Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-02-17

"help out" That had been the trouble
with the previous instructors-they
wouldn't "help out" Would Matt help
out cheerfully2 Matt promptly re-
piled that he would. and smiling broad
lily to prove It., inquired for a more
precise definition of helping out
This, 1t seemed, included washing
the gymnasium windows, scrubbing
the gymnasium floor. drying the bath
Ing suits. cleansing the swimming
tank, checking the towels. doing what
ever painting or vanishing was re-
quired In the building, oiling and clean
Ing dozen typewriter machines, and
Observation-Disclosures any fur
ther services that might be needed.
Matt's answers were SO satisfactory
that he soon found himself on the roof,
In a suit of borrowed overalls, assist
Ing q deaf and dumb Swede in re-
shingllng It In this work and others
he passed the day. and in the evening
he taught in the gymnasium.
BY 10 the gymnasium was clear,
and he was free to return home, the
tiredest man in Manaswan, and the
happiest He had got job; he had
already won praise; he foresaw promo
hon and Chris! He sat down and
scratched of q glad little note; the
good news was too big to keep; Chris
should learn by the mornings mail
that he had been une1pectedly-glori-
ously-successful.
At breakfast there was one from her,
which he tore open and read with
sickening, deadly disappointment 1t
ran:
Dearest-It did not seem right not to
| tell papa, and now all that Is left Of me Is
| Q poor. limp little coward In the blackest
disgrace It was worse than his being
cross-I could have stood that-but he
| took It dreadfully. more than l can ever
| bring myself to tell you. have promised
not to see you for three whole months
and not to write to you again except tbs
and I promised for you, too. to do the
same. Please. please don't blame me too
much or reproach me. / had no choice
really had not-and even the three
d
insisted would forget you in three
months, and It seemed wiser to take 1t as
q sort Of challenge, specially when he said
I would be grateful to him all tho days OF
my life I must just show him that three
months won't make the least, tiny differ
ence-and then say. papa, l can't help II,
but love him more than ever. My dar-
ling, I will. will, will And do not
doubt It or my heart will break. He has
q right to know that II Is serious. hasn't
he? That's what he said over and over
again till gave way.
I sn determined not to walt minute
longer than that. papa or no papa. and
what you must do Is to work hard ana
be able to support US when the ume
comes I have to take your answer Tor
granted, as solemnly promised you
would not write to me- Please don't, my
darling, for otherwise you will add to my
disgrace and make papa think have no
influence with you.
We're going to Washington today, so
that I may be distracted. snail DO
that In all truth. but not In papa's sense
and with heart like lead at leaving you.
Don't blame me too much. for love MN
too, you know. better than anything III
tho world except you. Try not to ieei 100
badly, and remember ! shall De tninkihs
Of you every minute of the time. oreao
TO stop. as have said everything SO pad
iv hut II is not the you love II you do
not understand. You will, won't you!
And love me better than ever. and don't
forget that will come. Canio'
Matt reread the letter many times
and his first sensation Of utter aban'
donment imperceptbly altered to II
more sanguine view. They were ooth
saved at least the shame Of clandes-
tine affair, with its unavoidable and
morifying discovery. Better to tell
the general than to let him find out
Chris had been right there-bravely
right. Three months would give Matt
time to solidify his position In the
Y. M. G. A. and apply leverage to that
$50 a month. The world that loved
lover surely included Mr.. Cummins.
Besides. helping out. cheerful IN
structor would soon be worth that ex'
ira $15.
The days that followed In the Y. NJ.
G. A. were like the first, and by de-
grees the world contracted till 1t con
sisted of nothing but the Y. N. c. A.
at one end and Mrs. Suttane's mt the
other, with a mile Of streets between.
Yet Matt was not unhappy. You need
leisure to be unhappy. and he was sus'
tained. moreover. by determination
to succeed. That he was doing so was
indubitable. and Mr.. Cummins was
friendliness itself.
Altogether. the new instructor mao
good reason to be satisfied and might
look forward to a raise In salary as
something he had well earned. He
would not overreach himself. however.
by asking for it prematurely. He was
too wary for that and was playing for
too big u stake. With only three
weeks gone from the three months he
felt he had no time to spare.
One morning Mr.. Cummins called
him into the office and. fidgeting with
some papers in his hand. regarded Matt
with considerable embarrassment
"I'm afraid ] have bad news for
you." he said in his very low voice.
II have been told to let you CO."
discharge me-" exclaimed Matt.
unable to believe his ears. You don't
mean that am-fredr
Mr.. Cummins nodded. with an ex-
preston almost as woebegone as
Matrs. IT'S none Of my doing.
Broughton," he explained. "You are
the best man have ever had In that
department, and 1t came like a thun-
derclap to me- It's worse than un'
Just, and I said so fiat out. But Or
H.. .,o ordorc opd 4 un 0nlv fho