Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1898-01-19
REUNITED.
EN FLOss1t'.


low chair beside the fire, while Barby he
maid VAS moving noiseiessly to and fro
removing he remains OF The meal, and re-
storing the room to its customary order.
1t was a large square apartment, warm
and bright, from the deep tints in the
Brussels 81 the floor and the rich red
brown OF he leather upholstered dining
chairs to the yellow blossoms OF the
chrysn"t "mums in the hay window he
yond !, table. A glorious wood fire
burned il the CRATE; the late magazines
and -" evening paper were on the big
leat her cushioned couch that occupied
one MD 81 the room, and a large tawny
cat Wa "urled up in the masters favorite,
ct-red backed chair.
[, WA not at all a luxurious room. hut
the very spirit OF comfort and quiet hap
pines, was there. and was reflected in the
fare t its mistress, as she sat motionless,
her yea intent upon The hlaze.
Sc had seen. perhaps. more than forty
years and illness had effaced little OF
Dor earlier comeiiness. But she had a fine
= s,ilt the face Of true gracious
woman; aud though never child had
hiee4ed her home, there was a tender
motherlness about her. az IL in her heart
there room for alt the unfortunate
opes of earth h.
"You may turn out ne gas here, Ba--
by" Mrs. Osmond said. as the girl, hav
ing fipishcd her work, ves about to leave
the room.
1t was often fancy % hers, when
10 1, , 10
Inmfna'ci NV The light that came through
the hsif-open doors OF the psrlor and the
Are And NOW she was promising herself
long quiet evening, when the door bell
ring. quick familiar steps came down the
hal. and CHEEKY voice greeted her.
She smiled welcome to the Young man
who entered, and who picked up the cat
and settled himself in the chair with the
air Of one who had come to stay.
"H ,w could you guess that should be
alone tonight, Lancer"
~ met Dick on the street and he told
me hat the governor had gone to Mon
treal. so came out with an idea that l
might be welcome"
"And so you are. 1t was beginning to
be little stupid. will admit, for l have
breakfasted. lunched and dined alone
since he went away. l really began to
think my friends had forsaken me-
"The world must be coming to its end"
he declared with comic soemnity, "if
this house has been without even stray
cat or dog for two days. I am, however,
glad of the chance OF quiet moment
with you"
"Do you want to give an account OF
YOURSELF" she asked merrily. You have
favored me with very little OF your society
Of late"
Business. my dear madam, duty be-
fore pleasure you know"
Business, business! You can think OF
nothing else, l fear. Have you given
yourself entirely up to money making,
Lanceiot?'
" Proputty. proputty's Everything
ERE, he quoted softly, laugh lurking
in his brown eyes. "'Thim's my noations,
Sammy, whereby ! means to stick "
Mrs. Osmond gave n little gesture OF
impotence ~ don't like it. / cannot
bear 10 think that you will grow hard and
calculating and narrow to the neglect OF
the finer, higher side OF your character"
1.-THE finer side OF my character" he re-
pested slowly. "Perhaps have none. 1t
Is possible to very few to rise above the
commonplace in life."
"But you might be one OF those few II
you chose"
~ had higher aims once, it is true"
he went on as il speaking to himself.
"But they are gone now. l only wish
to keep in the whirl OF business life and
SO down memory"
Mrs. Osmond looked at him in be-
wiIdered surprise.
why, Lance, to hear you tonight
should think you had had some great
sorrow il did not know 80 well that no
heavy clouds have ever darkened your
path. Why this morbidness, pray? Go
aud marry my dear boy, the life OF
bachelor does not agree with you"
"Msrry"
The one word had such a note OF pain
that she was startled, and his eyes were
raised to small oil painting that hung
against the wall opposite, the freight
but half revealing their utter longing.
She, too. looked around at it, though she
knew it well.
Only small picture OF log sporting
lodge in the Maine woods, with several
deer hanging from the trees, guns leaning
against the camp, and sportsmen grouped
around the door.
She remembered now that it had always
seemed TO affect Lanceiot strangely, this
little view OF a one-time favorite hunting
resort Of her husbands at Alligator.
.W nat is it," she oresthed with quick
soiiritude.
There came no answer for long time,