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

The WINS and whereiOres were too
many to write, and when YOU married and
went away with your husband, Ia no more
idea that things would come round as they
did than had TO running oyer to Council
Biua, IN balloon To take tea with you.
10 tell the truth, 1t was all on account OF
that railroad business, which went cutting
into our orchard aud running haP-hazard
over our best pastuTe-laud, and taking a
right OF way along the wood-lot and cross
Ing the highways, so that there's no peace
for the living. let alone the wicked. How
ever, I've 10 right to complain OF it, in the
long run. II wasn't a. II our house had
been 10 the family ever since the Plymouth
folks landed, and the legislature had given
the corporation leave TO run right through
the best wainscoted parlor, and take away
the oaken staircase stained bv the blood Of
Revolutionary soldier. as they did up AT
squire Elderlys place. 4 believe yon were
here when John Jord in happened this WAY
ciyil-engineering and helping 10 lay Out
the railroad, and | dare say you've hearC
me declare wouldn't Uarry John Jordan,
no. If there wasn't another man on earth ~
Not that he had asked me then. you know;
but girls aren't slow to refuse before
they're asked But he had waited upon me
home from evening service and sociables,
and he had dropped In TO have rdbber at
whist, just when | didn't want to be inter-
rupted in the game Of cribbage which Lu
Gus Glover and were pretty sure 10 be
playing in the back parlor, while the fam
lily sat at work or the other side of the
folding doors, and the mellowed light
from the astral lamp lent US twilight at
mosphere conducive TO Irritation.
Mr.. Jordan used 10 be a good deal at
our house talking with father about the
lay of the land, and in that way folks came
To coupling our names togetheI-and no.
body 50 provoked as l Mrs. Scrutiny,
who lived opposite. and watched us as
closely as 2 cat watches a mouse-hole:
who knew when we heated the oven for An
extra baking, and counted the stockings on
the lire MondaysIand ran over TO see if we
were expecting Sophronia and her husband
down when we all ed the parlor chamber
and who. when we declared we had moth
ing to wear to Mrs. Merry's dancing party
to Thanksgiving ball, or charity fair.
would give us an inventory of our own
wardrobes.
"Why, wear your blue silk, child, that
was made OF your mothers pelisse;" or,
Dear sakes, there's the white muslin you
had to stand up with Sophronia in;' or,
I'm sure the pink tarletan that your aunt
Kitty gave you is as good as new, with a
bit of darning;" or, When l was a girl
the poplin you got OF the old clothes ped
dler In exchange would have been thought
plenty good enough for q charity fair"
Naturally John Jordan's calls didn't es-
cape Mrs. Scrutiny. l believe she could
see In the dark, like y cat; and she lost no
time in communicating her observations.
Consequently heard away down at Fish
erville and away up at Haverham that
John Jordan had been seen at our door
three days out OF the week for five weeks /;
and nobody would believe that he came to
see father. But didn't tIeat John with
any kind of favor, let me tell you! l was
always Quarrelling with him because the
railroad was to cut up the orchard-as If it
was his fault, or as if l cared; but want
ed something TO be disagreeable about l
was none too sweet for him, assure you /;
aud sometimes Lucus and would stroll
OIL to game Of backgammon in the back
parlor, and leave John to the others; and
sometimes would slip out, and when re-
turned. it would be pretty sure to be on
the arm OF Lucius. He always scOwled
when came In with Lucius Glover, and
enjoyed that; and once he had the impu
depce to ask: ''What. in Heavens name
do you ind to please you in that fob?" and
| was SO angry at his daring that the tears
spsang into my eyes, and at that he looke-
divinely sorry, and stammered, Il didn'
know 1t was anything serious!" and tha
didn't mend the matter. for it wasn't seri
Gus. Lucius mad never said anything tt
the point. though he had dealt largely IL
sentimental enigmas; and, what was more