Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1920-08-31
A Shy Lover
By Psrcival Dallas

Copyright, 1917. western Newspapsr on'o'
He was remarkably bashful young
man, and some of the smart set de-
lighted In playing upon his susceptl-
bilities, but somehow from the hrst
Jessie Dorr liked him. She told her
sister so one day.
There Is more in Morton Bristol
than you think, Della" she declared.
I'm a crowded parlOr he Is uncomfor-
table and sensitive. A common Dlun-
der at croQuet or tennis Is so mag
nified in his over-conscious nature that
he is ready to sink into the ground;
but mustn't he have gentle, refined
mind to deprecate self-importance ano
shrink from offending othersf he
does not take encouragement for Ia
miliarity and talk one to death on
some pet hobby. or try to show OH.
He is sensible. sympathetic, with
love for truth and simplicity that is
quite winsome."
"You always were queer In your no
tons, JESSIE" said Della heartlessly.
"If queerness consists Of despising
sham and frivolity, maybe am" &C
knowledged Jessie. ut Is refreshing
though, to find young man who LIS
not so full of himself that he Is most
of the time a bore. l shall cultivate
Morton Bristol"
"For his own sake?" prOpounded Del
la skeptically.
"Solely," replied Jessie with definite
ness, but there was present an al
most impalpable accent OF defiance
which told her worldly wise sister that
there was an undercurrent OF more
than friendly interest in her cham
pionship of Bristol.
Brought up in strictly home life,
the junior Of four sisters, Morton Bris-
toll was In no wise effeminate, but a
certain repression was the result OF
his home environment.
When he set about seeking to win
this sterling jewel Of womankind Bris-
tol did not know how to begin. he
was all humility as to his opinion OF
his own merits, and analysed his natur-
al backwardness critically. He was
uneasy and undecided for week at
ter he had resolved to approach her
on the subject. He thought OF trust
ing to a preliminary epistolary attack,
but the letter he wrote seemed crude,
weak and presumptuous. Then a pro-
pitious moment seemed to have ar
rived at dusk one evening, when he and
Jessie had been strolling about the
beautiful Dorr gardens.
"What lovely evening" Jessie
said. "Shall we rest here for few
minutes?" and set the example of &C.
cupying a hammock. Her gentle gra-
ciousness, the mellow moonlight, the
fiower-perfumed air seemed to sur
round an ideal situation where love
might speak and favorable influences
encourage its reception.
They talked casual nothings, but all
the time Morton's heart was In his
mouth; suspense, eagerness, uncer-
tainty controlled him in turns. Then
he took courage as his hand touched
dainty little box In his pocket. 1t
contained an engagement ring. Its
presence gave purpose to the occa-
sion which would raise him above the
clouds.
Ell wanted to show you some
thing" he mustered up self-confidence
enough to say. Had not Jessie's eyes
met his own just, at that critical mo-
ment, he might have Numbered through
his ordeal somehow. He fiuttered at
meeting their full glance, trembled he
came confused, and drew out his gold
handled pocket knife. stammering
family: "a gift from my sister; pref
ty. isn't ity' Then both arose as
levy of girls appeared. dragging them
boistcrously to the house to give them
some music for dance.
Morton Bristol went home that night
very much depressed. Jessie had been
so gracious to him and the conditions
had been favorable for telling his
lame, hesitating but heart-treasured
story and he had been an arrant cow
ard! It was the next morning that, In
changing his attire, he found the box
containing the ring missing from his
pocket. He became anxious and ex-
cited as he concluded that 1t must have
been somewhere about the DOrr place
that he had lost 1t.
Jessie had been puzzled, and disap-
pointed, too. She took book the next
morning and went out into the garden,
selecting the hammock to rest in, to
read, to dream. There. lying cozily in
its sagging center was tiny, dainty
white pasteboard box. She opened 1t.
The thrill was delightful as she rec
ognized 1t as an engagement ring;
her lovely eyes sparkled the brighter
as she read inside her own initials and
those Of Morton Bristol. She slipped
1t on her finger, "just to see how 1t
looked"
UcS yum pdAuou, al uucApcCtcu
voice aroused her. and there stood
Morton. II lost something here,
think, last evening"" he blundered on
confusedly, and thought I would stop
on my way to the Office and see IT,
that Is, +"
as that it, Mr.. BRISTOL" inquired
Jessie, archly, and guessing all. guess
Ing right, she daringly extended her
dainty, bejeweled finger.
"Ohl" voiced Bristol, with dazzled
eyes and ecstatic soul. "You-you
found 1t, and-and-"
"Can / keep itf" questioned Jessie
gently.
ooh! will you--will you. indeed"
rambled Bristol incoherently. II love
you so that If you win I shall float,
Hy-I mean swim In happiness"
Don't do that" whispered Jessie
raptly. BE sensible and sit down
comfortably In the hammock and tell