Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-06-19

So few words had passed between them,
and yet he seemed to know so much
about Nora OBrien and her uneventful
history. Her father the retired army
officer, her delicate mother, the old, big
barrack of house on the Shannon, full
Of out at elbows, happy, hungry girls and
boys. He imagined it as Morals homesick
eyes saw it. He knew about her years in
the French convent. He knew the very
names of the dogs in her Irish home.
And yet so little, SO little, had passed be-
tween them.
He was so far from making her con-
spcuous by his attentions that perhaps
only one person was aware of the steady
regard with which the very eyes of his
soul seemed turned on Nora O'Brien, and
that was little person, supposed about
this time to be much engrossed in the
making of dolls trousseau.
1t was about two months after Miss
O'Brien's coming to the Cedars that
Standish came in upon perturbed scene
in the drawing room, where things were
usually so well ordered. He came in I'M
announced by way of the garden and the
veranda to find Mrs. Lawrence and her
governess confronting each other.
The lady was in high state of wrath.
Her cheek had an added brilliance to that
of the rouge pot, and her eyes were mar
rowing ana opening to display a fierce
light in depths that usually looked shall
low enough. Her voice was raised, her
dramatic right hand pointed to the pale
girl, who stood with one hand resting on
the table, as though for support.
As soon as Mrs. Lawrence caught sight
Of Standish she dropped into chair and
pressed her handkerchief to her eyes.
Il am so ashamed" she began, "such
dreadful thing, and to think of those dear
children! How little knewv
Mrs. Lawrence thinks l stole one of
her Jewels" said the girl, answering the
question in Standish's face. She was
white to the lips, but stood perfectly up
right, and something in the pose of her
uplifted face suggested an appeal from
an earthly to heavenly judge.
Think" echoed Mrs. Lawrence furi-
ously. when it was found hidden away
among your things, you horrid girl! Upon
my word, / think in the interests of JUS
tice l shall have to prosecute you. If l
send you back TO your father, you will be
presently stealing from somebody else"
"Nonsenser' said Standish, with
roughness he had never before used to
woman. Miss O'Brien has stolen moth
ing of yours. What hallueination is this,
Mrs. Lawrence"
Mrs. Dolly gasped for breath, then re-
covered herself, and her next speech had
slow and cold malice.
''She will have to prove it, then! She
admired it from the beginning, my beau
tiful pink pearl pin. l should never have
suspected her, of course, only for my dar-
ling Millicent's acuteness. Will you de-
fend Miss O'Brien, Mr.. Standish?"
Herbert Standish made a step or two
to the girls side and took her cold fingers
in his and raised them to his lips.
'If she will permit me-" he said, II
shall defend her with my life"
There was a horrible commotion out
| side, and suddenly a struggling little girl
in the midst of a mass of boys came as
though from catapult into the middle of
the drawing room floor.
Here she is, the little sneakw cried
Guy, Cecil and Arthur with one voice,
pushing their sister Millicent toward the
astonished group by the mantelshelf.
Millicent WA disheveled and looked
cold. Her eyes had frozen tears in them,
and her lips were blue.
"What have you been doing to your sis
ter, you rough boys" cried Mrs. Dolly
Indignantly, forgetting her own griev-
ances for the moment.
"Only holding her head downward over
the pond till she confessed" cried her
brothers triumphantly.
Confessed whatY
"Why that she sneaked that old pin of
yours and hid it away in Miss O'Brien's
things"
The miserable Millicent's fears melted
and began to run forlornly down her
cheeks.
81 did do it," she said, land 1 don't
know what l did it for, and if it wasn't
! for those dreadful boys I'd say now l
didn't do it. But they'd nearly drown
! me again."
Mrs. Dolly pushed the sobbing peni-
tent from her.
| "'I'm really very much annoyed" she
said. I'm sure don't know why people
ever have any children to be so horrid.
must apologize. Miss O'Brien. OF course
you won't care to remain IN charge OF
these children any longer"
| Standish had a wicked thought of sug-
costing that Miss O'Brien had very
good case for damages, but refrained for
! Tom Lawrence's sake.
ut has only made us understand each
other a little sooner" he said, taking up
again the hand which the entrance of the
young Lawrences had made him drop.
'But, of course, in any case l could not
have spared her to you for very long.
Mrs. Lawrence"
81 had no idea began Mrs. Dolly
civilly.
81 say, old fellow" shouted the three
hopes of the house in one voice, Its no
end of a shame for you to go sneaking
the very incest governess we ever had"
Mainly About People.
| An Easy Shave.
| He was one of these smooth faced