Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-06-06

He Proved, Too, He Was q /
81 Real One /.
By cLARIsSA MACKIE ;
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
MS. Howard glanced apprehensive
y toward the row Of steamer chair
where her pretty daughter, Daisy, va
engaged in animated conversation viii
q good looking, athletic young man.
Daisy II 30 imprudent" murmurei
Daisy's mother as she neared ths
chairs. "Thsre is poor Hal eating bill
heart out, and that naughty girl is de
voting herself to young Pearsonr
She smiled coldly at Ben Pearson a
he arose promptly at her approach and
arranged her chair. When she wal
seated and the rug tucked about hel
feet Mrs. Howard glanced significantly
at Daisy.
my dear, did you know that Ha
was waiting for your You promised t.
play accompaniments for him"
"Oh, mother, forgot all about itr
cried Daisy as she arose and settled
the blue cloth cap on her bright hair
"Mr. Pearson was describing the great
Yale-Harvard game-you know he waf
halfback on the football team! Daisy
cast an admiring glance at Pearson's
broad shoulders.
Mrs. Howard smiled perfunctoriy
and she was nettled to observe that
Ben Pearson accompanied Daisy in hel
search for Hal Denison. Just as she
was congratulating herself that this
Mediterranean tour, with all its pleas
ant intimacy of ship life, must bring
about an engagement between Daisy
and Hal Denison, the son Of her old
friend, why, who should appear but
this football hero. Ben Pearson, and
promptly put poor Hal out Of the run
ming.
Why they called Hal Denison Poor
Hal one could not tell, for, although
he was not big and brawny Ike Ben
Pearson, he was not frail looking un.
less one especially noted the intellectu'
al face which had certain delicacy OF
feature and expression. Otherwise,
although Hal Denison was small In
stature. he was wiry and strong. BE
had never gone In for athletics. BE
was a musician, and even now there
came the dreamy strains Of LA Sere.
made" as he played on his violin to
Daisy's sympathetic accompaniment.
Later the music ceased for awhile
and then Pearson's deep bass voice
was heard booming forth popular
songs.
Dusk was settling down over the sea
when Daisy came along the deck quite
alone and slipped into her chair with
unusual quietness.
"Hal played beautifully, my dear"
murmured Mrs. Howard sleepily.
II suppose SO, mother" returned
Daisy; then, hesitatngly, she added,
"You don't like Mr.. Pearson, do your
"I don't admire him, my dear, but
cannot say that dislike him." return
ed Mrs. Howard.
IT Hike him very much" said Daisy
simply.
"Not better than HalT demanded
Mrs. Howard, throwing caution to the
winds.
Daisy hesitated, and that instant's
hesitation told Mrs. Howard that the
girls love was wavering beween the
two men. Which would she choose
There was little doubt, for Daisy was
Q hero worshiper, and she plainly ad.
mired the burly football player.
"Oh, mother" she cried impulsively,
''you know I'm fond Of Hal. but he's
more like girl, don't you know-quiet
and dreamy and fond Of simple things.
One could not imagine Hal doing any
thing heroic, now, could one%
"Some people rather thought 1t was
heroic for Hal to give his cousin Ned
three quarters Of their uncle's estate,
when the uncle had purposely cut Ned
OF In a moment Of anger; that's an ex-
ample Of moral courage. It was coura-
geous Of Hal to submit to transfu-
sion of blood In an effort to save his
brothers life three years ago. In my
opinion, Hal DenisOn ia a hero"
"But, mother, dear, that Is all very
well, but that isn't the sort Of courage
mean. There is a certain charm In
physical courage. don't you know.
JeopardiMng ones life to save that Of
another. I couldn't imagine Hal doing
that"
GLOW about giving his blood for his
brother? He has never been az well
since then"
IT know, but the kind Of heroism
that mean Is born Of an impulse. the
sort that leaps to stop q runaway
horse, that plunges overheard to save q
drowning person. Oh, you knowl"
Mrs. Howard smiled.
"A spectacular heroism," she said
dryly.
II can't imagine Hal doing anything
of that sort" went on Daisy. "He II 30
deliberate In all his actions. he would
want to stop and think the matter over
whether there might not be q safe
and, sane way Of accomplishing the
end. Do you know, mother, that Mr..
Pearson has saved eight people from
drowning in the past ten years%
II didn't know 1t. Daisy, but I am
sure it is a very creditable record. Did
he tell You of his acts Of heroism?"
~"Now, Mother Howard" Daisy
laughed rather shamefacedly. "He did
tell me, but only because I urged him
to do 30. I love heroism."
Mrs. Howard arose and prepared to
20 below.
'4Come, dear; we must dress for din
ner. Remember, Daisy, that there are
more unrecorded heroes in the worlds
history than otherwise"
And Daisy, still doubling her moth
er's Judgment went down to dinner
quite unconyinced that there could be
ary lurking heroism III the quiet Per
sonality Of Hal -Denison.
For several days after that there
-. haA xuoathar. and many OF the paS.