Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1885-08-27
A Christmas Comedy.
By MARGARET kNflNGE.

Mss Eleanor Slingan sat in her
crimson boudoir on Christmas morning, re-
garding With a scornful expression little
bronze figure which she held IN her hand
the figure Of pretty peasant girl. IN CLOAK
and hood carving covered basket on her
arm. And a scornful expression, though
rather and ia rare instances very becoming
10 some glrlish faces, was not IN the least
becoming 10 Miss Siinglander. II wrlnkjed
and shortened her Jse, widened her nos
this and pouted her full, red lips. All Of
which, as her nose was already trfie too
wide and her lips a trihe too prominent,
tended to seriously detract from the beauty
Of her face.
1.-The idea" said Miss Slingander, the
scornful expression giving place to irown,
which brought her much too near eyebrows
so close together that they seemed like one
straight, heavy line, "of Spencer Royal
sending me this thing for Christmas pres
ent. Why, | expected something splendid
from him with an offer of marriage. Heaven
knows he's been dangling after he long
enough-haf year nearly-and In, sure
his mother and sisters have set their hearts
on the match. OF course they have, and
with good reason, too, for with the help of
my money Spence could carry on the bus-
ness in much more princely manner tnan
it was carried on during his fathers life
time, and the returns would be much more
prnceIv in proportion. And I've been
agreeable, for they're decidedly aristocrat-
ic family, and Spence is by all odds the
handsomest fellow know, and has very
taking wav with him, though Jack Ray
times as rich. But I'm not going TO stand
this shilly-shallying any longer. I've been
waiting for him to speak for the last three
months and not word on the subject has
he said. Something he dropped last night
led me to believe the proposal was coming
this morning. But instead comes this thing
pretty enough in its way and artistic, |
suppose, but don't want it. The house
is full of peasant boys and girls, and shep
herds and shepherdesses, and cupids, and
all the rest of them now. What shall do
with it? Why, | declare, it looks like Ella
Melis. III send it to her. She's been sew
ing for us for the last SIX months and no
doubt she'll expect Christmas giit-that
kind Of people always do-and l don't feel
like spending any money on her, SO off this
goes. She'll be delighted with it, and can
keep her an hour or two beyond ner work
hours sometimes when I'm needing dress
in hurry, on the strength of it. And, Mr..
Spencer Royal, if Jack Raynor comes
accounting me again to-day, my money will
never help you and your family to greater
magnifcenee. A bronze peasant girl in
deed, when expected at least an elegant
solitaire"
An hour later Ella Mellis sat in the plain
ly furnished room which served her and her
widowed mother for sewing room, dining
room, and parlor, holding the bronze figure
in her little right hand-on the second fin
ger of which was well-worn silver thinble
and viewing it with look of delighted
admiration that added wonderfully to the
at,ractiveness of her delieately featured face,
lending as it did charming light to her
soft, tired brown eyes and flush to her
pale cheeks. II never dreamed he would
think of me at ALL" she said in sweet voice
tremulous with joy, "and he has not only
thought of me. but sent me this beautiful
Christmas present. Why, We have never
met but half a dozen times since became
a sewing girl, and then always in the pres