Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1918-03-05
NUMBER 10.

turned and surveyed the great inter!,!
and the brilliantly garbed audience.
Pearson bought copy OF the librett,,
and the captain followed the perform
ance with interest
Say, JIM" he whispered, with
broad grin, 'It's a good thing this op-
era lea amt carried into real life. II
you had to sing every word you sail
'twould be sort of distressin', 'speciaI-
" If you was in hurry. A fust rate
solo when you was orderin' the crew
to shorten sail would be high Old
birthstone anthem, I'll bet you"
The foyer had its usual animated
crowd, and among them Pearson rec
ognized O critic Of his acquaintance.
He offered to introduce the captain,
but the latter declined the honor, say
Ing that he "cal'lated" he wouldn't
shove his bows in this time. "You
heave ahead and see your friend, JIM
he added. "Tll come to anchor by this
pillar and watch the feet go by. Ill
have to write Abbie about all this.
She'll want to know how the female
craft was rigged."
Left alone, he leaned against the
pillar and watched the people pass and
repass just behind him. Two young
men paused just behind him. He could
not help overhearing their converse
ton.
II presume you've heard the news"
asked one casually.
"Yes," replied the other, II have
that is, If you mean the news concern
ing Nal Dunn. The mater learned 1t
this afternoon and sprang 1t at dinner.
No one was greatly surprised. Formal
announcement made and all that sort
Of thing. l believe. Malls to be con-
graduated"
"His mother is, you mean. She man.
aged the campaign. The old lady is
some strategist, and I'd back her to win
under ordinary circumstances. But I
understand these were not ordinary;
wise owl Of a guardian to be circum-
vented or something of that sort"
From what hear the Dunns haven't
won so much after all. There was a
big shrinkage when papa died, SO they
say. Instead Of three or four millions
it panned out to be good deal less
than one. I don't know much about 1t
because our family and theirs have
drifted apart since they moved"
"Humph! I imagine whatever the
panout 1t will be welcome. The Dunns
are dangerously close to the ragged
edge; everybody has been on to that for
some time. And 1t takes few ducats
to keep Nal going. He's no Uncle Rus
sell when it comes to putting by for
the rainy day."
"Well, on the whole, I'm rather sorry
for-the other party. Nal is good
enough fellow and he certainly Is
game sport, butt
They moved on and Captain Elisha
heard no more. But what he had heard
was quite sufficient. He sat through
the remainder of the opera in silence
and answered all his friends questions
and remarks curtly and absently.
AS they stepped into the trolley Pear
son bought an evening paper, not the
Fanet, but a dignified sheet which
summed sensationalism and devoted
much space to the doings Of the safe,
sane and ultra respectable element.
Perceiving that his companion for somt
reason did not care to talk, he read az
the car moved downtown. Suddenly
Captain Elisha was awakened from his
reverie by hearing his friend utter an
exclamation. Looking up, the captain
saw that he was leaning back In the
seat, the paper lying unheeded In his
lap.
whats the matterT asked the older
man anXiously.
Pearson started, glanced quickly at
his friend, hesitated, and looked down
again.
"There 1t is," he said. "Read It."
Captain Elisha took the PIPER, drew
his spectacle case from his pocket, ad.
justed his glasses and read. The item
was among those under the head OF
Personal and Social" 1t was what he
expected. "The engagement is today
announced Of Miss Caroline Warren,
daughter Of the late A. Rodgers War
rem, the well known broker, to Mr.. NAL