Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1896-10-08
LOVE WAS THE BEST.

DuNk hhd come IN the drawing room,
but the lamps were not yet lighted, and
the young women in the picturesque hats
clustered around the little tea table us
closely rs their huge sleeves and ill.uitablo
skirts allowed.
They had discussed tho reiguing tenor.
touched delic.tely OH t.e last scandal and
were now busy with Jack Rodneys name
and money. A decision of the court had
given his inheritance to another heir, and
then he lad gone into Wall street and been
caught on the wrong side OF the market.
Il can't picture It, . said sally Little
john, balancing her little gold spoon.
What will become of him? The spoiled
darling! Why, he will have to go to
work So
Work" said Julia Montressor with
those aristocratic handsf What sort of
work Why, what will he do?''
4 he only thing he can do-stop liv
ing "
Oh, Babl How horrid of you Jack
Rodney, the dear, splendid fellow! Has
any ono seen him: | wonder what he is
doing now" said sally
Walking on his uppers, don't they call
ie" said Bah
Every ono else was letting Wfl de Luys
reap what he sowed, but Jack made good
all the misappropriation-is that the
next term? And if it was Jacks yacht
that wont Cruising up the Mediterranean
and had princes on board for guests it was
his steamer that took those children from
Seven alleys down the harbor every after
noon all the hu, summer
Where is Juck? Does any ona know
said sally.
Going to Texas, ranching He has
~
soma one said He'd Ike it il it were play,
tho poor fellow
ON, 1t is really getting dark ex-
claimed Arabelll We must he going
Why, Felicia, how white you are. should
think you were ready to faint yourself.
II he sudden light, = murmured Felicia
1t was whl!" the last dinner guests that
night were still saying tender nothings to
Bah that q slender shape slipped swiftly
down tine steps and passed along In the
shadow Of the houses like herself Foicia
shruIk behind her Veil from every passer-
by. \ half hour 3 rapid walk, and she ran
up come steps 10 make SURF OF the number,
rang the doorbcn, said something explain
atory 10 the man who answered 1t, passed
in and followed him to the door up one
flight of the broad, low stairway there.
a man sat there with his head bowed
upon his arms they lay along the table
In an attitude OF utter detection He did
Lot look up when the door opened and
eIosed But the girl crossed the room
quickly, and standing behind him stopped
with her arm laid across his shoulder.
Il am not u dream, jack, she said,
bending lower, her soft, cold cheek touch
Ing him. Il am Felicia.
For one moment t1.ere We're silence and
rapture here. And tAen the transfer men
came for the luggage.
And this parcel too, F." said Felicia
"Felica." he exclaimed.
"Thi. parcel, " She repeated "You know
l cannot go back after coming here" she
said when they were alone again. Il have
burned my ships behind me.
do you mean it, he exclaimed joy
ously. And then his tone fell Il thought
oh, yes, certainly. must take you home
before my train leaves, "
You viii take me home? My home is
with you, Jack.
You don't know what you say" he
answered her. ''Oh, no. l cannot accept
the sacrifice" the eager CLEAN Of his eyes
belying his words.
Jack" she murmurc1, tho sacrifice
in my coming here unasked.'
"Don't make IL so hard for mel he eI-
claimed An hour ago 1t WAS the dark
ness Of despair. was going to bury my
self in the ranch, as If it were grave
Now l shall go QUE m that new life, radi-
ant with the happy knowledge and my
hope And even II l should never prosper
enough to come for you, he said after q
moment, taking a step toward her, If you
should weary in the long waiting and give
some other man the love have won-well
I could bear it, perhaps, remembering and
living again in this nights Joy
Some other man. she exclaimed, I'M
claspinR his arms and looking for the hat
and jacket that had been thrown aside Il
am going with you, Jack. If you can live
summer and winter in a tent in Texas, l
can too. l have the fit clothes in that par
col I have my jewels here. They were
my mother and are NINE and have the
right to take them, and their price will
hinder my being burden. l."
1t WAS year after that Felicia sat one
night in the refulgent moonlight Of the
high prairie after u day OF heat tempered
by the high gulf breeze over 300 miles OF
dowera
"Are you sorry came2" she said
"Are you?"
"Do you know 1t seems to me precisely
as n we were living on an outskirt OF the
Holy Land, with fiocks and herds, and the
fig and pomegranate and the tender grape
giving a good smelly" she said.
Are you sure you never regret?" he
asked.
Regret. Well, confess l should like
to have heard Bah read out our marriage
notice at breakfast-and Bah 50 bitter the
day before for fear of 1t, But regret those
days OF lttlcness and idlencss and gossip,