The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-12-09
VOL. 80.
ELLIE'S LOVERS.

tie lass and go with me to the nutting
party to morrow!" said Tom Ayrton to
Ellie Bourne.
81 don't think I want to 60" said
Ellie refectively.
"You would rather stay at horne?''
81 would rather stay at home and
read, was the brief reply.
"That's to suit Mr.. Percival Powers
1 SUPPOSE"
''Mr. Powers is a cultivated and intel
lectual person, retorted Ellie.
''Let me see-you have known him
exactly three weeks, haven't you?"
eyes, said Ellie, little doubtfuIly.
"And you have known me one and
twenty years?'
"Don't be ridiculous, Tom," said FL
lie, Struggling her shoulders.
"Oh, certainly not, ;" replied Mr.. AYR
ton stiffiy. eff Mr.. Powers considers
our rustic amusements below his refined
taste"
''NIr. Tom," cried Ellie, vexed and
coloring, '.I did not say that
But the door opened at this moment
and Miriam, the little bound girl, usher
ed in the very identical gentleman in
question. How Ellie blessed the friend
ly indistinctness of the freight that so
conveniently hid her scarlet bushes at
being caught with Mr.. Percival Powers
name almost on her lips.
"Well' said Tom, rising stiffiy, 'I'n
not detain you any longer, Miss Bour-
me-
"Good evening"" said Ellie demurely,
and never gave honest Tom a second
thought.
What delightful evening it was Ell
lie as it were entranced, with her recited
poetry, told piquant anecdotes, and gave
her the details of the last grand hop he
had attended at Newport. How enchant-
ing society must be! thought Ellie, and
involuntarily her tongue gave utterance
to the idea.
"Enchantingl I believe you," cried
Mr.. Percival Powers. ssWhy, Miss
Bourne, you are buried alive here. No
appreciation-no sympathy-no congo
niality. I'd as soon live in one of the
Catacombs.'
Ellie sighed; she was beginning to be
ieve herself one of the rare blossoms,
t'born to blush unseen" A vague
yearning rose up in her heart-an unde-
fined aspiration for something better,
higher, nobler. She was sorry people
had got into the habit of believing her
and Tom Ayrton to be engaged, there
never had been any regular compact,
and she would take care that there should
be an end to all that nonsenses.
And when old Mr.. and Mrs Bourne
come from the prayer-meeting over to
Eiilier Hawkins, Mr.. Powers was stand
ing on the door steps, promising Ellie
20 shave the horse and buggy at the
door at ten precisely tomorrow morn
ing"
ne and Ellie WINGED at her mothers old
fashioned ways. 'tI thought you were
going nutting with Frank Sanlmins and
the Ayrtons tomorrow.
"I've changed my mind mother, :"
said Ellie, hurriedly lightning her bed
room candle.
81 don't think she'd ought to trife
with Thomas that way, 3" said Mr.. Bourne
looking meniatingly into his mug of
foaming cider ere he plunged red-hot
poker into its Iimpid depths.
"Gals will be GALS" said the old lady
briskly. "Better let 'em fight out their
own battles, father
The next morning Mrs. Bourne MISS
ed gold breast-pin and took Miriam to
task about it.
''Deed, Miss, 1 never SO much as set
eyes on it arter you'd drive away!" howl
ed Miriam, with both her knuckles
wedged tight into her eyes.
Don't you know what becomes of the
wicked ones who steal and lie, Miriam?"
gravely questioned her mistress.
''They goes to everlasting fire, Miss, !"
whimpered poor little Miriam, wriggling
as if she were already beginning to
scorch. ''But haven't stealed, and I
haven't lied. Deed, Miss, if twas the
last word L ever had to say
ssEllie," said Mrs. Bourne, coming in
with a disturbed and troubled counte-
nance, ''this isn't the worst of it. The
silver spoons that your grand mother
gave me when / was married, are gone
too. don't believe Miriam would have
taken those"
'Mother," said Ellie breathlessly,
'sthere has been burglar in town.
Mary Dart was telling me how they had
lost their old-fashioned silver candle
sticks on the night OF her party"
cts very strange" said Mrs. Bourne
''and don't know what we'd better do.
Father must put new bolt on the back
kitchen door, and all the shed windows
must be nailed down securely. And
Tip must lie on the kitchen hearth
nights. Dear, dear! how nervous it does
make one feel!"
"Upon my word," calculated Mr.. Tom
Ayrton the same morning, ga man must
credit the evidence of his own senses ]
suppose, else should hardly believe
that so genteel and gorgeous a man a:
Mr.. Powers could be lodging into {
| pawn brokers shop in such a decidedly
sneaking sort of way. What brings hin
up to town to-day? By the embroia