The Saint Paul globe., 1899-02-19


It's Mr.. Teddy shouted the boy, his face
beaming. Come in, Mr.. Teddy, Ellen is dying
to see you,'
willie! Hush, dear!" called sweet voice
from the curtained alcove as Teddy walked
into the room and took chair by the open
window.
Are you going to school?" he said to the
boy.
DO get me holiday, Mr. Teddy. haven't
missed a day this term Willie was fairly
beside himself with delight over his visitor.
Ellenn do anything you say. 1 want to
stay with you and her today. Will your
Then Miss Ellen came in She was beau
tiful even in her snuff-colored house dress.
Her eyes were gray, long-lashed and con-
slant; her mouth both generous and calm
her hair like hanks of spun bronze her
voice was like the song of birds and hum of
bees; her gestures like the seldom waving of
breeZe-stirred branches; in her frank face the
country sunshine fingered, and in her dark
eyes sorrow lurked like shadows on a pool.
OH l can't tell you how glad am to
see you'll" she began, then blushed; looking
at him queerly, and adding quietly, that
is, I've been hoping you would come oftener.
Willie is fond of you'll
He said something commonplace, for again
his thoughts were twenty years old and he
was fighting the bee again, and fordlng the
brooks with "Sweetheart's'' yellow hair on
his cheek and her arms round his neck and
that voice-melow now and sweeter! How
beautiful she was!
How beautiful she is now,' thought Teddy,
looking at her as she sat there, with Willie's
hand in hers. Oh, yes! She had done WELL
Her class was growing, and Willie was doing
eXcellently. She had taken two more rooms,
so that Willie might have place to study
and play. The boy hadn't many playmates.
She couldn't let him go much in the street.
Let him have holiday today" said Teddy
well go out into the country and have a
little picnic for old-timeS' sake. Will you
Ellen?"
She bushed now at that old name and
he arp6 thn StO
heart to his lips if she would be angry if
he called her "Sweetheart' again. She pack
ed a little basket with luncheon and they
spent that day like children in the woods
There audacious bee, no sword of
lath, no hero no rescue, no "Sweetheart, for
Ellen and Teddy but they were as happy as
they had not been since childhood and Willie
fairly riOted in his holiday. They ate their
tiffin sitting on dry bank in the warm May
sunshine He told them that he going
to the and Willie admired and envied
him, but Ellen only looked far away with
great, dreaming eyes, while he ran on with
the idle story of a man who is tired of folly
and surfeit and uselessness; how it didn't
matter to anyone whether he went or stayed,
whether he ever came back.
Sometimes she looked at him with that
queer, preoccupied gaze, and when he had
quit talking about the war she only sat and
waited for him to begin again. Presently
they grew tired of wandering in the woods;
the breeze grew chilly and they went home.
Ellen's modest little dining-room seemed very
coZy when the lamps were lighted and the
shining dishes spread She brewed the tea
and made the toast, and when she sat down
to table there was a glow upon her cheeks
that enhanced the grave beauty of her face.
They lolled above their tea cups, telling
stories of the old days at home and laughing
over the picturesque characters of that past
day. Ellen was SO gentle, so alert, so SYM
pathetic, so frank and unaffected, so unlike
Catherine and Elise, that Teddy could harly
believe his eyes when he looked at the clock
and it's hands point at II.
Stay until midnight! said Willie. Won't
you, Teddy?"
When Teddy looked at Ellen for a hint,
she was smiling at her little brother if
she approved the inVitatlon-and the guest
remained.
They had been looking over the album
that never-faing source of interest and en-
tertanment. Ellen still held it on her lap,
and now as she turned to the first picture
a quizzical smile hovered about the corners
of her mouth.
you've been so candid Mr.. Ratchford" she
began; that 1 ought to tell you about my
love affair."
Teddy was a little sorry that he had
not gone away at II o'clock.
This is my beau's picture" She smiled
archly as she turned the album towards
him.
Really" stammered Teddy looking at the
photograph of a middle-aged man of kindly
mien. Are you joking, Ellen?"
"Joking?" she laughed, ingenuously; mot
at all. That's Mr.. Gilfllan, the piano manu-
facturer He is a very good man, and can't
tell you how kind he has been to both Willie
and me since we came to New York. He
sends me new pupil nearly every week.
You don't mean to tell me your engaged
to him?'>
"Why not?' she laughed, little sadly.
Hes not an ugly man; he's wealthy, gen.
erous kind and good. I'm afraid it's my last
chance. I'll be an old maid soon; you know,
I'm "a already"
Are you serious?" Teddy had pushed the