Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-09-23


keep 1t a secret from my parents. !
remember that I passed through a se-
we're mental struggle before l could
bring myself to deceive them. but !
tried to think Of how proud they would
be when I was acknowledged as the
wife Of a wealthy and aristocratic
planter. Yet in my heart knew that
did not conflde in them, for they
would surely prevent the marriage II
they knew it was to take place.
It was near midnight when got out
Of my window on to the veranda and
descended by the limb Of a magnolia
tree that overhung It can see now
in the moonlight the manor house. the
negroes white cabins hanking 1t. the
double row Of moss covered trees lead
ing to the gate. had scarcely reached
It when Harry clasped me in his arms
My legs seemed about to give way be
meath me, and he carried me to two
wheeled cart, placed me in 1t and drove
me to the church. 1t was dark. the
reflected light Of the moon only shin
ing from a pane Of glass.
Some one opened side door and ]
was led in. the moonlight streaming
through gothic windows, to the chancel
There stood a clergyman in his vest
ments. A lamp such as is used to
throw a light on sermon alone was
burning low. He turned 1t up. its light
falling on a prayer book. Then he be
gan to read the marriage service. He
seemed to be unfamiliar with 1t and
constantly stumbled. But so far as
was able to take cognizance Of this ]
attributed 1t to haste He came to the
part where an opportunity Is given to
enter q protest against the marriage
when voice from behind said:
Don't make noise, gentlemen. ]
got word Of your scheme this after
noon. You talked too loud at the st
Leger tavern. On the young lady's &c
count this affair must be kept quiet
Du Bois. you are villain Of the deep
est dye. AS for you, Markham, you are
beneath contempt"
These words sounded In my ears as
If they came from a distance. Others
were spoken. but don't remember
them. Then the same voice spoke to
me, the light fell for a moment on the
sneakers features, and saw Courtney
Carroll
"Will you permit me to get you
homer will try to do so without your
return being known"
I knew now that had been tricked
and that had been saved. l put my
trembling hand on Carroll's arm and
left the church with him. When | got
home I was too weak to ascend to my
room as I had come down from 1t. and
Carroll climbed the magnolia. went
Into my room. stepped downstairs and
opened the door for me. l reached my
chamber without arousing any one.
The next morning | deferred going
downstairs till all had breakfasted.
When ! entered the dining room. pale
and trembling. Susan. the servant. said
to me:
Laws a-massy. Missy Alice. hab yo
hearn de awful news"
mo. For heavens sake. what Is
lt?"
"Dls mawnin' about sun up Marse
Courtney Carroll and Marse Harry Du
Bois fit a duel. and Marse Carroll done
got pretty nigh killed"
How | bore this second blow ! can
not conceive. It took Susan but n
moment to hurl the shaft, but the paln
I suffered is with me today. an old
woman
Courtney Carroll fingered for several
days, then died Shortly before his
death he sent for me to come to him
l was carried there in benumbed
state Of feeling and received by his
father. can see to this day on his
face the look Of loving sympathy and
distress at his approaching loss. he
led, or rather supported, me to his
Hon's chamber and left me there. all
others having gone out ut my arrival
Pardon my interference In your at'
fair" he said Had l not known
YOU were to be made victim would
have left you to do as you liked. ]
have sent for you not only to apollo
rize for my interference, but to con
fess to you that ever since your COM
Ing here two years ago have been
battling with a desire to become
suitor for your hand Why I was de
TERED from doing 30 need not be
mentioned. was about to yield when
I learned that Du Bois had stepped In
before me. That is all. preferred
that you should know that ! had more
than an ordinary reason for becoming
pour champion"
Borrowing a Match.
Weldon GrossmIth In From Studio
10 Stage" tells Of his friend Heather
Bigg. who annoyed him frequently by
asking him for a match while angling
during intensely cold weather. To sup
ply the request meant pulling In bis
line, unfastening his macintosh, theI
the overcoat and finally the undercoat.
But, then, who can grudge 30 small q
thing as matchi
The second day we fished 1t was pos
ihvely colder. Heather Biggs pipe
had gone out as usual. "Weedon. got
q matchY'
II suddenly occurred to me he must
have brought matches with him OF
how did be light his pipe. so l an
swered. mo"
what a nuisancer' he replied and
drew In bis line. undid his macintosh,
then the overcoat and undercoat and
at lust took out box OF matches.
why" ! said. you've got your
matches with yon"
"Yes," he replied. "but l didn't wan'
to catch cold getting them."
Ships That Kick.
Ask a sailor II his ship Is kicker
and he knows well what you mean. foI
II Is about the first question be asks
when he takes the helm.
Up there On the bridge IN rougr
weather the man at the wheel mas
many q tough tussle If his ship. owing
to her constructive lines or ballasting
ia inclined to he skittish. Sometimes
Il -t.A <zRs m N