Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-06-16

played out" But they were furnished
with liquor, which in this emergency
stood them in place Of food. fuel. rest
and prescience. In spite Of his remon-
strances 1t was not long before they
were more or less under its influence
Uncle Billy passed rapidly from belli-
cose state into one of stupor. the
Duchess became maudlin and Mother
Shipton snored. Mr.. Oakhurst alone
remained erect, leaning against a rock
calmly surveying them.
Mr.. Oakhurst did not drink. 1t inter-
fered with profession which required
coolness, impassiveness and presence
Of mind and, in his own Language, he
couldn't afford it." AS he glZed mt
his recumbent fellow e1iles the lone
illness begotten of his pariah trade. his
habits of life, his very vices for the
first time seriously oppressed him. He
bestirred himself in busting his black
clothes, washing his hands and face
and other acts characteristic Of his
studiously neat habits, and for the mo-
ment forgot his annoyance. The
thought of deserting his weaker and
more pitiable companions never per-
haps occurred to him. Yet he could
not help feeling the want Of that ex-
citement which, singularly enough. was
most conducive to that calm equanim-
! ity for which he was notorious. He
looked ut the gloomy walls that rose
1000 feet sheer above the circling pines
around him. ut the sky, Ominously
clouded; ut the valley below. already
deepening In shadow. And. doing SO.
suddenly he heard his own name
called.
A horseman slowly ascended the
trail. In the fresh, open face Of the
newcomer Mr.. Oakhurst recognized
Tom Simson. otherwise known as 1.-The
Innocent" of Sandy Bar. He had met
him some months before over u little
game" and had, with perfect eGua-
nimity, won the entire fortune
amounting to some $40-of that guile
less youth. After the game was finish
ed, Mr.. Oakhurst drew the youthful
speculator behind the door and thus
addressed him: Tommy. you're Il good
little man, but you can't gamble worth
cent. Don't try 1t over again. He
then handed him his money buck,
pushed him gently from the room. and
so made q devoted slave Of Tom Sim
| son.
There was remembrance Of this In
his boyish and enthusiastic. greeting Of
Mr.. Oakhurst. He had started. he
said, to go to Poker Flat to seek bis
fortune. "Alone?" No, not exactly
alone. In fact "a giggle). lie had run
away with Piney Woods. Didn't Mr..
Oakhurst remember Piney? She that
used to wait on the table ut the Tenn
perance House? They had been ell
gagged a long time, but old Jake Woods
had objected, and so they had run
away ind were going to Poker Flat
to be married. and here they were.
And they were tired out, and how
lucky it was they had found place to
camp and company. All this the limo
cent delivered rapidly, while PIney, a
stout comely damsel Of fifteen. emerg-
ed from behind the pine tree. where
she had been blushing unseen. and
rode to the side Of her lover.
Mr.. Oakhurst seldom troubled him.
self with sentiment, still less with pro-
priety, but he had vague iden that
the situation was not fortunate. He
retained, however, his presence Of
mind sufficiently to kick Uncle Billy,
who was about to say something, and
Uncle Billy was sober enough to recog-
nize in Mr.. Oakhurst's kick superior
power that would not bear triaing.
He then endeayors1 to dissuade Tom
NmSon from delaying further. but In |
vain. He even pointed out the fact
that there was no provision. nor means
Of making camp. But. unluckily, the
Innocent met this objection by assur-
ing the party that he was provided
with an extra mule loaded with pro-
visions and by the discovery Of rude
attempt at loghouse near the trail.
"Piney can stay with Mrs. Oakhurst,"
said the Innocent, pointing to the
Duchess, "and I can shift for myself"
Nothing but Mr. Oakhursts admon-
Ishing foot saved Uncle Billy from |
bursting into roar of laughter. As 1t
was, he felt compelled to retire up the |
canyon until he could recover his grav-
ity. There he contided the joke to tho
tall pine trees, with many slaps OF his
leg, contortions of his face and the
usual profanity. But when he returned
to the party he found them seated by |
fire-for the air had grown strangely
chill and the sky overcast-in appar-
emily amicable conversation. Piney |
was actually talking in an impulsive.
girlish fashion to the Duchess, who |
was listening with an interest and AMI.
nation she had not shown for many |
days. The Innocent was holding forth,
apparently with equal effect, to Mr..
Oakhurst and Mother Shipton. who |
was actually relaxing into amiability.
"Is this yer id picnic" said Uncle
Billy, with inward scorn, as he sur
veyed the sylvan group. the glancing
freight and the tethered animals In
the foreground. Suddenly an idea min
gled with the alcoholic fumes that dis
turbed his brain. 1t was apparently OF
jocular nature, for he felt impelled to
slap his leg again and cram his fist
into his mouth.
AS the shadows crept slowly up the
mountain a slight breeze rocked. the
tops Of the pine trees and moaned
through their long and gloomy aisles.
The ruined cabin, patched and covered
with pine boughs, was set apart for
the ladies. As the lovers parted they |
unaffectedly exchanged kiss, SO hon
est and sincere that 1t might have been
heard above the swaying pines. The |
frail Duchess and the malevolent
Mother Shipton were probably too
stunned to remark upon this last evi. |
dence Of simplicity, and SO turned
without a word to the hut The fire |
was replenished, the men lay down be-