Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1900-08-22
! A Double (heCknldte

They had met in the usual way. Nh
tual friends had introduced them at an
afternoon studio reception, and the few
words exchanged over their cups OF tea
did not make as much of an impression
upon either Jack Carruthers or Elsa
Champlin as might have been expected.
He had just returned from three years.
tour OF Europe. after completing a course
Mt Harvard college. while she had been
abroad with her aunt ever since gradual
ing from Wellesley, over two years be-
fore.
They met again at the seashore.
Both felt the beauty of the night as
the soft waves OF the ocean could be
heard. musical in the rhythm, and as the
capricious moon. for which so many bro
ken hearts are held responsible, sailed out
from the depths of friendly cloud, re-
yealiug the beauty of his companions
face aud figure.
"Do you know this Is our last evening,
Miss Elsa" he said-"that is, for some
time TO Gomez
Yes" was her low reply. Il was
thinking of that myself. but trust you
will give aunt aud myself the pleasure of
call soon after our return to New York
this winter
Jacks heart beat rapidly.
May l ask for something more than
that" he stammered. stumbling over his
first proposal like youth of 1G. MAY l
have your promise to-
"Oh, you runaways We have been
looking for you everywhere and are wait
ing for you TO come and give us some
music" suddenly interrupted Miss Ven
derrelt and. taking Jacks arm. while her
a l.. l.
In the Irawing room before either real
lied !, it had been done, Jack mutter-
inr necr the turn affairs had taken and
she wondering what he had meant to say,
y he her heart told her the story that
WAS upon his lips.
In lie morning. amid the goodbys. Jack
hal tHly chance to say, Remember, I
sAa.i como and have 4 question TO ask
which concerns my whole future happi-
L. -" and In reply she had pulled rose
from her lovely bouquet and had given 1t
To him. with blush and "A smile. while
Lrg eyes wore a dreamy look of tender
happiness. "Don't forget were his last
words, while she waved her handker-
~. then buried her face in tho roses
had sent her ms the carriage drove
tapidly away toward III" station.
The coming month. September. found
Jack summoned To Paris by the death Of
his father and as his mother had died
when he was hut chill, and he had nci-
Their brother nor sister he found himself
heir to a large and scattered property,
most OF it in English Investments. as his
father had lived abroad for over ten
years. Nearly year passed before no
could complete the transaction of all nee
essary business. and IN the meantime he
had been hunting up old friends and
thinking less and less OF home, although
two lous letters had. soon after his arriv-
al. found their way across the Atlantic.
but. much TO his chagrin and disappoint
tnent, remained unanswered for several
months. arl then found their way back
- him marked Address unknown" This
was indeed a shock to his bright dreams
OF future happiness, when he should he
able To return and put his fate to the test.
Nothing remained now but To make the
final arrangements with his agents re-
Kardiug the management OF his business
and then return TO New York. where he
would lose no time in finding her address
and seeing her.
Had he only known that the object OF
his affections was SO near him. for she
had been for several months at the Ger
man baths with her aunt. who was be-
coming more and more OF an invalid. and
with whom Elsa had lived since losing
both parents when she was but n child.
Five years had swiftly passed. and
Jack was again in New York and,
strange TO say. again the guest of the art
list friend who had first introduced him to
Elsa. As he strolcd about among the
guests lie could not help looking for that
face. which came back so wildly today
amid the old and familiar surroundings.
aud turned suddenly to hear voice say:
why. Mr.. tarruthers. how strange
We should meet again after so long
time, aud here OF all places, Are you not
going TO remember mef'
Ii was Elsa. changed, but only as the
bud blossoms into tie rose OF more ma
ture beauty. She had the same laughing
eyes. the same bcwitching smile and the
same air Of good breeding. Life was in
deed changed To them both. and each re-
allied that the broken threads could not
be resumed as might have been thought
Why. Miss Chauplin, you do not give
me chance to express the pleasure l
feel ut this renewal OF our old friend
ship. really had begun to think you
were not among the living, ms both my
letters were returned to me. and failed
completely TO find your address"
''Of course. for ] never received them.
Aunt and ! went abroad that winter.
travelled several molths. then located IN
Germany. where we remained until her
death. two years later. Our constant
changes of Residence ut first made II al
most impossible for friends to locate u.s..
AS they moved along chatting on va
rious topics. the new pictures. the latest
books and mutual friends OF the past,
Jack spicd. following in the train OF IA
miliar face and coming directly toward
them. a distinguished looking man, evil
IDENTIFY, by the attention he was receiving.
one OF the lions of the afternoon. Here
is a celebrity" said Jack, looking toward
the gentleman in question. He Is the
most distinguished looking man here. 1t
seems to me-"