Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1921-04-19
Il Began by His Passing tho Salt.

ley fares to the League Of Nations.
James decided that Miss Merritt was
q most sensible young woman and all
his sober Judgment could wish for.
But there were evenings when so
Der judgment and James had nothing
to do with each other, when the de-
sire for romance bubbled up through
the cracks Of his reserve like the lus-
cious juice Of huckleberry pie is apt
to do even when concocted by the most
careful Of cooks. But Of these eve
nings he spoke not at all to Miss Mer-
ritt.
Then James would HE himself to
Bohemian tea room much frequented
by fashionably gowned young women.
Over the supper he would revel In the
life and gayety Of his surroundings
without ever joining in. though the
way was made easy for him as 1t al
ways is for lone young men OF inter-
esting appearance. Then q picture
featuring some beautiful star would
lure him. Afterward James would re-
turn to his room with a deep-drawn
sigh that he was but spectator at
the romance Of life.
That Is, he did until the night he
met Pauline. Colorful Paulinel Pau
line of the big blue eyes and wonder
full marcelled hair. softly pink as to
cheeks, vividly red as to lips, with
kippy little close-ftting hat and be-
guiling veil. With skirt (James de-
cided with q blush that the plural OF
that word could not be used In de-
scribing Pauline's apparel) not too far
below the knees, and hlmy blouse, gen.
erous In the matter Of revealing her
fine white skin, covered by the luxuri-
Gus fur wrap which fastened up to
the spot where In the memory OF old
ish men, girls used to wear their ears,
Pauline had floated into the tea-room,
and after a leisurely glance around,
had calmly seated herself opposite 70
Jamea
It began by his passing her the 80.
and ended by his taking her to see his
fayorIte film star. Somewhere early
in the evening James had ventured to
mention his name, and Pauline had
murmured softly but without the least
hesitation, "shall call you Jimmie%
"And I-you" questioned James
eagerly.
"Call me Pauline" she answered.
"Pauline," echoed James. Unbfd-'
den there came the mental picture OF
another girl-a girl who wore she'll
trimmed spectacles and severely plain
clothes, who never used his given
name, though they had been friends
for months. Miss Merritt's first name
was Pauline, too
II passed, that evening, like q raptur-
ous dream. They parted in front OF
the theater, Pauline insisting that
Jimmie" leave her there. limiting mys-
teriously at reasons why. Yes. she
would try to slip away on the same
evening of the following week And
she did.
So It went on for q month. Pau
line grew more and more beguiiing.
and lost nothing of the air Of mys-
terry which concealed her identity az
completely as the fur-trimnned wrap
concealed her figure, and meanwhile
Miss Merritt grew more interesting
and companionable.
Came Sunday when the tempera-
ture fell into the icy arms OF the
arctic winds. and that part Of James
Italian ancestor within him erawled
down into the depths Of his nature
land fell fast asleep. But his Puritan
principles were right In their element.
They decided that never. no never
would James be happy with snyene as
] (5iyQ|oHa q Pauline. 1t was = III