Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1876-01-06

! ty acres of land attached to it; while the
| hired man resided in the bosom of his fam
| lily near by. 1t would be a capital thing
| for Juliet to spend the summer with Cous-
in Selma. at a very moderate board; and
as Mr.. Hopkins offered no objection to this
plan, provided that Juliet was willing
and Juliet was more than willing to get of
from B-Springs-Miss Grimp speedily
received at epistle from her city cousin
that threw her into an alarming state OF
not-know -what-to o-do-ativeness.
On reflection. however, Mrs. Selma rath.
er liked the idea OF having company, aud
she was decidedly pleased with the pros
| pect of regular income for what would
| cost her very little. But. according to the
| invariable custom at wilkins Cove (hs..n Y
fully made up her own Eiind on the sub
| ject). sh', put oa her sun-bonnet and went
| to consult her nearest neighbor.
The neighbor gave her some not very
encouraging accounts of boarders with
whom her husbands sister had contended
at various periods OF her existence, from
which 1t would appear that boarders were
the natural eneLies of the people who
boarded them. but advised her nevertheless
TO take the young lady so Unexpectedly Of
fered, and Miss Selma lost no time IN writ
ing her acceptance to "Cousin Hopkins" !"
She was in the midst OF grand renova-
ting of her best chamber. when the hired
man screamed to her from below that "a
ieller wanted her in the settin' room"
"Fellers" In the "settin- room" or, in
deed, any where else, were rare commod-
tiles. and when Miss Grimp. with her hair
hurriedly piastered down with water, and
her face shining with soap. adjourned
to the parlor, her first glance at the 'Iel-
Ter" established there assured her that
whatever the object OF his visit might be-
he would be pretty sure TO get 1t. Every
one who looked into those steady. smiling
eyes very generally arrived AT the same
conclusion.
Miss Selma was afraid the man had books
to sell. and nerved himself accordingly.
but her coIsternation was extreme when
he proposed himself as a boarder Ii seem
ell 10 her that 1t was raining boarders, and
she wanted 10 run away somewhere until
the shower was over.
The lady had opened her mouth, evident-
ly 10 remonstrate, but the stranger sml-
lug!y proceeded:
Il will promise to live out-of doors rrost
of the time. and you may feed me on bread
and milk. There are some very fine view
of the ocean here, which should ike To
transfer 10 canvas, and that anu the quiet
OF the place have attracted me. \ man
WUOll met on lne OtaCN IupuZnI COuli
get Accommodated hero"
That loaiing Bill Hacks, OF course, who
seemed TO think that because she hadn't a
family OF her shoulders she must sit and
suck her thumbs for want OF something 10
do. shed give him piece OF her mind
when she got a COED chance. A. Bill.
however, had applied several times for the
situation OF permanent boarder III the char
acter OF Miss Sellna husband, II is not
likely thar this would have troubled him
much.
The gentleman then offered sum that
seemed 30 munhcent To Miss Grimp that
she could only open her eyes III astouish-
nrent. When she found words she post-
lively refused to accept more than tso-
thirds OF 1t. aud said that "she was afraid
h1t was screwin'"
llsr would-be boarler laughed, and told
her that ehe didn't understand business.
lie then isfO!mcd her That every thing was
sett, u 10 his satisfaction; that she might
put him where she. pleased; ard that he
was going out for 4 long ramble. And de-
posting his portmanteau In the entry, he
took-his sketchng apparatus with him and
departed.
Good gracious" exclaimed the be-
wildered spinster. II wonder how many
more OF 'em are coming! And don't even
know the mans name"
On went the n-bonnet again, aud, as
Miss Selma expressed IL, she "cut round"
to the neighbors on the other side. Aiter
solemn delberation this Delphc oracle ar
rived at the conclusion that as the man
had evidently come with Il determi nation
to stay, 1t woald be as well 10 let him. but
she strongly advised her friend TO admit
no more "fellers."
As the old house afforded no accomoda-
ton for more, Miss Grimp readily adopted
this suggestion, and 'cut" back again 10
devote all her present energies TO the little
sleeplng-room back Of the parlo-. Here
she meant to deposit the strange indyld-
ual who had dropped upon her so uuex-
pectedly. And she wished she had thought
TO ask him whether he liked feathers or
straw uppermost, and what were his views
on the subject Of soap. Some folks liked
brown, and some CASTLE. Ii might have
startled her to hear that he abomlnatcd
both.
What shall | call your asked Miss Sc
lima. a little nervously, when the artist.
looking very fresh and gentlemanly in his
clean linen suit. presented himself at the
tea-tabie.
on" he replied, with some confusion,
"call me Ellis"
There was man of that name" said
the lady, Aiter the invariabe manner of
country people, who kept a harness.
makers shop in Boynton-any relation of
yours!'
Mr.. Ellis thought not. and added that
he had very few relatives
I'm expectin' another boarder." volun-
teered Miss Selma, presently; "a young
lady from the city"
II am sorry to hear it." was the unex-
pected reply. II hoped to be here alone,
and don't like young ladies'"
Miss Grimp regarded the speaker with
puzzled air. He was awful queer, that was
certain.
Il guess she won't be in your road
much" said she. soothingly shes
very nice girI-my cousins husbands
niece-and it's likely.she'll just stick round
the house, and read and sew"
Mr.. Ellis wished he nice girl in Jericho;
he was quite sure she would prove u regu-
lar nuisance.
Miss Selma was just dying to ask her
ooarder II he painted pictures for a living,
ana now much he got tor them; but there
was something about him that prevented
her. In tact. she admitted that. although
he was as smiling as basket of chips. she
was aw.uliy afraid OF him.
Meanwhile he settled down as naturally
IN his ne" quarters as though he had al
ways llved there; was as easy as an old
shoe, his hostess reported, ard didn't give
a mite OF trouble. By degrees wilkins
Cove got accustomed to seeing him prowl-
Ing among the rocks on the shore, and tax
Ing views-a proceeding which it had at
first regarded disapprovingly and it final
ly came TO accept him as II would a bale of
foreign goods cast ashore by the tide
Mr.. Ellis had been at wilkins Cove
about week, when he came in from his
days work to find gray figure opposite
him at the tea-table. This, of course, was
the young lady; and he was formally
'made acquainted with Miss Sellingwood
who struck him as being stiff and unnter-
esting, appearing to possess the sole merit
Of being quiet.
Miss Selma quite took to the shy girl,
There was something wishful in the young
face-a sort of hungry look, as if for love
and sympathy, that appealed to her kind
heart; and when, after addressing her al
ternately as ''cOusin" and Miss Selling
wood''-the spnster became hopelessly
confused as to what was proper under the
eircumstances-the girl said so appe aling-
ly. do call me Juliet won't your, the
NaVg Ef y. anna IL