Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1920-12-28
CROSSED WIRES
BY CORONA aGmlMoroN.

|& BY CORONA REMINGTON.
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,@ 1890. BY Mcclure Newspaper syndicats.)
No one had ever loved Al deeply
as those two-James Wilcox and
Constance Helmson. They looked
into each others eyes In rapture and
for the fertieth time that evening
made the same remark-with slight W
riations.
mo one. dearest; no one on earth
has ever felt It az we have" he told
her. I'm sure we have not only
known each other all our lives. but
from the beginning Of time-clear back
to the first day."
"And It shall be this way 10 the
end Of time" she sighed softly into
his ear.
After long and tender parting kiss.
almost sad because 1t was the last, he
left her. never to return. they both
knew-until the morrow.
And thus the days sped by and were
as minutes to the adoring couple who
were totally unconscious Of the world
about them. At last one bright Sunday
In June Constance said casually:
Jimmy. darling, my sister Aggie.
the one you've never seen, came home
from college last night She's out now,
but want you to stay to dinner and
meet her."
"Sure WILL" he replied. "But what
do l care about sister Aggief She'll
only try to monopolize my very own.
est" He kissed her again.
Later they were summoned to the
dining room and james was introduced
to Aggie. He took his eyes OF Con-
stance long enough to glance at the
newcomer while being presented when
suddenly his knees shook beneath him
and he thanked heaven when he was
safely seated. Aggie was exactly Ike
Constance-only more so. and she had
a good many things Constance lacked.
too. Constance's eyes were wonder
full. Aggie's more wonderful. Con
stances nose was pretty. Aggie's beau
tiful; and so 1t went
When he awakened from the frst
shock a feeling of unspeakable re-
morse came over him. AS soon as he
decently could he got away, mumbling
some excuse about a business engage
ment.
All that night as he tosesd and
turned it was Aggie's picture that kept
smiling at him In the darkness and
not Constance's. In panic he would
close his eyes to try to shut out the
vision. but always it was there. And
the next day he was to bring Con-
stance over to take dinner with his
familyl She would be sure to notice
the change in him-the whole world
would see-yet 1t was impossible to
get out of 1t.
At dinner the following evening
after he had introduced his father and
brother to Constance, his mother hav-
ing already met her, he broke the news
of the business trip.
Harry, you'll have to entertain
Conny and look after her while I'm
gone. I've bought tickets to The
Shepherds Call You must take her
and think of me when you do 1t, old
chan" he ended with heartfelt pathos.
Reaching home at night he went
straight to his room and dropped into
a chair, a morose heap Of bewildered
introspection. Ages later he was
conscious Of his brother standing Dc
side him in his smoking Jacket
"That things a beastly color" was
James only greeting as. he glared at
the offending garment. including the
occupant. In his hostile stare. Harry
made no comment. but switched on
the light.
"What the dickens did you do that
forY' roared his brother.
Because want to tell you some
thing, and-I have to say It In the
dark"
Hurry up then. do" he growled tn
reply. !,
"James, swear I hid it. swear
d.d," Harry began In a frenzy.
"HId what. You lunaticf Are you
daftf"
"Hld 1t until Conny broke out cry
Ing last night and confessed she didn't
love you any more"
"What?" gasped james In q hiss
ing whisper.
ayes" Harry continued, ~and wnen
she had made 1t perfectly plain and
realized 1t was all up between you,
simply couldn't keep 1t In any more.
Speechless, James jumped out OF
the chair and blundered toward the
door in the dark.
"Waiti Where are you goingT
called Harry. "You wouldn't DO any
thing to Conny-would you"
"Conny, nothing!" answered James.
"rm going to make an appointment
with Aggie. She's more like Conny
than Conny herself is, but how the
devil did Cupid ever get his wires
crossed like thatf"