Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-12-25
stIefttD Storn.
Polly's Victory.

lovely as the light, Ere ach court. bril-
liant costumes, and acting that is not
to be spoken of made up the tout en-
SeG,ble that delighted the good people
of Pittston for one night at least. The
proceeds were 10 be devoted to charit-
able purposes. Tnump went the canes
and umbrellas. and with every "com-
ing" on of Kitty Bessom, the beauty
of Pittston, such q vigorous clapping
of hands ensued that one was fain TO
hold his ears, or be deafened with the
applause.
The National Hall was decorated
with banners. Deacons and doctors
and lawyers had spent a week on its
embellishments. The Pittston band
had been practicing for months, and
wound up by playing Hail, Colum-
bia," in their grandest style.
Very reluctantly the people left the
scene of entertainment, all talking to-
gether.
The wide green in front was brigh-
tened all over by the illuminated win.
dows, save where the posts and primi-
tive chains made long shadows in the
grass.
1T bes,s all holler." said Deacon
Simpson; ''but l felt sort o guilty"
We'll. | dunno" responded Aunt
Methuin sits got up for charitable
puppos but reckon 'taint gret
many removes from a theatre nrter all.
What an awful smart Young man that
French count was. They say he's a
clerk to the new store. And declare
fort if didn't feel kinder bad for Bob
Langdon when he was a-makin' love TO
Kitty, all in gold and scarlet, with his
bobbin' white feathers"
Wasn't Kitty just little WITCH"
querried Libby, the deacon's daughter ;
''she looked so sort O real pleased. If
Id bin Bod Langdon, I'd ruther took
the count myself than the clod-hopper.
What country lad he was, to be sure
| never could q b'lieved that was Bob,
never; and tine count was 50 hand
some ~
The crowd began to thin. Sundry
vehicles, being filled with "wimmin
folks" drove off at 4 jog-trot pace.
; Pretty little Polly Lee, who had tax
Ell the part of 4 country lassie, stood
at the foot Of the steps, revealing un-
der her carelessly arranged shawl q
pair of snowy shoulders and the knots
of crimson ribbon that adorned her
white dress.
/ Polly's little heart was aching, de.
spite the red lips and the bright color
of her cheeks. For that one night, al
least, Bob Langdon had been her low.
er. Had she lived century in those
few ecstatic hours? How she gloated
over the thought that Bob had been a,
her very feet had talked all the 70
mantle nonsense in which lovers gen.
orally indulge as if he meant it, little
thinking of what the light of Polly's
eye, the trembling of her hand and
voice all indicated-little dreaming
while he thought it very good acting
and looked jealously on at the back ol
the stage at the French count ON his
pink and silver KEGS at the feet of his
own betrothed, that little Polly hac
loved him long before she exchanged
her pinafores for the maiden's dresses
had loved him with an overwhelming
passion that but few natures expert
ence.
"Well. it's all over" sighed Polly
tying the strings of her chip hat under
her dimpled chin, angry with hersel
that she said it-that she could no
crush this unbidden passion that seem
ed in her sweet eyes unmaidenly.
Suddenly the lights were extinguish
ed, and Bob stepped out of the vesti
bule.
''Polly, have you seen Kitty" hs
asked, ''She promised to wait for me.
81 saw her," said somebody under
the iamp-post-probably one of Kitty.
rejected suitors. "She was a-goins
home along of that French count"
Bob's face grew white as he stood
there, and he shut his teeth. once, with
a click.
'Polly you've a good ways to co.
he said. in voice as calm as before
''and there's no moon.'
"Caleb promised to come," said Pol.
ly, peering out into the road.
"Caleb is old and forgetful," re.
sponded Bob $50 we'll play the role
a few moments longer. l 60 right by
the gate, you KNOW"
Polly took Bob's left arm, quite
frightened to feel the heavy, rapid
beating under it, and listened to his
purposeless talk, and was so grieved
for him that she almost forgot her own
great trouble for she knew that Bob
loved Kitty, and she feared that Kitty
was not true to Bob-not, at least, q
she would have been.