Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-01-18

settled IT, The lady turned 30 cold
that Walter Wellman himself would
have waited until spring to make
dash for her in a dog sled.
But Pilkins was something Of sport
himself. You can't fool all the mil.
nonaires every time the ball drops on
the Western Union building.
"If at any time" he said to A v. d
R., you feel that you would Like to
reconsider your answer send me rose
like that"
Pilkins audaciously touched jack
rose that she wore loosely In her hair.
every WELL" said she. "And when
I do you will understand by It that
either you or have learned some
thing new about the purchasing power
Of money. You've been spoiled, my
friend. No; 1 don't think could mar
" you. Tomorrow I will send you
back the presents you have given me-"
"Presentsw said Pilkins In surprise.
IT never gave you present In my life
would like to see full length por.
trait of the man that you would take q
present from" :.
you've forgotten" said Alice v. d.
R., with little smile. 1T was a long
time ago when our families Were
neighbors. You were seven, and was
trundling my doll on the sidewalk.
You gave me q little gray, hairy ht'
ten with shoebuttony eyes. Its head
came of, and It was full Of candy.
You paid 8 cents for it-you told me
so. I haven't the candy to return to
you. / hadn't developed conscience
at three, SO ate it But ] have the
kitten yet, and 1 win wrap it up neat
,ly and send It to you tomorrow"
Beneath the hghtness Of Alice v. d
Rs talk the steadfastness Of her Ne
lection showed firm and plain. 30
there was nothing left for him but to
leave the crumbly red brick house and
be of with his abhorred millions.
On his way back Pilkins walked
through Madison square. The hour
hand Of the clock hung about 8. The
air was stingingly cool, but not at the
freezing point. The dim little square
seemed Like a great, cold. unroofed
room, with It's four, walls Of houses
spangled with thousands Of insufficient
lights. Only few loiterers were hud-
died here and there on the benches.
But suddenly Phkins came upon q
youth sitting brave and, as II conflict.
ing with summer sultriness,. coatlesA
his white shirt sleeves conspicuous 10
the light from the globe Of an electric.
Close at his side was girl, smiling,
dreamy, happy. Around her shouldera
was, palpably, the missing coat Of the
cold defying youth. It appeared to be
Ia modern panorama Of the Babes In
the Wood,n revised and brought up to
date, with the exception TINT the rob
,ins hadn't turned up yet with the pro
ltscting leaves
Pflkins sat on the bench, one seat re-
moved from the youth. he glanced
cautiously and saw (as men do see and
women-oh, never oanD that they were
.of the same order.
Pilkins leaned over after q short
time ana spoke to tie youth, who
answered smilingly and courteously.
From general topics the conversation
concentrated to the bedrock Of grim
personalities. But Prkins did It al
dercately and heartily as any cafph
could have done. And when It came
to the point the youth turned to him.
soft voiced ana with his iundimtntshed
smile. No
i Il don't Wdht to seem unapprecia.
tive, old man. he said, with a youths
somewhat too early spontanetty Of ad'
dress, ''but, you see. ! can't accept
anything from a 'stringer. I know
|yousre all right and Tn tremsndously
Obliged, but I couldn't think Of borrow
Iins from anybody. You see. rmil
Marcus Clayton-the Claytcus Of Roa;
noke county; Va, you know. Th(l
young lady. is Miss Eva Bedfofd-l
reckon you've heard Of ne Bedfordi
she's seventeen and, one Of the Bid
fords OF Bedford county. We've eloped
from home to get married and VII
want to zee New York. We eot IN thiA
afternoon. Somebody sot my pocket
book on the ferryboat and ] had only
3 cents IN change out6lds Of It rll|
90 sor,Aa ,vorh nonnavhAro toGnoeFoV