Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1919-10-09
WEEKLY SHORT STORY
Edited by Professor Erwin.
BACKING INTO PARADISE.
BY MISS A. M. FARLEY.

THIS me morning." The llttle french
DanolseIIc seated az the desk Oh llle
M4ne shop sald nothing. Her mead was
quickly lowered III InLentness upon Tie
money IN ner nand and a liant blush
suAuseu Aer lace ana neck. An.
paroon, 4uadano4sene, II nave SAID
ANYTHING out oil the way, but my
trenca is Ve~y treacherouS. indeed,
meant no insult" The head which
was covered by a sea OF raVen-bIack
waves remained III Its doWncaSI po-
sition until the young American was
almost Out oI sight. she looked up
IN time 10 see the back OF an Amerl-
can officer. A splendid, MILITARY
physique, u beautifully rounded head;
these were the only features she was
able to snatch before he had passed
from her VIeW-fOreVer ?-perhapS'
but why did she ask herself this ques-
tlon? SIMPLY an American solder
VINO haa been rude and fresh with
her. whose face she had not seen,
but whose voice and back were IN
teresting. Had he meant what he
said, or was his explanation an after
thought?
These We're the questions which
Ninette Diderot, who had decided
that her bit IN the great war should
consist ia helping her father, the
Wine-dealer oil the small village OF
CountrepeWllc, found staring her III
the face.
Anette was a typical French
beauty. Small and plump, with oliv~
skin OF rich colorlng, black way
hair, soft and sheevy, finely chlsel-
ed nose and a rather defiant mouth
and chin. She lent a charming at
mosphere to the little bar-room, and
it was whispered that the finly
favored wine was not the onl y at
traction which rendered Monsieur Dl-
derot's shop the most popular with
the soldiers.
Before going further, let me pause
to say that the bar-keeper is one OF
the most respectable persons OF the
French village. Furthermore, his Is
one of the most thriving of bust
nesses.
Monsieur DIderot had given his
daughter the best of advantages.
After finishing her education In
french, she mad spent two years in
school IN England. She spoke En-
gnsh fluentIy and was a skillful VIC
Hnist.
While Ninette was thus indulglng
herself in what she afterwards termed
foolish thoughts, she was interrupted
by a blaze young aviator in French
uniform. Perrie Landres was a
steady freQuenter of the Diderot
shop. He was deeply in love with
Ninette. Ninette do you love %
he asked, as he leaned ove~ the count
er and sent curl of smoke from the
Cigarette he held in the fingers of his
LETT hand.
Love you! why OF course; L
love all OF cur soldiers VINO nave
rallied 70 the tTl-coIor and are light
ing for me" And her pretty face
dlm. ped into a mlschievous smile.
An, NIDeCte, NInette, 90 not tritie
with me! Ii you only knew how you
aEe crucitylng my heart. DO not
tease. / am serious. Tomorrow L g.
upon an errand from which God only
knows whether | shall return to tell
you Of. Before l go, will you not
give me one word to soothe my dying
moments, if l fail or to tighten my
path If l am successfully" The blue
eyes blazed with appealing passion.
Pierre" said Ninette, as she fng-
cred the small bit Of lace on her
simple wartime flOck, l am sorry
this has happened; for l do like
you. l had counted you among my
best friends, but If you must know
for l would not have you cary a
lie with you upon this dangerous er-
rand Of which you speak, do not
love you"
"Is this fnal?" he asked, as he
looked her steadily in the eye, burn
ing hate, that most awful of hates,
which was once love, flashing from
his own now steely eyes.
at Isl" was her allnost-whispered
answer.
every well, but remember this,
young woman, if | cannot have your
love, no other man living shall be
the possessor of it." With these
words he turned LASTLY and rushed
from the room with tiger-like fierce