Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1898-08-24
A LITTLE PREVIOUS.

an Englishman," said Mrs. Barry.
1T was the most sensible thing You
ever did," said her husband from behind
his paper She came and sat on the arm
OF his chair
81 do believe you think I'm in love with
you still, she said
well it looks that way" he answered,
with British conccit, holding the paper to
one side so that her head might not come
between him and the Venezuelan question.
Il don t mind about you, she went on.
"You We lived here so long that you re al
most as nice as an American, and your
voice has nearly lost its English genullec-
tons
Dear me, l must qst an English gov
erncss.' he intcrposed
But sometimes I'm worried about
Jack He isn't one thing or the other
and If we should ever go to war he would
hate To fight against England when his
grandfather sends him such lovely pres
entS.
My son fight against England ex-
GAINED Mr. Barry. Ia like 10 see him
try il, limits all. He will find he has to
settle with his father first
"Bu', Harold, if he was born here, of
America, and you know how obstinate
jack is when he makes up his mind
Why, l wouldn't go against my country,
not if you commanded me on your Bonded
knees. and he would feel it even more
strongly, being man You would sim
ply make breach between you if you tried
to interfere "
A few years in oxford will change all
that" said Mr.. Barry, turning over his
paper.
Considering that he ism going there''
said his wife decidedly.
"Oh, he's not?"
If he should, it would end in his liv-
ing there and marrying some doWdy Eng
fish girl with "a inch fringe and solemn
reverence for the men of her family, and
how would you like that"
Better than nervous American daugh-
ter in law with IA inch waist and no re-
spect for anything in heaven or earth, -
was the imperturbablc answer.
"Of course you mean Alice. said his
wife Indignantly, Though I'm sure she
isn't bit nervous and nobody laces now.
Both her mother and l think Alice and
Jack We're just made for each other what
ever your opinion is Don you remember
how they took to each other right off from
the first"
III mi" Mr.. Barry was deep in his pa
per.
Alice hasn't as much character as
Jack. she added presently, but she is
sweet and good and loyable, and ! don
see why they shouldn't be very happy to-
gether 1t doesn't matter If he is rather
the brighter of the two.
lis the engagement announced" asked
her husband sarcastically, but the ques-
ton was ignored.
After Jack has graduated from Har-
ward we will throw them together a good
deal, > she said. "Since we are in sensible
America, We won't have to be eternally
chaperoning them. l hope Jack won't de
velop the English hashfulness Was your
father a shy man about lovemaking and
such things, Harold:"
why, he had rather done with that
when l met him, but l shouIdn fancy he
Was timid
Il am SO glad ] was afraid it had skip
ped generation and was coming out in
Jack
If it does. she probably won't mind
helping him out bit, since we are in SEN
sible America l don't think Jack will
need it, though. He inhcrits considerable
determination, not to say obstinacy, from
his grandfather
THAT hasn't skipped a generation, ="
said Mrs. Barry pointedly
l We come into enough of 1t 10 know
that ut the proper time Jack is going to
Oxford. was the calm reply
(Which Will simply spoil everything"
said Mrs, Barry impatiently. Alice viii
be married long before be gets back, and
he himself will probably be victim. Oh,
Uncle Dan, rs the door opened to admit
an elderly man, you We come just in
time. We want LAWYER
Has it come to that asked the new
conner, looking grieved.
Harold says that Jack ism an Ameri-
can at all and will have to join the Eng
fish army when we 90 to war, Mrs Barry
said indignantly; Just because he him
self happened to be born over there. He
wants Jack To go to Oxford and marry an
English girl whom We won't know or be
fond of when here is Alice just cut ont
for him, ard we've got it all planned
Now, you tell us as a lawyer what Jack
nationality is.
Well began Uncle Dan seriously,
AS "a child OF an American mother and
born in this country, l should call him an
American citizen
There interrupted Mrs Barry.
And being such he will probably choose
for himself not only his college and his
wife but his nationality. If u free born
American wants to consider himself an
Englishman. | don't know anything that
is going 10 stop him.
That is about il, =" said Mr.. Barry in
tone of satisfaction.
But what is your hurry about decid-
ingf" Uncle Dan asked How old is the
boy, anyway
Just three months today" said Mrs.
Barry proudly. stay to dinner and you
shall see him
An the same said her husband "un.
til he is old enough to decide for himself
Jack is going to pray for the queen. God
| bless herr"
IN spank him every time he does,
said the American half of the coalition
And then they all laughed and went out
to dinner.-Juliet Wilbur Tompkins in