Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-11-11
hand. Of the wondering domestic. with


| is to be brought to our table in this teapot.
that NAV pour il myself and" she added.
with something like thrill of apprehension
running through her smooth even tonea,
"you mus, be very careful no, to make any
mistake, for Monsieur Defoe will not forgive
any tampering with what is to him life it.
self"
"Yes, ma'am. I'll see that everything is
all right"
Blu, when safe in her own domain the
story to her assistants, holding up the tea
pot meanwhile for their inspection. One OF
them exclaimed. curiously;
"Why, it is just exactly like the one ,ha,
Mr.. Bracket, has his tea made in. and tha,
came from some furrin country where they
raise tea He says he promised the old
mandarin that gave i, TO him he'd always
drink his tea out Of it, and that's why be
takes it abou, him everywhere he goes"
Twill be an awful bother TO tell which
is which" soliloquizcd the cook. looking ap-
prehensiyely at the two ieapots that, having
been placed side BY side, were really eXac,
eounterparts one Of the other.
"I'll tell YOU what. though. Molly; you
just tie a bit o, white thread around the
handle Of Mr.. Brackets and then we'll be
sure no, 10 make any mistake"
Molly did as desired. and so far as human
calculation could go, Monsieur Defoe was
sure Of having his single cup Of tea at each
meal from his owa special and particular
| teapot
The DAYS passed nv. and still the mystery
that from the first had elung about the De
foes seemed TO increase rather than dimin-
ish. They made no attempt to seek. in fact
they evidently avoided, the companionship
of their fellow guests. going out alone or
with guide upon their frequent fishing and
sailing excursions. never speaking unless
addressed. and then IN the curt constrained
manner Of people who were determined TO
hold as little intercourse as possible with the
world about them.
To this general os;racisrn Of their fellow
guests there was. however, one exception.
and tha, Was found in the person OF the
jolliest, most social and popular gentleman
at the hotel. the owner Of the Japanese tea
pot before mentioned. Mr.. Bracket.
For some reason best known TO himself
the unsocial Frenchman really took some
little pains to render himself agreeable to
the heart, tempered Yankee. who in hi,
turn took him in tow. with much the same
benevolent air As great burly New found
land might deign TO fraterniKe with a snap
plsh poodle and the two hshed. rowed
tramped and played croquet together with
an equanimlty astonishing TO the lockers
on. who all TO a man predicted some sudden
and violent rupture To an intimacy so
strange and unintelligible.
In due time. too, that rupture came
slight Disagreement in regard 20 their IA
vori,e game. a good -natured remons;rancc
from Mr.. Bracket, met by fiery rrioinder
from has opponent, more words. and a, last
an insulting cpiihet hurled from the lips Of
the epraged Frenchman thar even ahkee
GOODNESS ami philosophy could not over
| look and the two met a; table or upon the
| broad piazza Of the hotel face 10 fac. with
out a word or look OF recognition only a
/ fiery CLEAN that shot now and then from
/ Nonseur's little black ewes revealed how
/ fierce was the smoldcring passion within his
/ breast; and, as evil passions seldom wait
| long for their opportunity, All apparently
/ trivial mistake served in this case a. an ex-
euse TO expend the pent-up wrath OF days,
even though upon an unof.nding object
An unexpected influx Of guests Just a,
/ dinner time had created some little hustle
and confusion among the kitchen magnaies ;
so that when the pretty waitress who served
a, the Defoc able brought in the precious
teapot As usual, her heightened color and
( hurrled manDer instantly revealed to Mon
sIeur's suspicious ewes that she vas some
what bewildered by the multiplicity of her
duties and with a selfish ins,inc, character
istic of the man. he glanced from her
flushed face TO the sacred burden that she
I haFg half eNp IN hnrrtbl..
dent or mutila,ion Of his cherished treasure
II vas intact. and he drew a sigh of relief
and settled himself back comfortably in his
chair but as his wife proceeded as usual to
pour the tea his eve caugh, sight Of some
secret sign or mark visible only to himself
and utiering a loud exclamation. he started
up, his face so infiamed with rage tha, be
seemed q demon rather than a man. while.
in voice hoarse with passion. he cried
fercely "Sdere" II is the tea urn Of nv
foe, he that do hate thus do spit upon
the aecursed seoundrel. they call him Brack
| EFT How dare YOU insult me with the urn
from which he drink ?" and seixing, in hi
fury, the offending vessel. filed TO the brim
as i; was with sealding tea. he made as il
he would have thrown It's contents in the
face Of the frightened girl, who, with one
shrek Of uncomfortable terror, hed toward
the door closely pursued by the enraged
man, who was evidently too mad with pas
sion TO realize in the least what he was
about. So sudden and unexpected had been
the outbreak, that Of the fifty or more
guests in the crowded dining room, no man
had the presence of mind to interfere for the
poor girls protection, as she sped across
the room closely followed BY her pursuer,
holding the offending tea urn aloft, ready at
the first opportunity to hurl its contents a,
her unprotected head.
But at the door ready and efficient ally
showed himself in the person of Tom Cross,
a well-known guide and hunter, who, bar
ring the doorway through which she had
escaped with his own sturdy. well-developed
figure, managed with one brawny arm TO re.
sist the onslaught Of the tempestuous little
Frenchman as easy as he would have put
aside an angry child, while smile 81 grim
humor frightened his dark, determined face
as he said, in voice so soft and low that it
seemed strangely out Of keeping with the
stout burly frame and bronzed face Of its
owner.
This won't do. sir. We don't treat wo-
men like that up this way"
For q moment the Frenchman was silent,
glaring upon him with the impotent rage Of
one who feels that he is in grasp against
which it is utter folly to rebel; crowd Of
excited guests had, too, BY this time gather
ed about the two, while his wife, LAYING her
hand upon his arm, spoke a few words in
some strange foreign tongue that seemed to
have a wonderful power over him; for he
dropped his head helplessly, while painful
flush rose to his pale, wrinkled forehead,
and he whispered hoarsely, shrinking back
as he spoke from the gaze Of the curious
eyes about him;
"l do forgive her the mistake; she know
no better. But" he added, penitently, for
his vife's ear alone, IL can have no pardon
for my own mad self"
1t was impossible to refrain from plying
him, as, completely exhausted, he clung to
her arm, while in majestic silence, cold and
self-con,ained US usual, she half carried him
up the long stairway that led to their apart
ments.
II will help him, madam !" and strong
arm drew the helpless, trembling one With
in its firm embrace, while the face that in
the doorway q moment ago had awed the
angry man with its stern impenetrability,
now beamed with such honest kindliness
and good will that the stately dame FORE
| hc~o =, >ok.-~ - IL Lou- L. :-.~.,l..