Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1920-01-06
A Steam shovelier
syR. RAY BAKER
Copyright, 1919. by the Mcclure News
paper Byndicete.)


paper 6yndicate.)
"There is no accounting for the
tastes Of some women when 1t comes
to men," Glenquist observed, fickinl
the ashes from his cigar. maybe it'i
their intuition" he added, drawing hi
lungs full Of smoke and exhalint
through his nose.
The lawyer appeared more than usu
ally loquacious this evening. He hat
a reputation for being rather taciturr
when he was not In court, but with me
he always threw off the cloak Of re
serve and chatted freely.
During our after-dinner chats, which
always took place In his office on the
seventh floor Of the Boltwood build
Ing, we had decided the fate Of boil
sheyism, solved the problem Of h. G.
L.. settled the railroad ownership Is
sue and thoroughly threshed out the.
osophy, splritualism and new thought
Yes, we were congenial souls, were
Glenquist and I.
AS yet we had never discussed the
most perplexing problem Of the ages
love. Maybe 1t was because we
were both confirmed bachelors and did
not feel in a position to talk authors
tatively on the question. However, the
marriage Of a mutual friend had
brought the matter before US this eve,
ming, and casually I had inquired
why Glenquist had never selected q
lifelong companion.
Suppose you tell your story" he
suggested when I broached the sub.
ject. "Then I'll burden you with
mine"
'T'l burden you with no story"
replied. There's no story to 1t. I
just naturally didn't take to the fair
sex, or rather they didn't take to me.
I guess It was mutual. Have you q
storyT
For a moment he did not reply, and
when he broke the silence 1t was to ut
ter the words that opened this tale.
Furthermore, he went on, ut IS
strange that brains do not appear to
be considered much Of an asset to a
man when he asks a woman to become
his wife. At least that is the case
with some women. and very good,
bright and capable women. too,
mean. Perhaps, as I say, 1t Is their
intuition, or their ability to see far
ahead.
I'm my case, perhaps, I deluded my
self into thinking I had brains. Maybe
I mistook my education for gray mat
ter. Yes, there is difference. A man
may be fairly we'll educated and still
lack an adequate amount Of brains.
On the other hand, without being con-
ceited. 1t seems that may claim to
having at least a normal supply of
thinking machinery. I am what you
would call a successful criminal law.
yer.
II was terribly fond Of Cassie Wei
don six years ago. This was my home
town. and also hers. We were class
mates in high school, and when we
were graduated I went to the univer-
sity and she became typist In a real
estate Office. During our last year in
high school we had become very close
ly associated in social work and be-
fore we realized 1t were keeping
steady company.
"When I was at college we CORE
sponded regularly. and 1t seemed to
me that she cared almost as much for
me as I for her. I pictured her pre-
siding In a nice little home when / got
started on the road to success in my
chosen profession, and although I did
not broach the subject, I felt con-
vinced she would see 1t that way.
Perhaps I was somewhat egotistical,
but really I do not believe 1t was that.
To be sure, I was proud Of the show
ing was making in my studies and
very hopeful Of the future.
whenever I cane home she pro-
fessed to be happy over being with
me, and I really believe she was. Our
favorite pastime was walks in the
woods with camera, and I must con-
fess that, deep down in q trunk, I still
have a number Of those snaps. Just
for fun, think I'll dig down and take
a squint at them tomorrow.
"Things went on like this for some
time, and ! am sure that she did not
keep company with any other partic-
ular fellow, although she occasionally
went to dances and other entertain
ments with some male acquaintance
who happened along and needed a
partner for some special social event.
This was only to be expected, seeing
that we were not engaged and it not
being natural for a young girl to stay
at home and spend her evenings read
Ing Robinson Crusoe' and Red Riding
Hood
1T finally dawned on me that I had
better get busy. I was In the fourth
year of my law course, but Cassie was
growing more attractive each day, and
as I was not home to look after my
interests it behooved me to get an op-
ton on her hand.
IT had spent that summer working
In an attorneys Office in Clarksburg,
and so had not seen Cassie any more
during vacation than during the school
term. It was In the fall, and I was
home for few days, when felt that
the opportune time had arrived.
1--WE were walking down one Of the
back streets on our way to the woods.
A steam shovel was excavating for a
skyscrapsr, and the noise seemed to
give me nerve. Cassie I blurted out,
don't you think that--er-er-lt's
about time we cot-got-down to bust
ness and-weli, become sugagsdT
"she was looking intently at the
steam shovel. The thing appeared to
-fascinats her, with its chuggy-chus
chugging and Its snorting as 1t strained
at It's base and seemed several times
on the point Of overturning itseii'
thrusting the huge shovel against the
dirt wall and forcing 1t upward, srao'
uaIly filling 1t, the tremendous VI
brating power of the machine winnin!