Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-03-31


didn't scream. had my wedding
necktie picked out from the samples
Of drummer from Troy.
From here on-the tear I spoke Of,
please. There flashed on the scene q
man she had known and loved In Jer-
sey City. said flashed. He did-just
that. A swell dresser-say. he had
John Drew beat by two mauve neck
ties and q purple frock coat. ! had a
haberdashery back Of me. No use.
he Outdressed me. l saw that Arabel-
las love for me was waning. With
his chamois gloved hands that new
guy famed the ancient fame"
He paused. Emotion-or the smoke
of the cigar-choked him.
Lets make the short story shorter,
he said. "She threw me down. In my
haberdashery thought it over. l was
blue, bitter. resolved on dreadful
step. In the night wrote her a let
ter and carried It down to the box and
posted 1t. Life without Arabella, said
the letter. was Shakespeare with Ham
let left out. 1t hinted ut the river,
carbolic acid. revolvers. Yes; l post.
ed 1t. And then
"And then." urged Mr.. Magee.
Mr.. Bland felt tenderly Of the horse
shoe pin in his purple tie.
This is just between u.s." he said.
"At that point the trouble began. 1t
came from my being naturally a very
brave man. | could have died-easy.
The brave thing was to live. TO 60
on day after day devoid of Arabelia-
say, that took courage. wanted to
try It. I'm a courageous man. as l
say"
"You seem so,' Mr.. Magee agreed.
"Lion hearted" assented Mr.. Bland.
II determined to show my nerve and
live. But there was my letter to Arl'
bella. l feared she wouldn't appre-
ciate my bravery. Women are dull
sometimes. 1t came to me maybe SHE
would be hurt II didn't keep my
word and die. So had tO-disappear.
l had a friend mixed up IN affairs ut
Baldpate. No; can't give his name.
l told him my story. He was impress
ed by my spirit, as you have been.
he gave me key he had-the key OF
the door opening from the east veran-
da into the dining room. So came
up here. came here to be alone. to
forgive and forget. to be forgot. And
maybe to plan new haberdashery In
distant parts.
"Was 1t your wedding necktie," ask
ed Mr.. Magee. that you threw into
the safe when you saw me coming?"
mo" replied Mr.. Bland. signing
deeply. "A package Of letters. writ
ten to me by Arabella at various
times. l want to forget 'em. If kept
them on hand / might look at them
from time to time. My great courage
might give way. You might find my
body on the stairs. That's why l hid
them"
Mr.. Magee laughed and stretched
forth his hand.
Believe me-" he said. "your touch
ing confidence in me will not be be-
trayed. congratulate you on your
narrative power. You want my story.
Why am l here? am not sure that
IT is worthy to follow yours. But 1t
has Its good pOints-as have though!
1t out"
He went over to the table and pick
ed up popular novel upon which his
gaze had rested while the haberdasher
spun his fabric of love and gloom. On
the cover was picture Of very dash
ing maiden
do you see that girl?" he asked.
"She is beautiful. is she not? Even
Arabella In her most splendid mo-
ments could get few points from her.
fancy. Perhaps you are not familiar
with the important part such picture
plays in the success Of novel today.
The truth Is. however. that the noble
art of fiction writing has come to lean
more and more heavily on its illustra.
tors. The mere words that go with
the pictures grow less important every
day. There are dozens Of distinguish
ed novelists in the country at this
moment who might be haberdashers II
1t weren't for the long. lean. naughty
ladies who are scattered tastefully
through their works"
Mr.. Bland stirred uneasily.
IL can see you are ut loss to know
what my search for seclusion and pr-
vacy has to do with all this" cOntin.
ued Mr.. Magee. II am an artist. For
years l have drawn these lovely ladies
who make fiction salable to the masses
Many novelist owes his motorcar and
his country house to my brush. Two
months ago determined to give up H.
lustration forever and devote my time
to painting. l turned my back on the
novelists. Can you imagine what hap
psnedr
my imagination's a little tired"
apologized Mr.. Bland.
"Never mind. I'll tell you. The lead
ing authors whose work had so long
illustrated saw ruin staring them In
the face. They came to me on their
knees, fguratively. They begged. They
pleaded. In order to escape them and
their really pihful pleadings l had to
fee. happened to have a friend In
volved in the management Of Baldpate
inn. am not at liberty to give his
name. He gave me key. So here l
am. l. rely on you to keep my secret.
II you perceive novelist in the dis
tance lose no time in warning me-"
Mr.. Magee paused, chuckling inward
". He stood looking down at the
lovelorn haberdasher. The latter got
to his feet and solemnly took Magee's
hand.
"I-I-oh. we'll. you've got me beat
mile, old man." he said.
"You don't mean to say began the
hurt Magee.
"Oh, that's all right" Mr.. Bland as
sured him. II believe every word OF
it. It's all as real as the haberdash-
cry to me. I'll keep my eye peeled for
novelists. What gets me Is. when you
boil our two fly by night stories down
I've come here to be alone. You want
to be alone. We can't be alone here
together. One Of US must clear out"
"Nonsense." answered Billy Magee.
'I'll be glad to have you here. Stay
oa long aa Won like"