dinners about ready. and you're
too hungry to wait any longer"
Colonel Todhunter laughed into Mrs.
Todhunter's bantering eyes MARY"
he said. 81 want you to do good turn
for poor Sim Birdsong."
why. what In the worlds the mat
ter with Sim? That boy hasn't gone
and hurt himself. has heY'
MARY" said Colonel Todhunter.
"Sim's havin' the very old scratch Of
time. He's tryin' to get just minutes
chance to csIrt Miss Angelica Exall.
and her NH won't let him have It, We
got to help him. Don't you need old
Mrs. Exaii over here for minute?'
Mrs. Todhuuter contemplated her
husband sternly.
"Well. l do declare. Colonel Todhunt.
erp' she calculated "lf | was such a
dyed In the wool matchmaker as you
I'd be afraid to 90 out among young
folks at all. You ought to be ashamed
Of yourself"
But Colonel Todhunter held MS
ground manfully. He knew Mrs. Tod
hunter. Her bosom yearned even now
to succor Sim Birdsong In his senri
mental plight.
"You 20 and tell Mrs Exall to hurr,
over here" she said. 1T so happens
that do need her to help dish up the
dinner. II didn't wouldn't send for
her to save Sim Birdsong's life" But
Colonel Todhunter knew better
half an hour later Sim waylaid him
In grateful ambuscade Colonel Tod
hunter" he said. 1T worked And I've
said some words to Miss Angelica Ex
all that I've been trying to say for
month. sub. I'll never forget you and
Mrs Todhunter the longest day ! live.
| colonel"
Later In the afternoon Colonel Tod
hunter laughed to himself.
"I'll tell you. suh." be concluded. III
old Bill Strickland amt solid with the
Daughters of the Confederacy here in
Nineveh 1t amt my fault | amt never
worked so hard with the women since
courted Mrs Todhunter-and she
shore did make me work overtime and
| no mistake, sub"
CHAPTER u.
Mary Todhuntsr Entertains the Green
Eyed Monster.
oLONEL TODHUNTER was
seated In his favorite cane not
~ toned armchair ut the far e;d
of the wide gallery" extending
across the entire front of his home. an
old fashioned colonial house of hos
pitable aspect. With Mrs. Todhunter
be had just returned from the DauEh
ters of the Confederncy picnic. al'i
they were awaiting the arrival Of Mar
and her escort. STAN Tucker. before
having supper.
The Todhunter residence stood on the
crest of a gentle slope overlooking tEr
pleasing sweep Of Missouri countrysi'!'
that interviewed between the town o!
Nineveh and the colonel's own petccfui
fields of growing corn. Mrs. Todhnnter
sat close to her husband. her bands
folded In her lap. her happ!ness sweet
ened eyes contemplating tile pastoral
picture that had come to seem Vita
part OF her own life.
"They'd better be almighty quick
about gettin' here II they know what's
good for en-" grumbled Colonel Tod
hunter wistfully. I'm as hungry as
young hound dog this very minute. III
be shot full Of holes II my stomach
don't feel like my throats cut. Mary.
could eat grindstone right now II
somebody'd bust It up and pass 1t to
me on a plate for real vittles"
"You ought to be ashamed Of your
self. Colonel Todhunter." smiled Mrs.
Todhunter. after that dinner you ate
at the Daughters picnic. declare to
goodness was afraid they'd all think
you never got anything tit to eat ut
home"
"When I'm ashamed Of having a
good appetite, Mary" replied Colonel
Todhunter. land specially II ! ever
come to that day when l nint got IT,
III ask the Old Marster up above to
call me to my heavenly home. Tn aint
no man got right to turn away from
wholesome vittles when the good
Lords been bountiful enough to per
vide 'em for that mans eatin'. Nature
don't never give man such right
II he gets 30 he can't relish his food
it's one Of her punishments for his
playin' tom fool with himself. sinnin
and skylarkin' around. And aint
never seen ro trifler at meal times that
was At to do q mans work"
Mrs. Todhunter laughed outright.
"If you're eating to get ready for hard
work. Colonel Todhunter. Pm certainly
glad to see you eat hearty, because
you're likely to be kept mighty busy
nominatin' Colonel Strickland for gov
ernor Of Missouri You could nominate
yourself heap easier"
"Maybe could, honey" replied Colo
mel Todhunter, but Bill Strickland's q
mighty popular man. all the same. and
he deserves to be reckon l could be
elected eastern him. too. KNOWN blame
nigh every Democrat In Mizzoorah, but
I'd make mighty poor governor. You
got to handle some oil fired measly
customers in politics. and nin't got
patience enough to handle 'em right
That's exactly where old Bill strick'
lands got me beat He can use all sorts
O. men. crooked and straight. to gain
honest ends-he proved 1t when he
was chairman Of the state committee
and that's what governors got to DC
to accomplish anything worth while
That's why I'm workin' for Bill Strick'
land. He aln't only my frlend-he's
far and away the best man for COVER
nor Of Mizzoorah visible to the naked
eye at the present writin'."
Mrs. Todhunter's comprehending eyes
rested softly Oh the colonels grizzled
visage ''Thurston." she said, Il know
better thnn that. know better than
be-,