Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1918-02-26

"D0 you mean to insinuate"-
screamed the irrepressible nephew,
wild at being 80 completely ignored.
His uncle again paid not the slightest
attention.
~But that ain't neither here nor there
now," he went on. Caroline, Mr.. Pear
son just told you that his coming to
this house without tellin' you fust of
his quarrel with Bile was his fault.
That amt so. The fault was mine ell
together. He told me the whole story;
told me that ne han't called since 1t
happened, on that very account. And
I took the whole responsibility and ask
ed him to come. ] didl Do you know
whyf"
If he expected an answer none was
given. Caroline's lids dropped disdain-
fully. "Steve,' she said, "let's CO."
"Stopl You'll stay here until I fin
ish. I want to say that didn't tell
you about the trolley fuss because l
wanted you to learn some things for
yourself. ! wanted you to know Mr.
Pearson-to find out what sort Of man
he was afore you judged him. Then,
when you had known him long enough
to understand he wasn't liar and
blackguard, and all that Steve has call
ed him, I was goin' to tell you the
whole truth, not a part Of 1t. And
after that, was goin' to let you de-
eide for yourself what to do. I'm
lot older than you are. I've mixed
with all sorts Of folks. I'm past the
stage where I can be fooled-by false
hair or soft soap. You can't pour
sweet oil over herrin' and make me
believe it's a sardine. I know the
Pearson stock. I've sailed over heap
of salt water with one Of the family.
And I've kept my eyes open since I've
run acrost this particular member.
And knew your father, too, Caroline
Warren. And I say to you now that,
KNOWN Jim Pearson and Bile War
ren-yes, and KNOWN the rights and
wrongs of that trolley business quite
as well as Malcolm Dunn or anybody
else-I say to you that, although Bile
was my brother, I'll bet my life that
Jim had all the right on his side.
There! That's the truth, and no hook
underneath It. And some day you'll
realize 1t too"
He had spoken with great vehemence.
Now he took handkerchief from his
pocket and wiped his forehead. When
he again looked at his niece he found
her staring intently at him, and her
eyes blazed.
"Have you quite finished-nowT she
demanded. "Steve, be quiet"
"Why, yes; I guess so, pretty nigh.
I s'pose there amt much use to say
more. If was to tell you that I've
tried to do for you and Steve In this
same as in everything else since I took
this job-as If you were my own chill
dren you wouldn't believe 1t. II I
was to tell you, Caroline, that I'd come
to think an awful lot Of you you
wouldn't believe that either. I did hope
that since our other misunderstanding
was cleared up and you found I WANT
what you thought I was you'd come to
me and ask questions afore passin'
judgment, but perhaps
And now she interrupted, bursting
out at him in blast Of scorn which
kouobr hfo hrooth
"Oh, stop, stopp she cried. Don't
say any more. You have insulted IA
TIERS memory and defended the man
who slandered him. Isn't that enough?
Why must you 90 on to prove yourself
a greater hypocrite? We learned, my
brother and I, today more than the
truth concerning your friend. We
learned that you have Aed-yes, lied
and
STEADY, Caroline! Be careful.
wouldn't say what might be sorry for
later"
"Sorry, Captain Warren. You spoke
Of my misjudging you. I thought /
had, and was sorry. Today learned
that your attitude in that affair was q
lie like the rest. You did not pay for
Mr.. Moriarty's accident. Mr.. Dunn's
money paid those bills. And you al
lowed the family-and me-to thank
you for your generosity. Oh, I'm
ashamed to be near your
"There, there! Caroline, be still. r.
II shall not be still ! have been
still altogether too long. You are our
guardian. We can't help that, sup
pose. Father asked you to be that for
some reason, but did he ask you to
live here, where you are not wanted,
to shame US before our friends, ladies
and gentlemen 80 far above you In
every way, and to try to poison our
minds against them and sneer at them
when they are kind to US and even try
to be kind to you? No, he did not
Oh, I'm sick Of 1t all-your deceit and
your hypocritical speeches and your
pretended love for US! Lowell Oh, II
could say something that would
make you understand how thoroughly
we despise you and how your presence,
ever since you forced 1t upon Steve
and me, has disgraced usl II ! only
could! I-p-
She had been near to tears ever since
Mrs. Corcoran Dunn, in the kindness
Of her heart, told her the truth" that
afternoon. But pride and indignation
had prevented her giving way. Now,
however, she broke down.
"Oh, oh, Steveg" she cried and, turn
ing to her brother, sobbed Historically
on his shoulder. "Oh, Steve, what shall
we dor
Stephen put his arm about her waist.
"Its all right, sis," he said soothingly.
"Don't cry before himl I guess" with
a glance at his uncle, you've said
enough to make even him understand
at last"
Captain Elisha looked gravely at the
pair. II guess you have" he said
slowly. II guess you have, Caroline.
Anyhow, can't think offhand Of any
thing you've left out. could explain
some things, but what's the use? And"
with a sigh, "you may be right in
way. Perhaps shouldn't have come
here to live. II you'd only told me
plain afore just how you felt I'd
maybe Td-but there! didn't know
Il didn't know. You see, thought
However, I guess that part OF