Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-08-07

prised TO see sudden blush sufuse
Miss Gresham's face when his name
was mentioned, and he fancied her
manner nervous and distrait. She hal
no dance left TO give him. but they
chatted a few moments on ordinary
topics, and a chance allusion:
"is it long since you returned from
Europc?"
Only about six months. l should
have remained year longer. but all
my worldly goods having been con-
verted into dust and ashes one night,
1t behooved me 10 exchange the life Of
a vagabond for the practice OF my pro-
fession, which Ibegan here in prefer
ence TO my native city
The lightly spoken words seemed to
astonish her. "What n misfortune I"
she exclaimed.
/ II trust 1T will not prove so in the
end, he answered, ,houghtful.y but
the next dance had already began. and
the tete-d-tete was Interrupted.
Later in the evening his hostess
said TO him playfulIy: "lou should
be much fiattered Miss Gresham has
been asking me all about YOU, and it is
not often that she condesccnds TO take
SO much trouble. OF course YOU have
fallen in love at first sight"
Perhaps l should if | had not long
since outgrown such a possibility"
Hal answered carclsssly.
Nevertheless, as he sat next morn
ing in his modest little office, Laura's
beautiful face came between his ewes
and the dry reports of the medical
work he was reading, with such foolish
pcrslstency that it was relief when
the bell rang and he was interrupted
by messenger desiring his attendance
upon Mr. Rhsdes as soon as possible.
Rhodes thought Hal as he pre-
pared 70 obey the summons, "surcly |
have heard that name. Why, it is the
same crusty old correspondent. and
this Is the city he was living in.
Strange never thought Of il before.
| should like to see his little niece
again.
But when he reached the handsome
house 10 where he bad been directed.
he found only an irasciblc, dyspeptic
Old gentleman, who made no allusion
10 any previous Intercourse, and proved
most cyacting and cxasperatina
patient. II was not until his third
visit that he found a young lady in tie
room who was introduced rs MY niece,
Miss Gresham"
50 this was the poor needy girl he
had succored-thls courted belle and
hesress. Truly, circumstances had
strongly changed With both OF them
since their first meeting.
II have had the pleasure of sceiu-
slt-IA 4lv1.ets,t.., ''.---a t-t
significance which might be attached %
those few words, no reference Was
made 10 any previous incident IN their
acquaintance. Apparently she desired
it should bc ignored, ana Hal had far
too much tact and breeding 10 bctray
bv word or look his own remembrance
Of il. Yet he often wondered at thlS
silence, IL in the course Of several
months professional Attendance Ae 5c-
came better acquainted with herself
and her uncle. The latter Was con-
tirmed invalid, to whom his niece was
exceedingly devoted, and she found an
efficient aid in the young doctor, who,
although his practice was rapidly en-
larginr, somehow always managed TO
have considerable time to devote to
this special case. Seeing Laura thus
frequently and Intimately, Ilal became
more and more interested IN her and
constantly this persistent reserve,
which apparently arose either from
false shame OF the past or shallow
pride in the present, vexed and puzzled
him. II was the one blemish he found
in her character, and lie could not un-
derstand nor excuse il.
1t kept him. if not from failing IN
| love, at least from avowing his alice
/ ton; one who attached undue inpor-
tance To wealth and position would
| hardly tolerate the addresses Of poor
/ physician, he reasoned, although
| Laura's manner certainly gave hun
cause 10 entertain contrary oPihion.
One morning he met her IN the hail,
"Cau | speak with you moment De-
fore YOU 20 to my uncle:' she asked.
Certainly" he replied. following
her into the reception room. Closing
its door she came toward him, saying
with smile:
Have you quite forgotten Inc
..Surclv, Miss Gresham need never
ask such a Question he said gailantly.
"Besidcs saw YOU yesterday
She made slight movement OF I'M
patience, II do not mean that. want tc
know whether you have ever guessed
that was the poor girl you met on the
street that dreadful night when my
mother was SO ill, and you befrlended
US. Am SO changed that you did moi
know me
No he answered, but l thought
Thought that | had such foollsl
false pride that shrank from acknowl
edging nv Indebtedness TO you, re
calling my former poverty and wretch
edness," she interrupted, her soft eye!
+ filling with suppressed emotion =
am sorry, but YOU had good reason
NV uncle is 80 annoyed by any allusio'
f to that miserable time-it wounds hi
: pride. and, besides that, he reproache
g himself so bitterly for having igno
: rantiy allowed my mother to struggl
) and suffer as she did, and have neve
. dared to speak of it before him. l
fact, l resorted to ruse to induce hlI
f., to have you attend him, telling hlI
: though the names were the same, tn
f DR.. Burgess he remembered was rici
e and probably still abroad"
/ Then you recognized me yourse
!, at onceW
# Certainly, and l am not as nj
grateful as l have seemed. l have
y longed to thank you, although wore
never can for all you did for u.s."
..Do not say anything about it, Mi
u Gresham" said Hal, much embarras
:, II uau triHiuU Servico | ".