Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1921-02-22
E.AINaS
Held chuekllns Conferences.

telle, Wainwright's advent had made
Maben furious. All the more so that
he himself was responsible for it
wainwright, a fellow Of Maben's COL
lege, specializing in sociology, had
taken a fancy 10 the lad from the
wheat country, had helped him In
many ways-in return for all Of which
Maben had almost bullied him into
coming to Earable for the holidays.
The farm name had pleased him
nightly when he sensed Its deriva-
ton. It was the old form Of arabic
and doubtless meant adapted to cared
crops. Place names, you see, all hold
glints of sociology. Thus Wainright
to himself. The basic truth was
wearied of sophistication, he felt a
longing for life next to the ground
He said openly he collected sum-
mer girls" thereby assuring his harm
lessness. 1t was thus he had classi;
fed Lorraine, with no thought Of
slight or slur. Maben knew as much
knew that his quotation, actually
veritable, was spiritually false. But
in a losing battle one takes any
weapon handy.
Lorraine in front Of the tall mir
ror, scanned herself narrowly, turn
ing and bending to see herself at all
angles. A new and specially wicked
dimple played hide and seek In her
left cheek. Maben, watching It.
yearned to kiss it away, but felt some
how as though he had forfeited all
right even to think of such a thing.
Presently he said awkwardly: I'm
glad you don't mind. 'Raine. The old
boy meant no harm, but most girls
wouldn't understand"
"God Almighty made 'em to match
the men," Lorraine quoted with a
twinkle. "But me! I'm the best little
understander going. II you doubt 1t,
just you watch me-"
'Tm sure you've said things Of
, him." Maben began defensively. She
nodded, interrupting again. "Not a
patch on the things shall shy to him.
Beloved. listen. 1t will be worth while" :"
"Going to ask him II a dimpled
dairymaid wears her finger in her
mouth?" Maben bantered.
.Why. didn't you let me think Of
that?" Lorraine sighed. "You know
original sin gets there first always"
"Shut up! There he comes" Ma
hen admonlshed over his shoulder, as
he rushed to meet tall, thin person
With a scholarly droop Of eyes and
houlders, who came up the path be-
ween brilliant flower borders. Lor-
aine flung after after him an inscru.
able smile-then vanished, not to re-
,pear until very late afternoon.
,rnhen stared at her. She was
rransfigured. Not curl, nardiy q
wave broke the sweep Of her red
golden crown. She had banished ev-
cry dimple. gentled her dancing feet
to softer rhythm. All In white.
clinging and vaporous. she seemed 70
float rather than walk across grass
already cool with dew. Lifting her
head deerlike from her low gard0
seat, she smiled up at Wainright q
smile Of primal allurement sayins
softly: "Now Is the time for wondes
stories. You must tell me one -tbs
one most care to hear"
"What Is itr' he asked.
"You promised to tell It." anxiously.
If I know It," he said indulgentiy,
In his best elder brother voice.
Lorraine smiled again. III not you
who doesT she murmured. 1T -
the story Of yourself tell 1t from the
very beginning"
wainwright gasped. Hall q minute
before he would have sworn to himself
| and walked OF. Now instead he huns
!, himself on tho turf. set bis chin IN
his palms-an mazda The beginning
Of the end .-- =