Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-02-24
A.o,n he sighed. and this time 4


Again he sighed. and this time Al
VIVA did not scream. She bent Gloss
to him and saw his eyelids iuttrr.
Then she few for restoratives. II II
doubtful II any one save Alyina knew
where old Philo Blatcher had kept his
Scotch whisky and Holland gin AM
Jamaica rum in the little corner cup
board In the west parlOr
Alyina knew, and she brought bot
tie and a crystal glass and gave the
man In the chair to drink Of the fiery
liquid, holding his gray head against
her breast as she coaxed him.
Presently he opened his eyes and
smiled at her.
~ almost knew you'd be waiting for
me, Alvina," he said weakly, for 1t
was indeed young Philo come home
after his long exile.
They talked for a long time, and
Philo sat up in his chair and Alvina
dressed the deep wound in bis left
arm.
When Ben Dale and the others came
trooping back, they paused outside the
closed door. Within the room they
could hear Alvina's voice talking.
They heard her address some one as
"Philo." and Ben Dale shook his
round head.
"Crazy as a LOOM" he told them.
although she was bright enough
about guessing 1t was Chinaman
who done the Job. Wonder what
she'll say when l tell her We found
him asleep in the old mill and how.
when we tried to get him. he jumped
into the river and was drowned. She'll
70 plumb crazy
But they were the ones who acted
demcnted when they opened the door,
for there sat Alvina Petty. pink with
excitement. talking animatedly to the
erstwhile corpse, who was slipping a
glass of hot toddy as calm os you
please.
AIvina had kindled fire from the
contents of the wood box beside the
hearth. and she had heated punnikin
of water. There they were rs socia-
BILE rs anything and looking rather
annoyed at the Intrusion Of Ben Dale
and his companions.
81 thought you was dead" said Ben
Dale when. after hurried retreat. he
ventured to put his head into the room.
mot quite" said young Philo grim
ly. although that Chinaman almost
made a Job Of it-robbed ME Of $500
In Shanghai and then when ! prosecut-
ed him followed me here to get his re-
venge. Has uny one seen him."
I'VE saw hir,, and then he went un-
der the Ice In the river. With the
channel flowing swift he must he
down to Rivermouth by this time"
said Ben Dale grimly. Guess he
won't commit no more murders"
II the report Of the murder aroused
the good people Of Lyndhurst 1t Is GER
tain that the discovery that It was not
q murder at all. but that Philo Batch
er had returned home to marry Alvinl
Petty and open the old house that had
been closed SO many years. caused
greater excitement.
PhIlO soon recovered from his wound
but he was very grateful to Bl!lT
Breen. whose adventurous spirit had
been the cause OF Philo's discovery.
He might have died from loss OF blood
and his body have lain undiscovered
for months had not Billy's hunt for
Icicles resulted In the finding Of the
man In the front room. So Philo
Blatcher rewarded Billy Breen In Il
most substantial manner.
No one ever knew why PhilO Batch
er had remained abroad for twenty
years after his fathers death: no one
knew save Alvina, and she never told
the story Of the son who had made
q great sacrifice to save the fathers
honor and that 1t had taken Philo
twenty years to make restitution for
bis fathers shortcomings in Lyndhurst
Now Philo had come home to receive
bis own need Of happiness.
So now Alvina reigns In the 0ld
Blatcher homestead. Instead Of being
the village seamstress she Is the fir1
lady in the village. and to the romance
( the affair Is added the mystery Of
the revengeful Chinaman who had
crossed the ocean and continent to
take life and who in the end lost his
own.
But to Philo Butcher the best part
Of the story IS that Of Alvlna's un-
wavering faith In him and the certain
~ that SOME day he would return to
claim Der.