Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-11-27
Becoming Serious
BY BARRY PAIN.

| Cousiu Lish- WIN n uouTutui ufOop OF
her beautiful eyelashes. l said moth
ing.
ITS terrible thing for an unmar-
ried girl to grow old" she continued.
zone isn't always as old as one
looks" / observed. And 1t appeared
that 1t was not the right thing. 1t is
too wearisome to say the right thing to
Elsa-she asks for 1t too much, and is
used to 1t too much. Besides, / know
| her too well.
Yes" she said bitterly, when I've
lost my self respect and broken my
heart I'm right to come to you. You're
so sweetly sympathetic. A palmist in
London refused to belive l was more
than twenty three"
Those palmists earn their money.
| As for self respect, l don't think you
ever had much. As for heart, | know
you never had any. I've no sympathy
with you, and believe you ought to be
doing a turn of penal servitude. Lots
of convicts have less on their con-
science. | gather you're In n mess
again. and from regard for your family
I'll give you good advice"
| ''of course, you don't understand me
In the last Nobody ever has under
stood me properly. III had ever come
across one man who understood me |
would have married him. Never mind
looks or age or position or money!
would have married him just because
he understood me-"
Il expect that leaked out. Well, IL
the men misunderstood you. you've
only yourself to thank"
IF you could only imagine how that
vulgar chaff jars me at present. And
| it's so silly. too--almost every man I've
met would have been glad to marry
me. | was saying-I've not really been
frivolous, and heartless, and capricious,
and vain"
well. at this period of our acquaint-
ance, you're not going to tell me that
you're not just exactly that"
I'm not at all like that I've had
the appearance Of II sometimes to peo-
| pie who have not known the circum-
stances. The only thing could accuse
myself of would be slight frivolity. But
| all the time the frivolous me hasn't
been the real me. You understand"
Not in the least"
"Well, you will, because the real me
is coming out now. I'm becoming seri-
! Gus. Perhaps It's because I'm growing
| so old Anyhow. | can see all the folly
and emptiness of the city way of living
now. went to-
zone moment; when you went on
your dandelion hunt the other after
noon all by your lone self. where did
you meet him.
HE never came. And didn't want
him either"
Seems to have been a bit too much
for-well. which one was itT'
"Aynscote."
Il thought il was the talented for
eigner-the man with the fiddle You're
a bit difficult to follow-so rapid. So
it's Aynscote. is 1t? Well. you're play
ing with fire there"
She looked pleased. Really? What
do you mean?'
well. he's moody beggar at the
best of times; reckless too. Mind. IL he
does it he'll do it decently. May pos
sibly take his gun out alone before
breakfast and manage a fatal accident
In getting over a stile. Nobody will
know except him and you-and me-"
you can't mean that?"
ITS the kind of thing that has hap
pened."
1--WE never had a man actually kill
himself for me. I've had three leave
! the country, but that was ALL"
You seem to rather like the idea"
How can you say such horrible and
unjust things? | wouldn't have it hap
pen for anything In the world Still, it
is only natural to be pleased at a COM
pliment, and that would be real COM
pliment. A man doesn't kill himself
for nothing. But it won't be-
, Probably not. 1t doesn't happen
once in thousand times that a man
goes that length. Still. of course. Ayns-
cote-but we won't discuss it"
She reflected for minute or two.
, I'm forgive him tonight after dinner"
she said, ''if 1t really is a good excuse
But do hate men,"
: Later in the day Aynscote sought me
out. He looked sufficiently sheepish.
Look here, say, wish you'd do me
good turn. The fact of the case is
that I've been unlueky enough to offend
your cousin"
Il congratulate you. Keep it up"
Don't lie an idiot. I'm pretty seri-
ous"
Good heayensl Is everybody be-
coming seriousT
"What do you mean? 1t was all
through my not knowing my way about
this Internal country. If you could just
say word for me to her and tell her
that. Never mind the details. It's the
absolute truth | missed my road"
| Suppose | did, would you do some