Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-06-03
". 81 wouldn't be afeared for him IL
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". II caught you that time. Lott'e'
Mayr' she cried. II just wanted to see
which you liked the best. STAN or Tom.
And it's Tom. that's who 1t is"
"You think you're smart. don't you?"
countered Lottie-May. but blushing an
grily. "Well. you amt. Neither one
of 'em Is maxim me lay awake OF
nights. can tell you"
It'll be Tom does 1t. II anybody
does." calmly returned the other. But
they ain't a-goin' to clinch this time.
at any rate. Pete Fanshaw's just call
ed 'em down and put q stop to their
foolishness."
LottIe-May was still fuming with re-
sentiment of this open bantering con-
| cerning Tom Strickland and STAN
| Tucker when she started homeward.
| Not at all unwilling to accept the Sc.
cret wooing Of either. she intuitively
shrank from the open coupling Of their
| names with hers. The shadow OF her
mothers shame oppressed her. and 1t
was only in moments Of sudden anger
| or other excitement that she surren.
dered to Il mood of reckless defiance OF
her dark Inheritance.
Even now, however, IT gave Lottie
| May thrill OF vainful triumph to re-
| member that STAIN Tucker was await
ing her somewhat further along her
lonely homeward way through the
night and that he would accompany
| her as near to her suspicious old grand.
| fathers house us she dared permit
| But Tom Strickland himself intervened
before her meeting with STAN Tucker
this night He. too. was homeward
bound. encountering the girl mt Sc
| cluded crossing Of their respective
roads. Lottie- Mays heart gave n great
leap as she recognized him in the dark
ness. A sudden impulse Of passionate
enticement possessed her soul.
Goodness Inc. Tom Strickland" she
| cried. "You skeered me most to death!
took you for one Of them Black Bot.
toms men from the trappin' camp"
Emphasizing her claim of panic, she
| stood very close to Tom. A loose
strand of her hair blew against his
| face. Her dark eyes were velvety with
unconcealed tempting her voice VI
| brant with appeal.
"You oughtn't to be going home BY
| yourself at this time Of night. Lottie-
May" said Tom. 1T nint safe-for as
young and-and as pretty girl as you
are" His voice shook just little.
Lottie-May laughed. There, Tom.
you've actually paid me compliment"
she exclaimed. a perilous exultation
curving her red lips. "Its the first
one. too. Maybe you amt 30 hard
hearted in the nighttime as you are In
the daytime. Tom!'
There was the frankest wooing In
| the girls manner. She moved until her
softly rounded young shoulder touched
Toms arm.
II never saw the day was afraid
to tell you how pretty you are" he
said. But that's just the trouble
right now. ! don't like to see you go
Ing home alone so late Mt night"
Lottie-May Doggett felt sudden
glow of love for Tom thrill her. At
the same instant. though remembering.
she recklessly ignored the fact that
| Stam Tucker was waiting for her far
| ther along the way.
Maybe you better come home with
me, then. Tom." she said softly. Tom
| Strickland laughed.
That's what I'm going to do. Lottie-
| May" he responded nd never for
give myself II anything happened to
you with me knowing you had to go
home alone You-you're sure you're
willing for me to come with your
The girls eyes were liquid soft.
"Will!n?' she repeated You know
| I'm willin' and more than willin'. Tom.
just asked you-and ! amt never
| goin' to forget this night ms long as !
| live!"
Again Tom Strickland laughed. "You
viii have me making love to you first
,ling yox Snoww he said. you'd bet
ter be careful. LUl,.,..,.... u you amt
| willing"
II dare you to. Tom::' tic girl replied
| In a low voice. Il dare you to: And
| no real man ever took such care from
q girll''
They were moving side by side along
| the road. The girt's free carriage
seemed that Of some Wild and beaud-
| full young animal Of the woods. Tom
Strickland bent toward her. passing his
arm about her soft little waist.
kiss me!'' whispered I.ottie-May In
| reply. "Kiss me, Tom. love you so!'
| Even as she spoke Tom Strickland
had taken her In his arms. pressing
his lips to hers.
And at that moment STAN Tucker.
waiting to meet Lottie-May by ap-
pointment, stepped out Of the shadow
at the roads edge. His face was
black with jealous rage.
Lottie.May Doggett gave a little cry
Of dismay. "Why. STAN" she cried.
releasing herself from Toms arus and
essaylng to laugh. "You are waiting for
me after all. amt you, was afeared
you'd gone home. 80 Tom Strickland
here was goin' with mo Instead"
An ugly sneer was OH STAN Tuck
er's face. $50 see" he replied. Glanc'
ing venomously from one to the other.
"And you seem to be having good
time, both Of you"
'Oh,' shucks. now, STAN. it's nothin'
but foolin'. that's ALL" cried the girl.
note Of pleading In her voice. Il
was teasin' Tom for bein' bashful. and
dared him to kiss me. and he would
not take a dare-and that's the whole
truth"
IL reckon It's all the truth you In
tend to tell" replied STAN. But Ill
tell you what 1t looks like to me. II
looks like
"Stop right there. Stam!' interrupt
ed Tom Strickland. If you've seen
anything you don't like I'm the re
sponsible party. Say whatever you've
got to say to me. not to woman"
81 don't ask anything better. Tom
Strickland" instantly retorted STAN
turning swiftly from the girl. "An'i
won't mince any words saying 1t ei
ther. You're a.
"Stam" cried LOttie- May. running to
the speaker and placing a restraining
hand Oil his that had suddenly been
thrust back to his hip pocket. You
shan't do Il. You mustn't do II. STAN.
Id rnIn mo In Ninarnh foravar anl