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


hazard vignettist Of Grub street. he
Is the grave and real menace Of lovers.
His head is sacred and terrible, his
power illimitable There is one way
only one-to deal with him, but Robert
Williams, having a brother Of Penrod's
age, understood that way.
Robert had 81 in the world. He gave
It to Penrod Immediately.
Enslaved forever, the new ROckefel-
ler rose and went forth upon the high
way, an overflowing heart bursting the
foodgates Of song:
I'm her eyes the light Of love was sofdy
gleamun',
So sweatlay,
So neatlay.
On the banks the moons soff light was
brightly streamun',
Words Of love I then spoke to her,
She was purest Of the pew-er:
LittIl sweetheart, do not sigh,
Do not weep and do not cry.
viii build a littil cottigo just for yew-
ew-ew and l.
In fairness it must be called to mind
that boys older than Penrod have these
wellings Of pent melody. A wife can
never tell when she is to undergo a
musical morning, and even the golden
wedding brings her no security; man
Of ninety is liable to bust loose In song
any time.
Invalids murmured pitifully as Pen
rod came within hearing, and people
trying to think cursed the day that
they were born when he went shrilling
by. His hands in his pockets, his shin
ing face uplifted to the sky Of June, he
passed down the street, singing his
way into the hearts deepest hatred OF
all who heard him.
Zone evuning was sturow-lins
Midst the city Of the Dead,
viewed where all around me
Their peaceful graves was spread.
But that which touched me mostlay"-
He had reached his journeys end,
q Junk dealers shop, wherein lay the
long desired treasure Of his soul-an
accordion which might have possessed
a high quality Of interest for an anti
quarian. being unquestionably a ruin,
beautiful in decay and quite beyond
the sacrilegious reach Of the restorer.
But It was still able to disgorge sounds,
which could be heard for a remarka-
Bile distance In all directions, and 1t had
one rich calflike tone that had gone to
Penrod's heart. He obtained the in
strument for % cents, q price long
since agreed upon with the junk dealer.
who falsely claimed loss Of profit.
shylock that he was! He had found
the wreck in an alley.
With this purchase suspended from
his shoulder by a faded green cord.
Penrod set out in somewhat home
ward direction, but not by the route
he had Just Travelled, though his motive
for the change was not humanitarian.
It was his desire to display himself
thus troubadouring to the gaze Of Mar
jorie Jones. Heralding his advance by
continuous experiments In the music
Of the future, he pranced upon his
blithesome way, the faithful Duke at
his heels. Ut was easier for Duke than
It would have been for younger dog.
because with advancing age he had be-
gun to grow little deaf)
Turning the corner nearest to- the
glamored mansion of the Joneses, the
boy jongleur came suddenly face to
face with Marjorie and, in the delicious
surprise of the encounter, ceased to
play, his hands, In agitation, falling
from the instrument
Bareheaded, the sunshine glorious
upon her amber curls, Marjorie was
strolling hand in hand with her baby
brother, Mitchell, four years old. She
wore pink that day-unforgettable
pink, with a broad, black patent leath-
er belt, shimmering reflections dancing
-upon its surface. How beautiful she
was! How sacred the sweet little
baby brother, whose privilege 1t was
to cling to that small hand delicately
powdered with freckles.
"Hello, Marjoriew said Penrod, af-
fecting carelessness.
"Hellow said Marjorie, with unex-
pected cordiality. She bent over her
baby brother with motherly afecta-
lions. Say 'howdy' to the gently
nuns, Mitchy- Mitch" she urged sweet
ly, turning him to face Penrod.
"Won'tr said Mitchy-Mitch, and to
emphasize his refusal kicked the gen.
tymuns upon the shin.
Penrod's feelings underwent instant
change, and in the sole occupation OF
disliking Mitchy-Alitch he wasted pre-
cious seconds which might have been
better employed In philosophic consid-
Grafton of the startling example Just
afforded Of how given law operates
throughout the universe In precisely
the same manner perpetually. Robert
williams would have understood this
easily.
"Oh, ohw Marjorie cried and put
Mitchy. Mitch behind her with too
much sweetness. Maurice Levy's
gone to Atlantic City with his nam.
ma" she remarked convefsationally as
II the kicking incident were quite
closed.
That's nothin'," returned Penrod,
keeping his eye uneasily upon Mitchy-
Mitch. II know plenty people been
better places than that-Chicago and
everywhere"
There was unconscious ingratitude In
bis low rating Of Atlantic City, for 1t
was largely to the attractions Of that
rseort he owed Miss Jones present at