Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-07-14

time for smooth generalihes). seems
to be a quiet. sedate place. A home
town, I should say. where few things
out Of the ordinary ever happen"
It carries on an extensive trade In
stoves and hollow ware with the west and
south, and Its Touring mills have daily
capacity Of more than 1000 barrelA
Axalea Adair seemed to reflect
II have never thought Of It that
way" she said, with kind Of sincere
intensity that seemed to belong to her.
Isn't 1t In the still. quiet places that
things do happen? I fancy that when
God began to create the earth on the
first Monday morning one could have
leaned out ones window and heard the
drops of mud splashing from his trow-
el as he built up the everlasting hills
What did the noisiest project in the
world-I mean the building Of the tow
er of Babel-result in 6nally7 A page
and half of Esperanto in the North
American Review"
"Of course" said 1 platitudinously.
human nature Is the same every
where, but there Is more color-er-
more drama and movement and-er-
romance in some cities than in Others"
ION the surface" said Azalea Adair.
II have Travelled many times around
the world in golden airship waited
on two wings-print and dreams. !
have seen ION one Of my imaginary
tours) the sultan Of Turkey bowstriny
with his own hands one Of his wives
who had uncovered her face in public.
I have seen a man in Nashville tear up
his theater tickets because his wife
was going out with her face covered
with rice powder. In San Francis
co.'s Chinatown I saw the slave girl
Sing Yee dipped slowly. inch by Inch.
In boiling almond oil to make her
swear she would never see her Ameri-
can lover again. She gave In when
the boiling oil had reached three inches
above her knee. At euchre party In
East Nashville the other night | saw
Kitty Morgan cut dead by seven Of her
schoolmates and lifelong friends be-
cause she had married q house painter.
The boiling oil was sizzling as high as
her heart. but wish you could have
seen the fine little smile that she car
ried from table to table. Oh, yes. 1t is
q humdrum town. Just few miles OF
red brick houses and mud and stores
and lumber yards"
Some one knocked hollowly at the
back of the house. Azalea Adair
breathed soft apology and went to
investigate the sound. She came back
IN three minutes with frightened eye
a faint flush on her cheeks and ten
years lifted from her shoulders.
"You must have a cup Of tea before
you CO." she said. land sugar cake"
She reached and shook little iron
bell In shulied small negro girl
about twelve, barefoot, not very tidy,
zlowering at me with thumb In mouth
and bulging eyes.
Azalea Adair opened tiny, worn
purse and drew out dollar bill, a dol.
lar bill with the upper right hand cor
ner missing torn in two pieces and
pasted together again with a strip OF
blue tissue paper. 1t was one OF the
bills I had given the piratical negro
there was no doubt Of 1t.
"Go up to Mr.. Bakers store on the
corner, Impy." she said, handing the
girl the dollar bill. land get quarter
Of a pound Of tea-the kind he always
sends me-and 10 cents worth Of sugar
cakes. Now, hurry. The supply OF tea
In the house happens to be exhausted,
she explained to me.
Impy left by the back way. Before
the scrape of her hard. bare feet had
died away on the back porch Wild
shriek-I was sure 1t was hers--flled
the hollow house. Then the deep. gruff
tones Of an angry mans voice mingled
with the girls further squeals and un-
Ineligible words.
Axalea Adalr rose without surprise
or emotion and disappeared. For two
minutes ! heard the hoarse rumble OF
the mans voice, then something like an
oath and q slight scuffle. and she re
turned calmly to her chair.
''This is a roomy house." she said.
"and l have tenant for part OF 1t. !
am sorry to have to rescind my invita-
ton to ten. 1t was impossible to get
the kind l always use at the store.
Perhaps tomorrow Mr.. Baker will be
able to supply me-"
was sure that lmpy had not had
time to leave the house. l inquired con
cerning street car lines and took my
leave. After I was well on my way
remembered that J. had not learned
Azalea Adairs name. But tomorrow
would do.
That same day started In on the
course of iniquity that this uneventful
city forced upon me. was In the
town only two days, but In that time
managed to lie shamelessly BY tele-
graph and to be IN accomplice-after
the fact, If that is the correct legal
| term-to murder.
AS l rounded the corner nearest my
hotel the Afrite coachman Of the poly
chromatic, nonpariel coat seized me.
swung open the dungeony door OF his
peripatetic sarcophagus, firted his
feather duster and began his ritual:
"Step right In, boss. Carriage Is clean
Jus got back from funeral. Fifty
cents to any
And then he knew me and grinned
broadly. "Scuse me, boss; you Is de-
gen'rman what rid out with me dis
mawnin'. Thank you kindly. suh."
II am going out to s81 again tomor'
row afternoon at g." said l. land II
you will be here I'll let you drive me
So you know Miss Adair2" l conclud
ed, thinking Of my dollar bill.
II belonged to her father. Judge
Adair, suh." he replied.
II Judge that she Is pretty poor"
said. "She hasn't much money tc
speak of, has she?"
For an instant looked again ut the
fierce cOuntenance OF King Cetewayo
and then he changed back to an ex
tortionate old negro hack driver.
"She amt gwine to starve, sub" be
said slowly. "She has reso'ces. sub
she has reso'ces."
II shall pay you 30 cents for the