Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1876-04-13

found out since.
Who said anything about seriossness?''
| snapped out. I'm not one of the Kind
that asks a mans intentions If he looks at
her! l never want to know their inten-
tions, and they don't usually have any, ex-
cept to while the time away" answered
more forcihly than elegantly.
very likely not" said he, going back
to some plans he had unrolled for father to
see when ne came in-"that Is. men like
Clover
That's generous" said l. all in arms
again. II really should think that you and
he were rivals"
And so we are" he answered without
looking up. II hate him because you like
him.
II don't see why" began, awkwardly
enough.
Perhaps you had better take micros-
cope to discover the reasons"
Ii this is love making, thinks |, It's an
odd fashion that I'm not used to and per-
haps for that reason I was somew what vex-
ed when father put an end to 1t. To tell
the truth, after | had been listening to
John Jordan, Lucius small talk did seem
small enough, and his sentiment weak
enough, so sometimes Il occurred TO me
that his moustache WAS his strongest point
But then there were other things to be
considered; lite wasn't all sentiment and
poetry and moonlight walks. Father, you
Know, was only cashier in the Farmers
Bank at salary of fifteen hundred. We
owned the house and land, to be sure; but
II anything should have happened 10 him,
It would have been all day with US girls
We hadn't any especial gifts; we hadn't
been educated TO teach; aud almost every
one did her own sewing at our place. We
we're called a handsome family, you know,
ana beauty constituted our entire fortune.
Now II was different at the GIovers'; they
had bank stocks, and railroad shares. and
mortgages, and what not; they had a fam
lily tree that would have put the Banyan 10
shame; they had services OF silver as old
rs the hills, cut glass. and Dresden china.
family portraits and brocatelle, aud real
diamonds In the bank safe They kept their
carriage too; and II was all enough 10 in
spire the Imagination OF any girl whom Lu-
ciu> smiled upon. The Glover women al-
Ways had the best OF everything silks
that would stand alone, gloves and hats
IRON Paris. gowns. made In the city; while
w" nAl tn fashion our own bounets. cut
our own cIuaks, turn our dresses, and dYe
our gloves; hcm-stitch our haudkerchieis.
patch our carpets, uphols:er our easy
chairs, aud TuO the furniture with harts-
'''' aHA '4t, W. ial 10 ttbtDUllE' III
lights aud fires too. and could afford a
roast only twice a week. remember visit
inT some rich cousins of fathers in the
city once: and all the time | had a con
sciou~nes. that they hated TO see me ou
the front steps in my shappy clothes that
looked well enough at home and when We
were invited out one evening, OyeI heard
them disputing a 10 who shouldn't 20 with
me Ia that "old-tashione.l blue silk, )" which
/ IN my ignorance had thought quite stv-
hsh! And coming out OF a dressmahers
room one day with one OF "y cousins
Dear me-" said she; ''thaf hair-c.oth
furniture just gave me the blues; it'-
worse than any nightmare il 80 Vulgar
nnd bar-roouIy!" Now we In / but hair
clcth IN our parlOrs. and had trIt very
lucky 70 get II; but never offered chair
to caller after that without Qualm
y ou shall see what style j. one OF
these days" promised them, mentaily;
You VIII not be ashamed Of the When I'm
Mrs. Lucius Glover" for, upon my word.
| va, weak aud foolish enough to make up
my mind on the way home that | wouId
marry Luclus II he asked me, and let John
Jordan take care of himself, Well when |
reached home, | found thst father had tax
en- John to board with us, and We were
having roast every day. aud dessert; but
Tor all that, the hair-cloth furniture was
heavy on my heart; was such a wretched
little materallst In those days | wonder
ed il John thought as meauly Of il too;
though of course, | reasoned. nc hadn't
been used 10 anything better. Mrs. Scru-
tiny said II looked a. If we were going To
make Mr.. Jordan one OF the family; and
John smiled, and twisted his mustache,
and said he wished we would About thi.
time LYDIA Glover was attacked with a
sudden friendship for me; she really seem
Ell TO prefer our hair-cloth sofa TO her own
velvet cushions. Lucius usually came with
her, and while he occupied himself with
me, Lydia naturally fell TO flirting with
John; and more than once, | caught my
self answering Lucius absently, because
was irving to hear what John was saying
TO Lydia. sometimes Lydia declared she
could stay no later, aud Lucius insisted 1t
was only the edge OF the evening, and then
John would get his hat and walk home
with her. know had queer sensation
the first time this happened which didn't
improve a | waited for him, lowering ov-
er the falling embers after Lucius had
gone. on pretence OF locking up the house.
Seems TO me ii takes you some time to
walk up to Glovers' and back y said !,
when hecame At last.
''Oh, YOU needn't have waited for me :"
he vouchsafed; II couldn't get away be-
fore. The Glovers have "A fine place - aft
er pause, in which couldn't think of any
thing disagreeabe enough to say. II Won
der how | shall bear it when go there to
see Mrs. Luciu,,''
That can't be the person you 60 TO see
now" [ assured him.
lie laughed and hummed the old FASH
ioned round.
go to Jane Glover and tell her love
her,
And by the light Of the moon will come
to her"
That's what they call a cath isn't it?'
lighting his candle. Don't sit up for me
again when | go to Miss Glovers', Sleepy
Eyes, for may stay late!'
ITS small thanks you give me for keep
ing the fire alive tor YOU" complained.
He turned back. with his hand on the
door, all the mischief fading from his face.
II give you instead" he answered, THAT
which naught enriches you. but makes me
poor indeed! Why should | thank you
for keeping the sre alive, when you mean
that it shall die out unattended at last:'
Come, you are waxing sentimental" /
cried, raking up the Goals. You've mis-
taken your listener. Good night"
Seeing that nothing had come of his
udllCiux dtltfluduCe dl our HOusc. iolhs Ue-
gan to whisper about John and Lydia, as
they must have something to IVORY over;
| used to hear them, coming out of church,
between comments on the sermon; and il
made my cheeks burn, and gave me
sinking sort of sensation, that must have
been akin to dying, that was bliss and
pain, as the poet says, all at once. But
| would have died first. indeed, before
giving sign. When they turned to me,
as one who should know. being intimate
with Lydia, and Johns landlady. l smiled
indifferently, and answered:
IF girls will marry, they must take
such husbands as are going" The trouble
was, ] coveted Johns love, without being
able to make up my mini to renounce the
| good things which Lucius had to offer.
| Well. about this time father had his
stroke, you know-not exactly stroke
Of luck-and was away from the bank for
three months, with every prospect OF being
laid up the rest OF his days; and can tell
you ifit hadn't been for John Jordan's
board, we should have had short commons
indeed. l began to be more convinced
| than ovQr that nv dntv TO marry