Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-03-26
stIttttD Storp.
Caught In q Trap.

wind twirling and rushing up the short
drive that lay between the front door
of the house and the gate in the shrub
berry which divided the grounds from
the high road.
Mr.. Ferguson was puzzled over his
work, bothered by it in fact; finally,
he sought assistance of the inferior or
der of creation, TO wit, his wife, who
sat opposite to him, busily knitting
cnildren's socks.
Kate" he calculated in an injured
tone.
We'll. john"
These accounts are trightful nui-
sance. | wish had nevsr undertaken
such a piece Of business it's no end
ot work for me, and not half dozen
of the people will thank me for it az
ter all"
Mr.. Fcrgusson perfectly revelled in
all sorts OF parish work but he was a
man who delighted in = good hearty
grumble now and then, and his wife,
understanding such modes well, al
ways found it an excellent plan TO
]
Suppose you shut the books up,
John, and let us chat for an hour. The
people won't be coming up for their
money before Thursday or Friday,
and this is only Monday"
The people ,ciH be coming up for
their money. You most procrastinating
woman" answered the husband. "Sup-
pose YOU were TO help me now instead
of going on with that eternal knitting !;
we might manage this between US, and
have the gossip you are longing Tor al
terwards. Now, then, who is Simon
Green-the one on the Common
And did he have hi. money out in
April TO buy pig: No'o we shall
get on perhaps
The knitting vanished, and the pair
soon immersed in club accounts, Mrs.
Fergusson's capital memory supple
menting the rector's rather carelessly
Kept accounts admirably. An hours
work brought them to the end of their
labors and Mr.. FERGUSON, on going
TO large old-fashioned desk, and
! Ni iiSC NaLN hS
full of gold and silver, had the satis-
faction of finding the sum they con-
tanned Tailed exactly with what was
required TO pay all the depositors in
the club their proper amounts.
Il shall be glad when We get rid of
it,, he said, as he replaced the bags.
Il am SO unused to having such sum
asA10 in the house that | don't feel
quite safe with it. It's TO be hoped We
shall never be rich. Kate. I've beea
accustomed to 1900 a year 50 long
now, that l should feel out of my ele-
ment with a larger income"
by the by, was not Sarah TO come
home tonight" asked the husband.
Not till to-mrrrow. She wanted
one more day TO see sailor brother
who was coming home. l think, if
you don't mind, John, shall not
keep Sarah longer than Christmas. l
don't like some Of her ways"
"Then, my dear, it's your duty TO try
and improve them. You took the
girl out of charity don't give her up
in a hurry
I'm not in a hurry, indeed. 1t is
quite two months since l found her
reading a letter Of mine, which l left
open on the table; and that's not q
pleasant habit for a servant TO have,
is it? l talked to her kindly, but l
believe she does the same sort of thing
still, when she has the chance"
Then don't give her the chance,
Kate. You meyer find me leaving my
letters about" ("Oh, John ~ I; ''or il
l do they are such as are not of the
least consequence"
II did not know so we'll when | en-.
gagged Sarah what a bad character her
family bore one brother has been in
prison twice."
s'All the more reason for keeping
this girl safe from evil influence. You
shouldn't be too hasty, Kate you are
q dear little soul, but, like all women
you Judge too impulsively, and-Who':
that, wonder:'
A heavy step passed the window
followed by ring at the hall bell
, Mrs. Ferguson opened the study doc
as Jane, their steady elder servant
. passed down the stairs, candle II
! hand.
4 81 wonder if that's Sarah. COM
home tonight instead of tomorrow !!
said her mistress.
sLawk, no, ma am, not likely" an
E swered Jane ''but we'll soon see VIII
: it is" and pulling away the chail
y from the door, she opened it, disclos
$ ing a mans figure without. He wa
4 dripping wet, and had to hold his ha
on with one hand, or the wind woul
# have carried it far away; the othe
e hand he extended with large dam
|, yellow envelope therein. "a tele
d graft" cried Jane, taking the missiv
II from him and passing it on to her mil
;: tress, who in her turn carried 1t to he
- husband, and watched his face anl
y iously AS he opened and read it. !
t grave, perplexed look came over hi
y features as he handed it back.
h The message was from his brothe
n at Fordbam, place forty miles di
e tant, and ran thus:
'' "Come immediately-a third ba
h it-my father anxiously expects you
Ii "No help for it, Kate" said Mr.. Fe
,r gusson, answering his wife's appea
Of ing look. $50 much may depend u
4 on my seeing him once more that
u. !. dare not choose but to 60. How q
M Mir l to get to the station, though, in tin
to for the ten o'clock mail, wonder
re It's nearly nine now, and five miles
It. such night rs this would take
SO more than an hour to walk"
ne ne "Walk you cannot, John, answer'
os his wife. 81 know" she added quic
nr M ly-s.the man who brought this me
n, sage must 60 back past Mr.. Holland
nd will write note asking him to sel
ell Arnold and their dog-card up for yo
", Anything is better than walking
)u' know he vill do IL for Won"