Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-08-24

Yes, for me book-a volume in thu
hand, held lightly between the fingers
Nh. Kinosling looked pleasantly at
his fingers Us he spoke, waving his
hand in curving gesture which
brought It into the light Of window
family illumined from the interior Of
the house. Then he passed those grace
full fingers over his hair and turned to-
ward Penrod, who was perched upon
the railing In dark corner.
1.-The evening Is touched with slight
coolness," said Mr.. Kinosling. per
haps l may request the little gentle,
man.
"B'gr-r-rufr' coughed Mr.. schoaeld
You'd better change your mind about
a cigar"
"No. 1 thank you. was about tc
request the lit'-
"Do try one," Margaret urged. "Tm
sure papa's are nice ones. Do try
mo, thank you. remarked q
slight coolness In the air, and my hat
is in the hallway. was about to re-
quest
"I'll get 1t for you" said Penrod
suddenly.
"If you will be 80 good" said Mr..
Kinosling. "It is black bowler hat
little gentleman, and placed upon Ia.
BILE In the hall"
81 know where it is." Penrod enter
ed the door, and feeling of relief, mu-
tually experienced, carried from one to
another of his three relatives their in
terchanged congratulations that he had
recovered his sanity.
""The day Is done and the dark
ness,'" began Mr.. Kinosllng-and re-
cited that poem entire. He followed
1t with 1.-The Children's Hour" aud,
after q pause ut the close, to allow bis
listeners time for q little reflection
upon his rendition, he passed his hand
again over his head and called in the
direction Of the doorway:
II believe I will take my hat now.
little gentleman"
Here 1t is," said Penrod, unexpect-
edly climbing over the porch railing In
the other direction. His mother and
father and Margaret had supposed him
to be standing In the hallway out OF
Difference and because he thought 1t
tactful not to interrupt the recitations.
All Of them remembered later that this
supposed thoughtfulness on his part
struck them Us unnatural.
"Very good. little gentlemanV" said
Mr.. Kinosling, and being somewhat
chilled, placed the hat firmly upon his
head. pulling 1t down as far as 1t would
CO. 1t had pleasant warmth which
he noticed ut once The next instant
he noticed something else. peculiar
sensation Of the scalp-a sensation
which he was quite unable to define.
He lifted his hand to take the hat off
and entered upon strange expert
ence-his hat seemed to have decided
to remain where 1t was.
"Do you like Tennyson rs much as
Longfellow, Mr.. Kinosling?" inquired
Margaret.
T-ah-I cannot say" he returned
absently. "I-ah-each has his own
ughl-favor and SAVIOR. each his-ah-
ah"-
Struck by stralgeness In his tone,
she peered at him curiously through
the dusk. His outlines were indis-
tinct but she made out that his arms
were uplifted In singular gesture.
He seemed to be wrenching at biz
head.
"Is-is anything the matter" she
asked anxlously. "Mr. Kinosling, are
you illT
"Not at-ugh!-all," he replied, in the
same odd tone. "I-ah-I believe
ughr
He dropped his hands from his hat
and rose His manner was slightly agi-
tated. II fear l may have taken n
trifing- -ah-cold. I should-ah-per-
haps be-ah-better at home. / will
kh-say good night"
At the steps he instinctively lifted
his hand to remove his hat. but did not
lo so and. saying Good night" again
In frigid tone, departed with visible
}tiffness from that house, to return no
more.
"Well, Of all'- cried Mrs. Scho6eld,
astounded. "What was the matter?
He just went-like that" She made
furried gesture. "In heavens name,
Margaret, what did you say to himT
"Iw exclaimed Margaret Indignantly.
1Nothing! He Just went"
"Why, he didn't even take of his hat
when he said good nightg said Mrs.
Schof1eld.
Margaret who had crossed to the
doorway, caught the ghost Of whis-
per behind her, where stood Penrod.
"You bet he didnt!"
He knew not that he was overheard.
A frightful suspicion flashed through
Margaret's mind-suspicion that Kinos-
| ling's hat would have to be either
boiled Off or shaved off. With growing
horror she recalled Penrod's long abb
sence when he went to bring the hat
"Penrod," she cried. "let me see your
hands"
She had toiled at those hands herself
late that afternoon, nearly scalding her
own, but ut last achieving lily purity.
| "Let me see your hands"
She seized them.
| Again they were tarred!