Ellsworth American., 1874-06-18
Sslsft.D Storp.
A Story Of the Sea Side.

CALL II, set Of giddy young girls! To be
sure, Flossy Dunbar was one Of the sweet
est. Quietest little maidens In the world,
who had never given her parents or gov
ernesses = d.y's anxiety in her life-per-
fectly docile, you would say; and Lofty
Helmar WAS 4 high-spirited, independent
girl, full Of brave, glad visions Of life, and
with mo nonsense about her." These two
were pets Of mine, and Was heartily glad
to have their company. And then Ella
Floyd somehow slipped into the party,
making third. but Ella didn't count for
much, one way or the other, l thought.
With confidence and light heart
packed our trunks, not forgetting one thing,
rom Johns fishing-rod down to the baby's
arttle-box, and At the appointed day and
hour We rode gaily of in . hack to the
wharf, arriving there just as the first bell
rang, dcnoting that the steamboat was In
sight. Early as We were, Lottie Helmar
WAS there before us, her bonny brown hair
waving in the wind. and her clear eyes
looking seaward. Her father was with
her, having come down to see US of and
say good-by. Five inmates later the Dun
bar carriage arrived, Flossy sprang out
with gay salute, followed more slowly
by Ella Floyd, for whom she had called on
the way. Mrs. Dunbar was in the car
riase, and while the trunks were being
handed down she beckoned me to her for
a moment Oflow-toned conversation.
Just last word. Mrs. Houghton." she
murmured, Mr.. Dunbar and l are very
grateful to you indeed for being willing to
to take charge of our daughter during her
vacation. Nothing but my sister Salton.
stalls illness prevents my journeying with
her myself. But Of course we have no
fear In trusting her to your care. There
are SO many things-a young girl, you
know-and Of course our hopes are all
bound up in our child's future, but be-
iieve there Is very little saye,y at the is
land. not many gentlemen. certainly no ad-
venturers. quiet place for families.
l am told. know you will take every
care of Flossy, Mrs. Houghton.'
The last trunk was off; there was no
chance for private talk. The steamboat
was at the wharf, and Mrs. Dunbar, sit
ting back in her carriage watched our en-
barking with benignant stateliness.
My girls aud nestled ourselves among
our water-proofs at the forward end ofthe
deck. and Rosie. wrapped In her little
blue hooded cloak, crowed aud laughed in
our midst. The damn sai, ....--
each others changeable hues our native
town behind US grew small in the distance.
We were fairly at sea. Outward-bound,
outward-bound, And In the direction Of
France, some one said. "Ah. IL We were
only going there!" We murmured. But
while the next six hours lasted We should
be just as much at sea as II IL were TO be
weeks instead ofhours.
The steamboat plowed steadily on her
way, the shores We had LEFT were barely
visible, while ahead low, dark line
| along the horizon indicated the island.
There was where we were going pleasure
seeking, q friend OF Johns having offered
us his cottage, close by the hotel, for the
rest OF the season.
''Only think" cried Lofty, in a rapture
six weeks OF sea aEd rock and sky.
What blessed mortals We arc!'
what man is Mr.. Houghton bringing
this way whispered Ella Floyd.
"A man." WAS my dismayed thought,
remembering Mrs. Dunbar; but on ganc-
ing down the deck. saw only our seedy
professor with John.
My old friend Professor Brown,
ladies" said John, with an air as II he
were introducing prince. I made room
for him, feeling immensely relieved. The
| girls grew quiet as mice, and the Profess
sor, looking TRANQUILITY across the sea, dis
coursed upon certain alga he expected to
see around this island.
At last We were at the sea shore, and
gathering up Rose Pose and all the bun
dies, We made our way up the sandy path.
The very first cottage we came to wore a
tried his key, the door opened, and in we
hOcked and established ourselves. There
was time for only the slightest preparation
when the gong sounded, summoning US to
the hotel dinner. When we returned we
chose rooms, and became fairly settled.
1--WE shall be perfectly happy here!'
chorused the girls, full OF sea dreams and
fancies.
They made tour of the island that az
ternoon, pushing their way through huckle-
1 hnv hns md hill t0 h.
highest point OF view; while I, rummaglng
farther through the cottage, found car
riage-rather forlOrn one, to be sure
with broken seat and loose wheel, but
feminine ingenuity mended it, and baby
thrOned herself In il; SO we, too, went OF
for q iaunt. There were q great many
other babies out with their nurses and
mothers, and plenty Of large children run
ming up and down the green. Evidently
- had heard, the place was chiefly pat
ronized by families seeking health and not
gayety.
"Well," said John, when the day came
to leave US, As he packed his valise, ''you
must get along the best way you can,
wife, aud write to me every day. Go bath
ing and huckleberryins till you are all
brown - nuts, and don't let the girls get
into mischief"
We all went down on the pier to see him
OF, when the boat was ready to start. She
had come in about an hour previous, but
We had been too busy to notice what
passengers she brought. John went aboard
just before they drew the plank in; 4
moment more the waves were widening
between rs. I eried-l always do, and
can't help Il, when John has 70 60 away
from me-and 1 walked ~ BY myself to
the end Of the pier. 80 the girls should not
zee the worst Of Il. bsa .ili-s za.as- M 5
When turned around again, there was
. young fellow in . velvet shooting jscket
shaking hands with Lofty In most raptll-
| u>A - A~n~~>I - /.