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

|S She Wanted Him All {
|S to Herself. 8
g By CLARISSA MARE :
oooooooooooooooooooooooooe
When Dick Merwin graduated from
college his classmates predicted that
he would take high rank among men
in the worlds battles. While he was
delivering his commencement Grafton
there was one person In the audience
who listened to his youthful effort
without thinking or caring for its mer
It She was wrapped In the speake,
himself.
From the moment he made his ap-
pearance on the platform this young
woman appeared as though she were
under q spell, fascinated by the very
presence Of the man, from whom her
eyes never wandered.
Linda Barton, an Undergraduate Of
the woman's college Of the same uni
>versity. had met him, and there was
something In that pair Of gray eyes
through which he looked at her that
seemed to penetrate her very soul
From the moment Of her meeting him
she worshiped him.
On the evening Of commencement
day the president held his usual re-
ception for the graduating class. Lin.
da, whose tastes ran to music, was in
vited to add to the eclat Of the occa.
sion by the performance Of selection
on the piano. She chose her piece
from Beethoven's sonatas and while
playing received rapt attention. On
rising from her instrument she looked
into the face Of Merwin.
The campus was Illuminated, and q
throng passed from the presidents resi-
dence out among the elms, some OF
which had been planted century be
fore. There on q bench in q secluded
spot Merwin told his companion his
story, q story which she listened tc
with delight.
But the course Of true love did mo-
run smooth. Merwin went from the
university to the law school, and Il
was a year before Linda was gradual
ed. A misdirected letter is quite enough
between youthful lovers to change the
current Of two lives. Whatever was
the cause, Linda never told, but there
came break. Neither married. Mer
win became q prominent lawyer, and
In time Linda, finding 1t necessary to
earn her own living, availed herself
Of her taste for music to do 30. A 70
firing disposition unified her for q
public life, and she became teaches
In a young ladies' seminary.
But the betrothal that occurred on
that commencement night, when they
were In the first freshness Of youth
lived In the hearts Of both. Merwin
became one of the legislators Of the
nation; Linda subsided into quiet
maiden lady teaching the next genera
ton to play the piano.
-
Five eager, glowing faces were bent
over the larye photograph in Dorothy
Blake's hands.
"Isn't he a perfect dearY' cooed Dor
othy ecstatically,
$50 distinguished with that touch o1
gray at the templesr' sighed Maud
Banning.
"Such fine eyes! Are they gray. Dol
iy?" asked Eva Temple.
"M-m-m-m-mr' murmured Dorothy
reminiscently. "But you must remem
Der, girls, that I haven't seen my
guardian since was twelve, that Is si1
years ago, and at that time WASN'T
the least bit interested In the color Of
any ones eyes"
"Sweet childr' teased Susan Mari
$50 you are. interested now in thii
guardian who looks like an actor?"
Dear, I'm In love with him" gushet
Dorothy.
$50 are we all Of u.s." lamented Amy
| Smith, with rueful smile. "How ole
Is he, DollyT
"Old as the hills. He must be nearly
ffty; forty anyway"
"Methinks I've seen that face be
fore" murmured Maud.
"Perhapsl Richard Merwin Is q vefJ
prominent man, a United States sena
tor"
"No, no." insisted Maud seriously
''Listen, girls; I believe I have 1t. Ok
you remember once when Miss Bartor
was Ill she sent me to her trunk to ge
q box of papers? Well the box wa
old. and as carried 1t to her bedside
| the pasteboard cover slipped on ant
some letters and papers fell on th'
floor.
"I gathered them up, and amoni
them was a mans picture. I scarcel!
glanced at 1t, yet 1t remained vfyidly u
my memory. Girls, It was Senate
Merwin's picture"
"Dolly's guardian~ they quesdonet
incredulously.
Maud nodded. II am positive. Sh'
acted quite embarrassed and slipped !
under the pillow. Isn't It oddT
"Perhaps they were sweethearo ono
upon time" suggested Amy.
"PoohI" said Dorothy coolly. I'm g
ing to marry him. myself, 20 thereg
"Sman chance for poor Miss Bal
toni" s
"When Is he coming, Dollyr
'I don't know. I'm expecting lette
every day. asked him to come 3
our dance"
,"Oh, Dolly! Fancy a grave senate
dancing the onestep!"
"Oh, he may dance the old fashione
waltzes with Miss Barton, laughe
Dorothy over her shoulder as she place
the picture on her dressing table an
blew kiss toward the grave. hand
some face. @
There came q tap at the dooe %
Maud opened It. q
"Come In, Miss Barton, ,s'she-eEisd o
| fectionately, a. tho slim. auburn hare
music teacher smiled at hes.
II can't Just now, dear: I've bsouei
| Dorothy the new music ehs' asked 10
Did I ten you that madame has q
gagged the Romany -orchesHa, 1oe u
next dancer as
/ She laughed. musically q the gir
tx..a a.. rra.v axnroaainna 0f "a