Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-07-27

victoria arrived at gallop, and
large, chastely magnificent and highly
flushed woman descended and pro-
gressed across the yard with an air Of
violence.
At sight Of her the adults Of the
waiting line hastily disappeared, and
most Of the pausing vehicles moved In
stantly on their way. She was follow
ed by a stricken man in livery.
The stairs to the auditorium were
narrow and steep. Mrs. Roder1ck
Magsworth Bits was of stout favor,
and the voice Of Penrod was audible
during the ascent
"Re-mem-bur, gentilmun and lay
deene, each and all are now gazing
upon Roderick Magsworth Bits, Jr,
the only living nephew Of the great
Rena Magsworth. She stuck ars'nic
in the milk of eight separate and dis
tnck people to put in their coffee, and
each and all of 'em died. The great
ars'nic murderess, Rena Magsworth,
sentilmun and lay-deese, and Roddy's
her only living nephew. She's rela-
ton Of all the Bits family, but he's
her one and only living nephew. Re-
mem-bur, next July she's goin' to be
hung, and each and all you now see
before YOU
Penrod paused abruptly, seeing some
thing before himself-the august and
awful presence which filed the entry
way. And his words Ut should be re-
lated froze upon his lips.
Before herself Mrs. Roderick Mags-
worth Bits saw her son-her scion
wearing a moustache and sideburns OF
blue, and perched upon a box fianked
by Sherman and Verman, the Michi-
gan rats, the Indian dog Duke. Her
man. and the dog part alligator.
Roddy also saw something before
himself. 1t needed no prophet to read
the countenance Of the dread appari-
ton In the entryway. His mouth open
ed-remained open-then filed to capac-
ity with a calamitous sound Of grief
not unmingled with apprehension.
Penrod's reason staggered under the
crisis. For horrible moment he saw
Mrs. Roderick Magsworth Bits ap-
preaching like some fatal mountain In
avalanche. She seemed to grow larger
and redder; lightnings played about
her head. He had vague conscious
ness of the audience spraying out In
flight, Of the squealings, tramplings
and dispersals Of stricken field. The
mountain was close upon him
he stood by the open mouth Of the
hay chute which went through the
floor to the manger below. Penrod
also went through the floor. He pro-
PEELED himself into the chute and shot
down, but not quite to the manger,
for Mr.. Samuel Williams had thought
fully stepped into the chute moment
In advance Of his partner. Penrod lit
upon Sam.
Catastrophe noises resounded in the
loft; volcanoes seemed to romp upon
the stairway.
There ensued period when only a
shrill keening marked the passing Of
Roderick as he was borne to the tum-
bril-. Then all was silence.
Sunset striking through a western
window rouged the walls Of the Scho-
fields library, where gathered joint
family council and court martial OF
four-Mrs. Schofeld, Mr.. Schof1eld and
Mr.. and Mrs. Williams, parents OF
Samuel Of that ilk. Mr.. Williams read
aloud a conspicuous passage from the
last edition Of the evening paper:
prominent people here believed
close relations Of woman sentenced 10
hang. Angry denial by Mrs. r. Mags-
worth Bits. Relationship admitted by
younger member Of family. His state
ment confirmed by boy friendS'-
"Don'tr said Mrs. Williams, ad-
dressing her husband vehemently.
"We've an read it a dozen times.
We've got plenty Of trouble on our
hands without hearing that again!"
Singularly enough, Mrs. Williams did
not look troubled; she looked as II shs