Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1868-02-28
Christmas day arrived.

nc WIS Ill. Here WAS Slcl u HESITATION |
about him, like a shark with bait, and
such furry. like whale in his last ago
nies. He had horrible secret which he
dared not tell, and which yet ecoutd come
out of his grave at the appointed hour.
Down in the kitchen the roast beef and
turkey were meeting their deserts. Up in
the store-room- Lady Georgiana was
not above housekeeping. any more than
her daughter--the ladies of the house were
doing their part and | was oscillat;ng
between MY uuclc and his niece, making
myself amazingIv useful now to one ard
now to the other. The turkey and the
beef were on the table, nav, they had been
well eaten, before felt that nv moment
was come. Outside, the wind was howl |
ing, and driving the SHOW with soft pats
against the window panes. Eager eyed
watched General Fortescuc, who dis
pissed sherry or Madeira even during din
ner, and would eau Sucrce. but drank por.
after fish OF with cheese ndiseriminateIy. |
with eager eyes | watched how the las
bottle dwindled out its fading life in the
clear drcanter. Glass after glass was
supplied to General Fortescue by the fear
less coclWain. who, if he might have had
is choice, would rather have boarded al
Frenchnan tlian waited for what was to
follow. My uncle scarcely ate at all. and
the ouly thing that stopped his face fro;n
growing longer with the removal of every
dish WAS That nothing but death could
have made it longer Than it was alreaiy
1t was my interest to let matters go as
far as they mishtup to certain point. be-
yond which it Was not my interest to let
them do. il could help it. At the same
was curious to know how my uncle would
aunouHce---couitss the terrible fact that in
his house, on Christmas day, having inyi-
ted his oldest friends 10 share with him the
festivities of the season, there was uot one
bottle more Of port to be had.
waited ill the last moment.-till
fancied the Admiral was opening his mouth
Ike fish in despair to make hs confess
SION. He had not even dared to make a
confident OF his vile in such dilemma
Then l pretended to have dropped NY ta-
| lble-naphin behind my chair, and rising to
seek L. stole round behind my uncle, aud
whispered in his ear
What will you give me for a dozen of
port now. uncle ,
Sab : he said, I'm at the gratings -
don't torture me-
I'm in earnest, uncle
He looked round at me with Il suajen
fash of bewi.,legcd hope in his eye, In
the last agony he was capable 0t be,icy-
ing in Il miracle. Bat he m&de me no re-
piy.
.Win yon rive me Eatel | want Kate
/ wbispIrel.
i vii. my hey. That is. If she'll have
von. Thai i mean to say. if YOU rro-
duee the real -avney.'
.0f course, uncle; honor bright,-as
uogf in a s;orn., answered. trembling
n n{, <bo5s n1everyta:i.r else | had OH,
f,r i war nat more tim three par.s conf
dent in .l,s result.
Yhy ,-cgth,slcq hpsi1n X tie hannpnlnr
at The moment to he occupied each viii
the %JT GA }t:s ot,,rr si.le, went behind
her, AMI whispered % her as had wills
rered to NY aAcle. though MT exactly ii
the SAME terms. Ierhapsi had got a 'lt-
tIr courage from tie champagne Aad
drunk perhaps She presence of the com-
pany gaveme Il kind ofmesm9ric strengths;
perhaps the excitement OF the Whole ven
ture kept fnc up; perhaps Kate herself
gave me courage. like goddess oi ODD in .
some way lil not understand. At all
events sad TO htr,-
.ka,c,'-we had got 50 fur even thcn,-'
INV aucle hasn'tan6lher bottlo Of port il !
ths e.lIar. Consider what a state Gen.
Nnr+,=sar,c ,.jll he i, so8n. Ue'}l be ti2sr
far Ha.t nf il. Willyou co.aa and Ac!p
me - fial a ahattle or two ,
sharn.cat aoce. shIte-rose blush.
So delicate | don't believe aur oap saw
il hut ntxsrIf. Bat the SHADOW ot stray