Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1900-11-21

We had reached Twentieth street and
stopped on the corner where our ways
divided. looked at Baxter and saw that
he was amazed, as had been few mo-
ments before.
"That's why I wanted to hear your
story and also why ! didn', hear it-be-
cause I've lost the little head l ever had
over your Miss Norwood"
sand SO it's your exclaimed Jim.
"Well, never!'
"You seem to enjoy being mysterious"
I replied, annoyed at another such re-
mark from him. rs that connected with
a story which l am not to be allowed to
hearT'
''I'll walk along with you. suppose
you ought to know" We turned into
Twentieth street. What I told you be-
fore was simply this: Ethel Norwood is
the most ungrateful girl in the world.
We've always known each other, went
to school together in the beginning, and
all that. l never cared for any other
girl. Well, last summer she told me that
she was engaged TO Tom Camp. Know
him? He lives in Boston and visited
some people here last spring. If there
ever was villain in these commonplace
times, he is one. told Ethel so, and
she dared me to prove it. l was in col
lege with him, and l proved something
about him even to her satisfaction. She
broke her engagement and told me she
never could be grateful enough to me.
She continued to treat me as though
were the one thing necessary to her hap
piness until l became convinced that I
had only - declare myself to receive my
reward for saving her from that fellow.
I spoke last night. and she turned me
down without asking for time to consider
even; said she liked me. though, and
thought We were just good friends"
/ tried to feel sorry for Jim and say
something appropriate, but l couldn't
think Of anything.
But the worst of it was that when I
asked her if there was any one else she
said. We'll. no. not exactly And then
she went on and told me that she was
very much ashamed of herself, but she
believed she was half in love with some
one she didn't even know; saw him every
day and looked forward to meeting him,
and lot of that sort of stuff. l was
disguised and told her so and that the
fellow was probably some one not worthy
Of tying her shoes. She said she wasn't
afraid as long as she had me to rescue
her. Then l left. feeling pretty sore.
And now it turns out to be you. and you
tell me the same thing"
Ny feelings were Undesirable.
'"There's only one thing for you to do
be good fellow. JIM" | said.
"Well, l won't do it." said Jim en-
phatically.
Every well: just as you feel about it.
We probably have other mutual ac-
quaintances. l replied nonchalantly
"You. being an old family friend. could
so easily take me to CALL but of course if
you don't want to-
"Oh. | suppose I'll have to-" groaned
Baxter. "She'd make me anyway on
some pretext or other after seeing us to-
gether.'
With this ungracious consent l was
satisfied. Inside of week | had met
her. If I had thought her charming on
the street. | found her in her own home
utterly bewitching. | am waiting for a
decent and reasonable length of time to
elapse before telling her what she can
see if she isn't blind. l am not blind
either, and yet l try to remember how
mistaken Jim was about her feeling fol-
him and not let myself be too sure.
l am sure, though, that she never
looked at Baxter the way she looks al
me sometimes when I meet her on the
avenue and turn to walk back with her
Chicago News.