Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1895-04-18

THE CHINK OF SILVER
nine swell Cynthia was a daughter Of the
gods, tall, svcltc, fair and stately as lily,
a typical well groomed New York girl,
with shining, lustrous, golden bronze hair
and proud, frank. fearless eyes She was
distinguished figure in the procession OF
elegant and beautiful women out on pa
rade that day People nudged each other
as she passed The beautiful Miss Cou-
pom, "Old Ben Coupons heiress, - " En-
gagcment just announced, Count de
Farandole, chateau in France, ancient
family, exchange OF title for millions =
these were the snatches OF comment and
gossip as the young beauty, carrying her
self as became a countess elect, walked
through the crowd.
Trained to repress her natural emotions,
what looked behind that fair, naughty,
serene face? What thought darted through
her mind as for an instant Miss Coupon
paused before IA bewildering display OF
flowers in n florists window? The Easter
flowers were already In market, and pots
of great, odorous, stately annunciation
lilies were standing there waiting through
tho constantly opening doors the perfume
Of their breath.
You are like lily, tall fair, sweet,
white lilyl' rang in her ears Who said
that to herr Not the count whose bride
she was to be soon after Easter. Ah no, it
was not the count!
And then "a face, an honest, handsome,
American face, with pleading lips and
resolute eyes, the face OF the man she
loved, whom she had sacrificed to her pitt
full ambition came before her. For an in
slant Miss Coupon felt ike dying. There
was dreadful little sharp pain near her
II ha hmm
rose in her throat; but, like the self pos
sessed young woman she had been drilled
to be, she recovered herself, and thinking
of her chateau in France she walked OH
on to where fate, In the person OF old Bet
ty Herrick, Hester street. rear tenement,
stood waiting, waiting for her.
Heavens how distressingr' murmured
Cynthia as she stopped and regarded this
battered old wreck. Betty mumbled and
leered and held out a shaking purple claw
beseechingly.
There was word to the French maid,
snap of "a gold purse, the chink OF silver
Betty looked down in stupcfaction and be-
held two silver dollars. GLORY be to -
she shouted.
Cynthia interrupted her.
Where do you live, my poor womanf'
Twenty three Hester street, lady.
That's not at all nice locality, is it.
Zephiney" asked Miss Coupon.
. et es of all streets re most villain, -
announced Zephine, with Mortified eye
brows and alarmed shoulders.
Nevertheless l will go there, said
Miss Coupon calmly. II shall go to sec
you, poor old soul.''
Zephine spluttered like jar of ferment-
ing fruit.
''Taisez- vous, Zephine" recommended
Miss Coupon as she turned away
MATS, mon Dieu''-
''Voulez vous vous taires' demanded
her young lady sharply, and Zephine con-
cluded that she would hold her tongue,
Tor no one ever presumed to stand IN
Miss Coupons way when once her decl-
sion was taken. And now, from some
strange within, some caprice, Cynthia had
settled in her mind that she would go and
see how the other half Of the world lived.
She had heard a great deal of Summing
ard concluded to try it bit on her own
account and see II it bored her.
Hester street to this day recalls the
moment when cab rumbled through its
dingy borders and stopped before the
wretched tenement wherein old Betty
lived, and when there stepped from the
vehicle such vision as had never before
dawned upon tl,.. neighborhood. Miss
Coupon came, Bringing store OF provl-
sioas and delcacics which the maid and
cabnan looked regretfuly upon as on
waste OF so much raw material
Old Betty WAS sick. She was lying In
her wretched bed yi.eA .-iss Coupon,