Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-08-07

ded in her direction. The girl--it was
Celia Ardell--crossed the hall some three
yards in front of them and entered a
drawing room without seeing them.
Trevor breathed heavily. He did not
speak. His eyes were fastened on the
door through which Celia had vanished.
Sufficient explanation, ehY" said
Grierson. "a month or SO after you left
the farm old Mr.. Ardell sold out and de-
cided to bring Celia to you. They halted
for week here, and that dearest of lit
tie girls is actually counting the hours
that will bring her to the man who stole
her love and who in return
Trevor WINGED.
YES" he broke in; 1--WE been an aw-
full scoundrel. l hardly know how it hap
pened. left her feeling she was all the
world to me. Then, the new life in
England, with money, troops of new
friends, new faces-I somehow seemed
to forget, and"- he paused 81 thought
she might forget also!' he continued
lamely. 81 know it was playing it hor-
ribly low down." He looked up at Grier-
son anxiously. "Do you think it will
matter so very much to her?'
"Oh, mop retorted the novelist airily.
"She has only lavished on you every
scrap of love she has to give, and finding
you are not worth it will only break her
heart. But that's mere trihe and not
worth considering. You will be able
to marry Lady Constance and boast
wife with a title"
Young Trevor rose to his feet. He
was very white,
what do you think you will doT'
continued the novelist. "You see, if you
happen to have actually proposed to
Lady Constance
81 haven'tl" put in the other man
shortly.
A slight CLEAN came into Grierson's
eyes as he watched his companion.
Suddenly Trevor swung round on him.
"Going to play the MANI" said the nov
elist quietly.
Trevor nodded and walked sharply to-
ward the door of the room in which the
girl was. Grierson came after him at a
run and laid hand on his sleeve.
"One moment, Archie!' he said rapid
ly. Lady Constance-you thought her
pretty, bright, intelligent. You had mon
ey, she title. Head turned a little?"
He paused. 'But it wasn't love, not
love, Archie?"
ITeNOT lOOheu Ut ulll lOF U1Uuleul,
and ghost of a smile trembled on his
lip.
"No, not love-" he said decidedly.
Then he opened the door and strobe in.
Grierson walked along the corridor to
the billiard room in a thoughtful frame
of mind. He glanced in and saw it was
empty. A second or so afterward Lady
Constance approached him.
'Ah!" he exclaimed. "Come along in
here l want you to listen while l talk!'
II have been doing that off and on for
some years." she said, with smile.
"Yes; but this time l shall be very in
teresting. l can't remember anything
I've so wanted to tell you"
They seated themselves on a lounge.
"Are you ready?" he began.
She nodded.
every well; listen to this: Archie Ire
vor will never have the exquisite honor of
becoming your husbandr' he said dra-
matcally.
He was watching her narrowly. He
saw slight touch of color pass over her
cheeks but there was a smiling look in
the eyes still. He was satisfied.
The bantering tone dropped from his
voice, and he told the story to her quiet
ly. She listened intently and at the con-
clusion indicated the direction of the
drawing room with little excited ges
ture.
"And he is actually in there with her
now?" she cried quickly.
"And she's just deliriously happy" he
said, with nod. He turned round to
her. Are you glad?'
Eyes," she answered softly. Every
glad he played the man."
Grierson jumped up from his seat and
stood in front of her. His face had
lighted up again, and there was humor-
Gus twinkle in his eyes.
Don't you see?" he cried. "Now that
you cannot marry the man your parents
picked for you. obviously the only thing
you can do is to marry the man you
would choose for yourself"
but haven't chosen" she protested
''Ah. but you would if you dared he
exclaimed. Just forget you're a lady of
title, forget the desirability of marrying
a man of immense wealth. strike out a
line for yourself and marry the man who
has adored you for ten years. 1t will
mean bit of a tussle with the parents,
but think how furious the fun will be-
She looked up at him doubtfully.
Eyes: Pm serious in just one thing"
he said pleadingly.
Archie Trevor's voice was heard from
the other end of the hall.
"Griersonw he was crying. 81 want
you, old chap!'
The novelist turned excitedly to Lady
Constance.
There! You can tell from his voice
that he's happy. Think of the embar-
rassment it would save you. tedious ex-
plantations, too" he raced on. And, be-
sides. I'm not really poor! My last book
was so utterly bad that it ran into 20
editions. and dramatized versions are be-
ing played verywhere-packed houses in
Scandinavia last week. I'm stupidity
rch!"
Come alongl' cried Archie's voice i'm
patiently.
"Can'tw Grierson called back, with his
eyes on the girl sitting on the lounge.
Lady Constance slowly raised her head
and met his imploring gaze. She was
smiling, and the blood went tumbling
through his veins.
'What's the matterT The voice was
rOminp nearer