Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1917-03-20


rived, and I sprang from the
arms Of my Gouverneur Faulk-
ner only in time to avoid being
discovered therein. My beloved uncle,
the General Robert, entered the door
In q great hurry, with that much
frightened Bonbon following close at
his heels.
whats all this that fool niger
phoned about ghosts walking and
Then he stood very still in the spot
upon which his feet were placed and
regarded me as I turned from the
arms Of my Gouverneur Faulkner and
faced him.
Heavens, governor, what has hap
pened to my boy" he asked, and bis
fine old face was Of great whiteness
and trembling. "Sam says he's dead,
and the ghost And then came an.
other pause In which all Of the persons
present held for a long minute their
breath.
Did make excuses and explanations
and pleadings to my beloved uncle. the
General Robert, In such suffering over
the death of that Robert? did not
opened my strong young arms wide
and took him into them with tender
ness of such great force that 1t would
Of q necessity 60 into bis very heart
II am a wicked girl who has come
to you in lies as boy, my Uncle Rob
ert, but I have a love that Is so great
for you that I will be In death If you
do not accept Of 1t from me-" said
as I pressed my cheek in its tears
against his.
And for still another long minute all
Of the persons present waited again,
and I forced to remain in my throat
sob, while my beloved Gouverneur
Faulkner laid one of his hands on the
shoulder Of my uncle. the General Rob
ert.
And then did come that explosion!
"You young limb Of Satan. you! I
could, shake the life out Of you II I
lidn't prefer a Live girl to dead boy.
knew just such a thing as this would
happen to me in my old age for long
life Of cussedness. And, what's more,
I'll wager I'll never be able to give
great husky thing like you away. You
cost as much to feed as man. Who'd
want your But even as he stormed
at me felt his strong old arms cease
from their tremblings and clasp me
with q very rough tenderness.
II do, general" said my Gouverneur
Faulkner as he attempted to take me
from that very rough embrace Of my
uncle, the General Robert "Pl take
her OF your hands"
mo, sir; I never ask personal favors
of my friends" answered my uncle,
the General Robert, as he held me
away from the arms Of the Gouverneur
Faulkner with a very great determina'
ton.
sGeneral Carruthers," then said my
beloved Gouverneur Faulkner as he
drew his beautiful body to all the
height that was possible to him and
looked into the eyes Of my beloved On
Gle Robert with his own, which are
stars of the dawn, so that al Of his
heart and soul and honor shone there
from In a radiance, "the Narquise OF
Grez and Bye went a three days jour
ney into the wilds Of the Harpeth
mountains with me to rescue my honor
and for the welfare Of this great state
and Of France. And because we
thought not of ourselves, but OF the
| welfare of Harpeth and Of France, and
did but what was necessary ~ two
comrades, God has revealed to ~ his
Rift Of gifts-love. As you see, she u
returned to you radiant and unharmed
Have your consent to try to win her
hand in marriageT
For no more than q long minute my
uncle, the General Robert, gased
straight into the eyes Of my beloved
Gouyerneur Faulkner, and then q very
beautiful smile did break from under
those white swords crossed above his
| lips as he spoke with great urgency:
"Would you like to take the baggage
| along with you tonight, governor'
Don't leave her here. I don't want q
woman about my house. I can wake
up the county court clerk for license"
he said. with q fine twinkle Of the eye.
"Oh. but all friends must forgive me
my deception. And then must not q
courtship Of great decorum be made
from my Gouverneur Faulkner for the
hand Of the lady whom he would make
his wifel" I asked with an uncertain
| ty az I looked from my uncle, the Gem
eral Robert, to my Gouverneur Faux
ner.
"I'm sorry, sir, but I think the mar
ouise Is right, and, under the circum'
stances I'll have 10 make very public
courtship, which out Of consideration
for you IN make a. ardent and rapid
a. possible. Only We three know the
wonderful truth, and we'll keep It 70
ourselves" And q he spoke that
great Gouverneur Faulkner bent and
laid q kiss Of great ceremony upon the
hand Of Roberta, marquiss Of Grez and
Bye
"very well, SIR; I'll keep her for q
few days and have her fitted out In Q
lot Of folderols for you. but only for z
short period, mind you-a very short
periody' answered my uncle. the Cen
eral Robert, with smile that showed
much delight in me. flew to him and
save to him an embrace with my arms
and also laid my cheek against his.
" am for always your most humble
ana obedient GIRL my Uncle Robert
whispered to him.
Stumble and obedient-no woman
would know those words Il she met
1 them IN her own drawing room" he
answered to me, with . great scorn
but he also gave 70 me Z shake that
| Was Of q seeming great herceness. bu'
| that I knew 10 be Z carees.
| And into that caress came also an
other interruption Of great hurry. ~
Buss entered the door with Z rspddic
and this exclamation:
a~What's the trouble, general! ! 1us'
| rot your phone and"- Then hes too
stood IN great and sudden stiffness
!! rsgarding me q stood ffom The shsa
I ~ .of sthe arms Of my uncle. The Gen