Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-04-28

words, "a great little Christmas tree
It is, with fine presents for the reach
ing. Sometimes at night here l see 1t
as 1t was four years ago. l Bee the
candles lit on the great white way.
hear the elevated roar and the news
boys shout and Diamond Jim Brady
Dpplauding at q musical comedy's first
night. New York"
Mr.. Max rose pompously and pointed
a yellow finger at the hermit Of Bald
pate mountain.
~ got your he cried in triumph
"Vm wise! You want to go back"
A half hearted smile crossed the visi.
BILE portion of the hermit's face.
n guess I'm about the poorest lial
In the world" he said. II never got
away with but one lie in my life and
that was only for little while. 1t
was a masterpiece while 1t lasted too.
But it was my only hit as a liar
Usually 1 fail, as l have failed now.
l lied when I said I couldn't cook for
you because 1 had to be true to my
hermit's oath. That isn't the reason.
I'm afraid"
"AfraidT echoed Mr.. Magee.
Scared" said MIR. Peters, "of tempta-
ton. Your seventh son Of a seventh
son friend here has read my palm
o. K. l want to 90 back. Not in the
summer, when the inn blazes like
Broadway every evening, and can sit
here and listen to the latest comic
opera tunes come drifting up from the
casino and 90 down and mingle with
the muslin brigade any time I want
and see the sympathetic look in theil
eyes as they buy my postals. It amt
then / want to 90 back. It's when
fall comes and the trees on the noun
tain are bare and Qulmby locks up the
inn and there's only the wind and me
on the mountain-then l get the fever.
I haven't the postcard trade to think
Of-so think Of Ellen and New York.
She's-my wife. New York-it's my
town.
That's why I can't come among
you to cook. It'd be leading me into
temptation greater than could stand.
I'd hear your talk and like as not
when you went away I'd shave of this
beard and burn the manuscript OF
Woman and 60 down into the marts
Of trade. Last night walked the
floor till 2. can't stand such tempta.
ton"
Mr.. Peters auditors regarded him in
silence. He rose and moved toward
the kitchen door.
"Now you understand how 1t is," he
said. perhaps you will 90 and leave
me to my baking"
Zone minute" objected Mr.. Magee.
"You spoke Of one lie-yOur master
piece. We must hear about that"
ut was like this" he began. "Five
years ago l worked for fruit COM
pany, and business sent me sliding
along the edges Of strange seas and
picture book lands. met little brown
men and listened to the soft swish OF
the banana growing and had an or,
chestra seat ut revolution or two.
Don't look for a magazine story about
overthrown tyrants or anything like
that. It's just quiet little lie I'm
speaking of, told on a quiet little aft
ernoon by the sands Of sea as blue
as Baldpate inn must have been this
morning when I didn't show up with
breakfast.
Sitting on those yellow sands the
afternoon speak Of, wearing carpet
slippers made for me by loving, 80 to
speak, hands, l saw Alexander Nc
Mann come along. He was tall and
straight and young and free, and
envied him, for even in those days my
figure would never have done In q
clothing advertisement owing to the
heritage of too many table d'hotes
about the middle. Well, McMann sat
at my side, and little by little, with
the sea washing sadlike near by, got
from him the story Of bis exile and
why.
II don't need to tell you 1t was wo
man had sent him of for the equator
This ones name was Marie, ! think
and she worked at lunch counter In
Kansas City. From the young mans
bill of fare description Of her gath
cred that she had cheeks like peaches
and cream, but heart like a lunch
counter doughnut, which Is hard.
"'She cast you OFF, asked.
"'She threw me down. said he"