Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1865-10-06
employer gives me to understand that you
are an exceedingly worthy person, altho'

red fingered young lady. and stood with q
pair of large blue eyes fixed on Mr.. Eli
OTIS rate pompCus face.
Thank you, sir" he said composedly
cas- it is late, and l am totally unac.
quainted in the. vicinity, I shall accept
your hospitable offer"
Viola Elliott,a handsome olive-cheeked
girl, of about twenty, was eagerly await.
ing her father, just within the threshold
of the cosy, though plainly furnished
family apartment.
"Oh, papa,is it true that Martin is
She stopped short, and Blanche. q
plump. languishing blonde who was curled
upon the sofa, with novel in her hand
burst into giggle as the confidential
clerks tall figure loomed up behind her
portly parent.
"My dear" said Mr.. Elliott, flourish.
ing his hand" this IS Mr.. Hartwell, the
Secretary-clerk-I don't know what to
call him-despatched by Mr.. Martin te
prepare Martnstower."
Viola bent her head stifily. Blanche
just nodded. Truly the confidential clerk
felt that his greeting could scarcely be
characterized as over warm.
Papa" whispered Viola, following
her father into the dining.room, "what
made you ask him home with you jus,
when you are so hurried ?"
Hurried, Viola ?''
"That's just maa's view of things,
pouted the young lady. You might
have known that Blanche and | have
nothing fit to wear-we must have our
new pink dresses made against Mr.. Mar.
tins return--and the best bedroom must
be re.papered, and the parlor paint is
shocking,and here you bring great star.
ing fellow to lounge round in the way
Why couldn't he 60 to the village tav.
ern %
My dear. you forget that he is Mau.
rice Martins confidential clerk"
I" No papa, l don't forget anything Of
the Sort" retorted Viola sharply. "But
am sure that it is no way to give Mr..
Martin favorable impression, for him
to find us hand and glove with his trum.
perry clerk. lie will suppose-he mus,
supposc-.hlt our associations are of the
very lowest! Pap, it is too bad !"
And Miss Viola burst into tears.
Il am astonished at papa added
Blanche, who had entered to participate
in the discussion. "Inviting a clerk-a
common clerk-to our house At any
rate he must sleep in the little dark rooul
oyer the kitchen. SO Viola, we can have
the best bedroom papered just as if he
were not here"
Papa" resumed Viola, still brooding
on the original grievance, "what did pos.
sess you to invite him here 7"
My dear" returned the perplcxed
pater!amiias, Il wished to conciiate Mr.
Martin by every means in my power
OF course | don't care for the young man
personally. We can get rid Of him in "a
day Or two"
The confidential clerk, standing in
front OF the bright red sparkle of the fire
in the room beyond, smiled to himself
even when deep indignant flash mount
ed to his forehead, as he involuntarily
overheard the little sotto roce by play in
the other room.
And this" he murmured to himself,
sadly watching the gloomy masses of coal
ais all the welcome wanderer receives,
after twenty years spent upon the sterile
rocks of foreign land Home the
word has pretty echo, yet there is
something hollow in its sound after all :"
MIR. Confidential Clerk, you are cry
ing !"
He started, with quick blush, as a
little hand. red and frosted with the cold
was laid upon his coat.sceve.
Crying! Il"
Y iou needn't try to deceive me, sir,
nodded Lizzie Elliott. who had crept to
his side with kitten in her arms. 81
saw the bright drop sparkling on your
eye-lashes like great diamond, and then
| saw it fall on the hearth. Why are
you crying? Is it because you are poor
and friendless, aud of-ot-what did papa
call IT, Oh, Of commonplace extract
ion !"
He did not answer. There was some.
thing in the soft pitying shine Of those
black eyes that enthraled his gaze. Liz
zie came close to him, winking hard to
keep sympathetic moisture from her
own dark lashes.
Don't cry !" she pleaded, softly
"Cheer up. | know papa is patronizing
and the girls are cross, but III be your
friend Only think how many men have
begun the world as poor and triendless as
yourself, and yet have triumphed over
fortune"
lie smiled
MY dear little girl"
I'm not a little girl! !" interrupted
Lizzie. Indignantly. II was sixteen last
November"
"Wcll, then, my dear young lady,"
resumed the confidential clerk, smiling,
II will accept your words as an omen Of
coming good fortune. Tell me about
Martinst- -wer. Is it pretty place ?"
4" 1t is a splendid place." corrected
Lizzie, with grave enthusiasm. "With
marble mantles. you know. all carved like
ancient gods and goddesses, and floors OF
inlaid wood, and ceilings all painted to
look yellow sunsets and spots in the
woods when the vines are growing over
head. Aud there are lawns and wide
gravel walks. and once peeped through
the glass doors of the conservatories and
saw great blue passion flowers and cac-
fuses like tassels of fame, and orange
trees with real ripe oranges growing op