Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-08-08

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"She would be my dead1iest enemyr
she declared. and In q burst Of laughter
the conference broke up.
Nine. Hermaine's boarding school
wore a festive appearance that ApriI
night
Youthful beauty filed the staid 10
cepton rooms and overnowed upon
halls and verapdaA
Thep Va glimpse Of the broad
bosomkd Pacific ocean, where the
moon made silver track that might
lead to enchanted islands Eastward
the foothills loomed black against the
evening sky. From the gardens below
came scented reminders Of rose gefa-
mum, carnations. heliotrope and mi
gnonette; in the verandas were great
tubs Of pink oleanders. .'e-
To Mime. Hermaine's pupils enchant.
ment lay here instead Of unknown is-
lands of the far east.
Friends and relatives Of pupils
thronged the rooms, and the young
people danced to the enhancing strains
Of the gypsy orchestra.
Mime. Hermaine moved naJestdcally
through the rooms. pausing now and
then to bestow a smile and word on
some favorite pupil or to linger In
conversation with guardians and par
ents.
Fraulein Goebei, the German teach
er, and Mile. Specht, who taught q
large French class, were dancing 30
dately together. Linda Barton sat In
a corner and chatted with an unknown
old lady, who afterward turned out to
be Anne Ashbel's grandmother.
"And who Is this tan man comingT
asked Mrs. Ashbel curiously. 'The
broad shouldered man surrounded BY
girlsy'
Linda, looking rose flushed and love.
" in a much darned black net evening
frock, glanced carelessly at the group.
Suddenly all the roses vanished from
her cheeks. leaving them white and
wan.
"Who is hep persisted the old Lady
curiously.
IT think, believe his name must
be Merwin." said Linda In labored
voice.
"I wonder II 1t can be Senator Mer.
winT murmured Mrs. Ashbel.
II don't know" said Linda. dropping
her head to hide her emotion from
half a dozen pairs Of curious eyes.
did you see herr whispered Maud
Benning to Dorothy Blake as they &C.
companied Richard Merwin to the con-
servatory to show him Nine. Her,
maine's collection Of orchids.
"You mean Miss BartonT
Maud nodded. "She must have recog.
nized your guardian, Dolly. l thought
she was going to faint, she grew 80
white"
II wonderr murmured Dorothy.
MAUD, I'm going to bring her here to
meet guardy."
1T would be cruel perhaps" pro-
tested Maud.
1T will be quite romantic" insisted
Dorothy, moving away.
"I thought you-you admired him
yourself" objected Maud.
II do, and he admires me, too" said
Dorothy egotishcally. He could not
help drawing a contrast between Us,
and am not bit jealous Of poor Miss
Barton" She smiled with the cruel
candor Of youth and fitted away In the
shimmering crowd.
Richard Merwin and the four chat
tering girls had seen the orchids and
had paused by the fountain, watching
the antics Of the goldfish In the basin.
Suddenly Dorothy was in their midst,
holding tightly to the hand OF a slim,
black garbed woman whose crown OF
auburn hair was powdered with the
snow Of late youth. White as death.
she met the surprised gray eyes Of the
senator.
The gray Of his eyes turned to black.
the fine wrinkles and lines vanished
from around his eyes and mouth, bis
face was aflre with youth, and there
was a look which caused the five girls
to fall back in an abashed group near
the door.
"Iinda! Linda Barton, Is It your
he asked in q thrilling voice, and his
eyes and hers seemed to bridge long
years Of pain and misunderstanding.
At last their hands came together,
and he held her ringless fingers close
| to his heart while he talked in low
tones. Her answers were breethless
whispers.
"Comer whispered Dorothy. And the
five vanished silently, and knew they
were not missed.
I'll didn't know love was like thatT'
gasped Susan Mari.
The others sighed, for they, too. had
had glimpse into the paradise Of per-
feet love.
"Dolly, they viii marry. And what
shall rou call her. asked Maud, with
droll look at her friend-"the wife OF
your guardianT'
And Dorothy, who had seen Linda
Barton's transfgured face, softly 10
piled, MY guardian angel-and his"