Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1892-01-07


many girls she would quickly think it
charity, should propose such thing"
What is her name, Mrs. Golden?"
MARY Wilton"
Miss Darlington starts to her feet.
ALBERT, do you hear? Il am quite sure
she must be the very person we are look
ing for"
Possibly" he answers quietly and turns
to meet Mrs Golien's inquiring gaze.
.'Do you remember that my uncle had a
ward, or adopted child? | believe he
adopted her."
"Yes, oh, yes. We wondered what be-
came of her"
"She left the hall before we returned from
Europe My uncla left no will hut we
knew he intended her to be his heiress,
and Mille and cauuot think of taking it
from her. As soon as Miss Wilton is
found the property will be made over"
How nice it will be if my Miss Wilton
is the right one. And now, Miss CARING
ton, II you will get on your wraps l will
| take you to her, my carriage is waiting.
1t is New Years day, you know, and l
must get home a. soon as | can"
Miss Carringtcn hastened away and a
silence falls upon the two who are left.
Mrs. Golden is always a little in awe of
the grave-faced man before her. and she
! does not venture to iutrude upon the Sc
ria hat
Quite suddenly he turns to her and asks
Can you give me any idea of this girls
appearance Mrs. Golden? have never
seen even a portrsit of Miss Wilton and |
have some curiosity Us to the sort of girl
my uncle's ward may be-"
II think she We Id he cretty-in happier
circumstances, srt 49, crs slowly. just
now she is thin al Gle and nervous. Her
hair is the most beautiful brown and she
wears it in short curls, and her eyes,
though generally sad enough, when she
laughs are so bright ana cheerful they
make you forget the dark rings under
them"
Poor child"
The exclamation .nongh half smother
ed by the bearded lips, reaches Mrs. Col
den's ears, and her quick eyes note the
rapid change in his face, the light that has
all at once leaped 10 his eyes the III sup
pressed impaticnc, at his sisters DELAY
Millie comes at la to find her brother
waiting with coat Gu and hat in hand She
flashes a swift, inc, ,nrlng glance at him.
Il am going, cei tainiy, If Mrs Golden
will give me seat he says,
Mrs. Golden is most happy to do so,
and Mrs. Golden is also all aglow with
feminine curiosity, and her generous soul
for she has daus ushters-thinks what a
grand thing it will be for poor Miss Will
ton if
In poor, scantilv { rnshed room, Mary
Wilton is sitting sewing. Her last piece
of work is in her hands and she does not
know where she can get more. Small
wonder then that al xious care rests on the
pale face and those bright ewes are dmmed
by tears that she refuses to let fall.
That day, one ear ago, she was so
happy and care gree. now she has hardly a
place to lay her hea /, and her thoughts are
lingering around hye New Year acquaint-
| ance-she never tIinks of him as her
guardians nephe-' and she can almos,
hear his laughing words:
IL wonder wl.er-s sha.! dnd you nex,
year"
LIN much worse situation" she SAYS
half aloud. But he is really the cause
of it, and there is no fear of his being
near to aid me to-day"
My dear Miss Wilton, have brough,
some friends of mine to see you" cries q
CHEEKY voice, and to the girls startled ewes
the bare little room seems filled with Wis
ion of velvet and costly furs, and behind
1t all face standing out sharply, a
bronzed, bearded face, with something
cleaning in the kindly eyes that bewilders
her.
She springs erect. and stands balf-de-
| tantly, plainly reseuting their intrusion
so plainly that both Mrs Golden and Nil.
lie fall back in dsmay, but Mr. Darlington
walks swiftly up to her and taking both
her hands in his, draws her to him. II
knew | should find you on New Years dav.
dear" he whispers. And this time do
not mean TO let you 60. Can you deny
that you belong to me now:"
"But-but | am Mary Wilton, and"
And what: You silly child, to run
away from home. Did you think wanted
or intended to take what was yours?"
She takes her hand from his grasp. and
turning away bursts into tears.
Millie, with a swift flash of intelligence,
has taken Mrs. Golden out of the room.
Mr.. Darlington puts his arm around the
slight, trembling form. Mary, now that
have found who my uncle's ward is, |
discover all at once that do want what
belongs to her, but want her too
There comes no answer from the quiyer-
ing lips, no lessening of the low, nervous
sobbing. Mr.. Darlington is perplexed but
he goes on gently "We have looked for
you for months, Mary and my sister is
waiting out here to take you home. You
will come with her. dear, If you will not
with me?'
There is no reply but to his relief there
is slight, a very slight, movement of her
head toward him. He places her gently in
a chair, and going out. sends his sister to
her while he goes to put Mrs. Golden into
her carriage.
1--WE can never be too grateful to YOU
for coming to US this morning." he says
warmly.
II am so glad to have been of some aid
in placing Miss Wilton among her friends.
But is there nothing more can do?"
81 know of nothing, thank you Mllie
will take her to our hotel, and after to-day
our movements are uncertain But we
shall see you again in any case" he an
swered. and Mrs. Golden was driven away.
1t is very shy, quiet Miss Wilton that
accompanies Millie and her brother to
their home, and MIR. Darlington wisely
keeps himself in the background until she
is quite herself again. Then he coolly
takes it for granted that the question he
had asked was answered in the affirmative,
and when another New Year rolls around
there is a grand wedding and Mr.. Car
rington teasingly whispers to his bride,
''My dear, have got you into a worse
~: