Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-05-02

A Word In Season.

The Day Accommodation on the Shore
Line was making ats deliberate way east
ward. curving with every curve OF the Con-
uecticni shore, and clinglng to the watef-
side IS though actuAted by a sentiment for
coast scenery. Ga one side OF the track lay
the blue. white-capped sea; on the other.
iow rolling hills with foreg rounds of brown
meadow and golden sedge; over all. a su-
l,ert 81 ui' of ssa-iit shy. IL vas sioiis...s
late sntumD day, and Miss Maiiows found
Tia, Husband Of Nine so little engrossiug-
perhaps because of her maidxnly unac-
qusintsnce with the po.sessive case OF that
article-that she fung il down aud betook
hersel. 10 gazing from the window. She
Mas growing dreamy, as gazers At a rapid
ly changing scene are apt TO do, when a
word reacsed her ear. and aroused curios-
ity enough to make her turn her head. IL
was \ woman's name, aud an uncommon
one Arethusa."
The person who uttered IL was 3 man.
His seat Was on the opposite side OF the car.
and little In advance OF that which Miss
Mallows herself occupied, and she now OBJ
served that there was something odd about
his appearance HIS head and shoulders
were massive and finely formed; his face
seen In profile wss a good one. with kindly
eyes and Q striking forehead, broad and
benevolent. But there was something
dwariish 10 his attitude, and when present
ly he half rose TO shot the window, IL be-
came apparent that he WAS a dwarf. There
was DO deiormify. bu. the large head and
broad shoulders were balanced by miser-
able pair OF little legs not longer than those
OF q child of ten. lie was not young, for
there were grizzled hairs about his temples
and In his fun beard. and altogether his
appearance was half repulsiSe and half at
..tz.t
OF goodwill aud pity SO strangely mingled
that il was hard TO tell which predomina-
ted.
His eompanion-evidentlyt the "Arethu-
sa' addressed. was girl not over twenty,
OF that delicate type OF prettiness known IS
American" which fades 20 early, but Is
charming In its brief nower-time. Her new
gray suit, with crepe Msse ruiiies ~ throat
and wrist, the crisp feather 10 her bat, even
the shining red leather Of her travelling
bag, and the perfectly fresh, carefully put
on gloves, bespoke the bride. but there was
something very unbridal 10 the face which
these fineries surrounded. The eyes, blue
ia tint and beautifully shaped and set, were
swollen with crying, the lips quivered ner-
vously. every yestige of color had ned from
the round childish cheeks, and the hands
In the new gloves were pinched together
with tightness like terror. Once or twice
As Miss Mallows watched, she fought with
emotion and called up q wan little smile in
answer 70 something said to her. but she
never spoke. Her companion, on the con-
trary. talked necessarily In low-voiced
steady strain. Miss Nallows could catch
only q word now and then, and her curios-
ity about the couple grew so strong that
she felt that she would pay any price TO
know their story. There could be no doubt
Il ~. 4. 81 sk.x.s-.
husband and wife, and Just married. The
little man evidently had no thought except
for his bride. Mile after mile he talked and
talked. devouring her with his eyes the
while. and she sat with half averted head,
never meeting his gaze or replying by .
word TO any thing lie said. Once she turn-
| ed and looked full at Miss Mallows with .
wild appeal 10 her face which was start
ling. but she instantly looked away, and
presently laid her arm on the window-slll
aud her head on her arm, and began TO cry
| in = still, dreadful manner, not sobting
aloud. bot trembling all over with pent-
up feeling which was worse than outbreak
the man tried In vain TO soothe her; she
sepelled him gently but decidedly. and a.
last he gave up the attempt, and silently
SAT beside her with grave troubled face.
| Il shall die il l can't nnd out about those
people," thought the excited observer on
| the other side OF the car. But she didn't
die, neither could she find out. One can
not walk up to perfect strangers and de
mand, Your story or your life !"-it is i'm
possible. So Miss Aallows sat still, her
conjectures afame aud her fingers fairly
twiiching with impstience, till at last the
| train stopped At = small way-station, and
the little msn. rising from his sest-and,
alas! looking even shorter than when be
sat. said. in gentle, deprecatory tone.
''NOw. Arethusa."
With that they vanished. Miss MallOws
had one more glimpse Of them, getting into
! q brand.new csrry-all. which looked as
though it might be part Of the wedding
outfit, and then the train bore her away
Her thoughts remained behind, with the
people in whom she had taken so sudden
| and violent an interest.
| Il wonder. wonder, who they are, and
Why on earth she married himf' ran her
| reflections. $50 young and pretty, and 30
evidently unhappy And for oil her pref
| tiness, II wesni An edncsted face, OF
lady'ehe tookedfAr aicsS than she. feel
Wactly . 1soaghoI had sdtppsd Into IL
naddls chapeW 0san exsit3sS sovss, snd