Ellsworth American., 1874-06-18

"heh one Is just entering the romapti
period, starlight escapades and the lik
seem quite the natural thing and not to b
worried over.
cannot say the time dragged-it ie,
rather; It really seemed to me that couI
see the hands on the clock moving steadil
and quickly ahead, hurryiug on the tim
10 later and still later hour. How sool
it would be midnight, and Lofty no ON
knew where. The wind had been fo
some time rising with a desolately sa,
sound, and now to crown our woes. IN,
sky blackened and 1t began to rain.
Midnight at last! Just as was spring
ing up, feeling that could endure it n,
longer, the door burst open, and there wa
Lofty, dripping wet, her eyes flashing, he
face all aglow, and no one at all with her
II never had such time In all nv life .
she exclaimed. Deer me, how wet 1t is
Clara, have you been worried? It is al
BOD Ainsleigh's fault. He invited me &c
Walk out on the rocks with him, and n.
the family are all to leave tomorrow.
consented, thinking / had treated him
rather shabbily Of late. Well, he wanted
me to go to place where he had discover.
ell sort OF echo, so on we walked and
walked, till, if you believe it, l found nv.
SELF half way round the island. In a rocky
assure, with the ocean roaring at my feet
mere Is rather curious echo there
Clara. must tell the professor about Il,
Well, then the foolish boy began TO talk
about the old subject. you know, that
had absolutely forbidden him to mention
again, and he was so persistent I was
Obliged to be severe at last, and told him
his conduct was contemplate, and he hal
lost all my respect. That stung him; and
he turned in passion and strobe rapidly
away. l called to him to wait for me-. for
did not want to be left alone at nip,.t
among these dark, slippery rocks. Well.
ne did not take the same path we went by,
but the other, quite round the island and
never SO much as offered to help me once
But at one point he did call back. Have
care there" and stopped short, and
found myself on the very edge of steep
rock that went down as much as ten fee, I,
Did you ever hear anything like il? can
tell you was glad enough to see the light
streaming out of these windows"'
This was Lotty's account of her mad ad-
venture. What the rest of US said, and
how hagsard and pale Professor Brown
looked when he got back and found her
there, are matters of no Importance. |
hurried my charge off to bed with few
words. thinking | would have a serious
talk with Lofty the next day
But dear me. she scattered all had to
Il am sorry | kept you up so late.
Clara dear" she said at once; .'but truly
that is all the harm | can see in 1t. I
shall tell my father all about it and he
will not blame me. Really, instead OF
scolding me, dear, you ought to scold Ella,
for it is the common talk of the hotel, that
she flirts with Mr.. Myrick."
What" 1 exclaimed, aghast.
Bob told me so. She walks with him
every evening, leaning on his arm with
such an air of devotion; and poor Mrs.
Myrick, they say, is ready to tear her in
pieces
This was enough. | went hastily TO
find Ella, and called her to account. What
do'you think? She looked up at me quite
pertly. and said;
Why, what have l done wrong, Mrs.
Houghton? Is it any more harm for me to
walk with Mr.. Myrick than for you to re-
ceive calls from Professor Brown every
day."
You wicked girl" | cried. "you know
he is one OF my husbands best friends.
and John especially requested him to call
here every day to see If we needed any
thing"
''Oh, well,' continued Ella, obstinate
ly, then why don't you talk to Flossy: |
am sure if ever a girl was dead in loye,
she is"
But 1 was not thus to be diverted. and
after an hour OF serious conversation |
had the satisfaction of leaving Ella in
tears of contrition. Poor miserable girl .
She had thought because Guy Livington
firted, so could She,
But what was that nonsenseabout Flos-
syS and by-the-way, where oas Flossy? I
asked Lofty, who sat playing with little
Rose in the porch.
ooh, she went down to the shore half
an hour ago." she said, ''along with the
professor to catch alge off the rocks
So after them down to the shore | sped
in sudden anxiety. There they sat to-
gether on the rocks, and as l approached
heard him saying something about 'most
rare and lovely Flora.
"Oh. gracious!r ~ ] exclaimed, mentally.
II hope it is sea fora he means.' But 1t
was mot sea flora he meant-it was our
Flora, the sweetest, and choicest Flora on
earth! l saw that, as soon as reached
them and met their happy eyes. 1t was
all over, they loved each other, and were
leagued against the whole world.
Well, what could l dor A letter to
John, sent out by the nights boat, brought
him to the island the next day, and as soon
as might be he took his flock of culprits
home. And If ever l 60 chaperoning
again.
Ihave not seen Ella Floyd since, and l
don't think | want to see her. As to Lot
ty Helmar loved and admired her, but
don't want to have charge of her. A girl
who finds it as natural to receive declara
tion Of love on black, slippery rocks at
midnight by the roaring sea as others do
in parlor or conservatory is more than
can manage.
The Dunbars are furions. l took them
allowing, loyal woman, in place of the
sweet dreamy child they lent me. They
see in the professor only plain intellgen
poor man, and they have forbidden her to
see, speak, or write to him. She obeys
and is not cast down. She is willing to
wait, and l see the light of love and
faith In her eyes that many waters cannot
l h. L.