Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-11-07
enjoying himself immensely.

Miss Blithers until sometime after /
had met you" There wss challenge
In his manner amounting almost to
declaration.
She leaned forward to regard him
more intently.
"Is It possible, Mr.. Schmidt, that you
suspect me Of being that horrid. vul-
gar creatureT
Robin was not to be trapped. There
was something In the shadowy eyes
that warned him.
AT least I may say that I do not
suspect you of being horrid, vulgar
creature" he said evasively.
you haven't answered my question,
Mr.. Schmidt"
WELL" he began slowly, II don't
suspect you Of being Miss Blithers."
But you did suspect It."
II was pleasantly engaged in specu.
lation, that's all. It is generally be-
lieved that Miss Blithers sailed under
an assumed name-literally. not fg-
urative1y."
els there any reason why you should
imagine that my name is not Cutler
"Yes. Your luggage is resplendently
marked with the second letter in the
alphabet CORY, crimson B."
II see," she said refectively. you
examined my luggage, as they say in
the customs Office. And you couldn't
put B and G together, is that It"
obviously"
IF you had taken the trouble to
look you would have found an equally
resplendent G on the opposite end of
each and every trunk, Mr.. Schmidt"
she said quietly.
II did not examine your luggage,
Miss Guile" said he stifiy. She hadn't
left much for him to stand upon.
Rather unique way to put ones in
ltials on trunk, isn't it,"
ut possesses the virtue Of original
lty," she admitted. I've no doubt that
II the amiable Miss Blithers were to
hear OF It she'd rush into print and
belabor me with the largest type that
money could buy"
"Oh. come now Miss Guile" he
protested, at really isn't fair to Miss
Blithers. She was justified in follow
Ing an illustrious example. You for
get that the Prince of Graustark was
the first to rush into print with a fiat
denial. What else could the poor girl
dot"
"Oh, am not defending the Prince
Of Graustark. He behaved abomi.
nably, rushing into print. as you say.
Extremely bad taste. l should call It.
Still, I would be willing to make a
small wager that the we'll advertised
match comes off in spite Of all the
denials. Given a determined father. an
ambitious mother, purse filed daugh-
ter and an empty pursed nobleman.
and don't see how the inevitable can
be avoided"
Robins face was flaming. It was
with difficulty that he restrained the
impulse to put her right In the mat
ter without further ado.
by the way, what would you have
done had you been placed In her DO
sition?"
"I think l should have acted quite
as independently as She"
IT your father were to pick out q
husband for you. whether or no. you
would refuse to obey the paternal
command"
"Most assuredly. As e matter OF
fact, Mr.. Schmidt, my father has e1
pressed a wish that ! should marry q
man who doesn't appeal to me at all. =
"And you refuse?"
Absolutely. Now let US talk ol
something else. A bas Blithers! Down
with the plutocrats! Stamp out the
vulgarians! Is there anything else
you can suggestT she cried gayly.
Long live the Princess Maud!" sait
he. and doffed his hat. The satirica
note In his voice was not lost on her
She started perceptibly and caught he'
breath. Then she sank back into thu
corner with a nervous, strained LITTLE
laugh.
you think she will marry himT
II think as you do about IT, Mis-
Guile" said Robin, and she was 81
fenced. =
They had a table In q cool shad,
corner Of the broad porch overlooking
the Place d'Armes and the Seine ant
its vociferous ferries. To the righ
runs the cleaning roadway that lead
to the hills and glades through whicl
pomp and pride once strobe with sucl
fatal arrogance. Blue coated servitor
attended them on their arrival an,
watched over them during their stay
It was as II Miss Guile we're the fair.
princess who had but to wish and he
slightest desire was gratiied. he
guest, a real prince, marveled not
little at the complete sway she exei
cised over this somewhat autocrati
army Of menials. They bowed an
scraped and fetched and carried. Tn
magic Of Araby could have been n
more potent than the spell this beau
tiful girl cast over the house Of Nam
mon. She laid her finger upon purs
Of gold and wished, and, 10, the wor
ders Of the magic carpet were n
peated.
She had removed her veil, but b
was not slow to perceive that she ga
with her back to the long stretch Q
porch.
"Do you prefer this place to Armer
onville or the Paillard at Pre- CatelaI
Miss Guile?" he inquired, quite ca
ually, but with secret purpose.
mo, 1t is stupid here. as q rule, an
common. Still every one goes to th
other places In the afternoon, and
particularly wanted to be as naught
as possible, 30 came here today"
1T doesn't strike me as especial
naughty" he remarked.
~Are you going to take me up to th
parkf" =
eyes. Into the Shadows"
| 'Oh, that's goodl I'm sure my In
agination will work beautifully whe
| It isn't subdued by all these blu
devils. EQue voules vousi II
uuestion was directed rather sharpl
TO q particularly deferential blu
devfl- who stood ct his elbow.
m. Schmidt"
"Yes. What's this? A letterl Pc