Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1918-03-19

I IL know" he said. zone of the
Oldest, that's sure. But friendship,
'cordin' to my notion, is somethin' 80
small In comparison that 1t hardly
counts in the manifest Married folks
ought to be friends, sartin sure, but
they ought to be a whole lot more'n
that. I'm an old bach, you say, and
amt had no experience. That's true.
but I've been young, and there was
time when made plans. However,
she died, and it never come to nothin'.
But know what 1t means to be en-
! gagged, the right kind Of engagement.
It means that you don't count yourself
at all, not bit You're ready, each
Of you, to give up all you've got
your wishes, comfort, money and what
It'll buy and your life, If 1t should come
to that, for that other one. Do you
care for Malcolm Dunn like that, Caro-
liner
She answered defantly.
"Yes, I do," she said.
"You do. Well, do you think he feels
the same way about your
"Yea" With not quite the same
promptness, but still deiantly.
"You feel sartin Of 1t, do your
She stamped her foot. Eyes, yes,
yes!" she cried. "Oh, do say what you
came to say and end it,"
Her uncle rose to his feet.
"Why, I guess likely I've said it." he
observed. "When two people care for
each other like that they ought to be
married, and the sooner the better. I
knew that you'd been lonesome and
troubled, maybe, and all I can say is
that I'm awful glad for you. God bless
you, my dearI I hope you'll be as hap
py as the day is long"
His niece gazed at him, bewildered
and incredulous. This she had not ex-
pected.
"Thank you" she stammered. II did
not know thought
"Of course you did-of course. Well,
then, Caroline, I guess that's all. I
won't trouble you any longer. Good
BY"
He turned toward the door, but stop
ped, hesitated and turned back again.
"There is just one thing more" he
said solemnly. II don't knows I ought
to speak, butt want to-and I'm 60
In to. And I want you to believe It !
I do want you tor
"What Is it7" she demanded.
"Why-why, just this, Caroline This
is a tough old world we live In. Things
don't always go on in it as we think
they'd ought to. Trouble comes to ev-
erybody, and when it looks right some
times it turns out to be all wrong. If
II there should come a time like that
to you and Steve, want you to re-
member that you've got me to turn to-
No matter what you think Of me, what
folks have made you think Of me, just
remember that I'm waitin' and ready
to help you all I can. Any time I'm
ready-and glad. Just remember that,
won't you, because Well, there!
Goodby, goodby"
He hurried away. She stood gazing
after him, astonished, little fright
ened and not a little disturbed and
touched. His emotion vas 90 evident
his attitude toward her engagement
was so different from that which she
had anticipated, and there was some
thing in his manner which she could
not understand. He had acted as II
he pitied her. Why? It could not be
because she was to marry Malcolm
Dunn. If it were that she resented his
pity of course. But It could not be
that because he had given her his
blessing. What was 1t? Was there
something else-something that she did
not know and he did? Why was he
80 kind and forbearing and patient7
All her old doubts and questionings
returned. She had resolutely kept
them from her thoughts, but they had
been there, in the background. always
When, after the long siege, she had
at least yielded and said "yes" to NAL
colin she felt that that question at
least was settled. She would marry
him. Had not Mrs. Dunn told her over
and over again what good son he
was and what a kind heart he had
and how he worshiped her? Oh, she
ought to be a very happy girl! OF
course she was happy. But why had
her uncle looked at her as he didf
And what did he mean by limiting that
when things looked right they some
times were all wrong? She wished
Malcolm was with her then; she needed
him.
She heard the clang Of the elevator
door; then the bell rang furiously. She
heard Evans hasten to answer. Then,
to her amazement, she heard her broth
er's voice.
i Caroline l" demanded Stephen. "Car-
oline! Where are your
he burst into the room, still wearing
his coat and hat and carrying travel
ing bag in his hand.
"Oh" he exclaimed, you're all right
then! You are all right, aren't your"
IAN right? Why shouldn't be all
right? What do you mean7 And why
are you here"
"Why am I hereT he repeated.
Eyes. Why did you come from New
HavenT
"Why, because I got the telegram, Of
coursel You expected me to come.
didn't your
II expected your telegram What
telegram"
"Why, the-Good Lord, Caro-. what
are you talking abouti Didn't you
know they telegraphed me to como
home at oncef I've pretty near broke
my neck, and the taxicab mans, get
ting here from the station. I thought
| you must be very III or somethins
worse"
'They telesraphed Jon to come here1
Who Edwards. you may take M.
Warren's things to his room"
| When they were alone she turned
again to her brother.
"Now, Steve" she said, Asit down
and ten me what Jon mean. Who tel-
| egraphed your
sWhy, old Sylvester, fathers lawyer.
I've rot the message here somewhere.
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