Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-09-11
SHE PAID
THE DEBT,

nave zone a good deal better for him.
self than he did In his matrimonial
venture.
With decided abilities, young, good
looking, well connected, but having
only limited income, he was just the
man who should have married money,
and this is exactly what he had not
done.
| He met his wife In Paris during q
holiday trip. She was a pretty, viva
cious Irish woman, ladylike and at
tractive. but she had no fortune and
was Of no particular family.
There could be no doubt that under
the circumstances his marriage was an
imprudent one. The natural conse-
| quence followed. Percival got into
debt.
He already owed nearly $4,000. .
crushing liability to a man with a
small income and no capital Indeed he
did not attempt to disguise from him.
self that unless something very unex-
pected turned up he must soon be hope
lessly insolvent.
One evening to divert his mind he
went to the X. theater to see the ia.
nous rainbow danseuse. Fit had ended
with his merely admIring this ravish-
Ing beauty from a distance, all might
have been well. But such infatuation
as PercivaPs was not satisfied to con-
fine itself within those modest limits.
He actiolly addressed one or two let
tiers to the young lady. To his great
chagrin she sent him no reply. At last
In desperation he procured an introduce
ton to the manager of the X. and be-
sought that gentleman's aid in his
foolish and culpable project.
well, Mr.. Percival, / will commune
cate your wishes to the young lady and
will then let you know her reply"
The following night, when he ought
to have been in his place in the house,
listening to the ministerial leaders
statements, he was lowering near the
stage door of the X.
Percival had cab waiting for him at
the corner. He noticed another cab
drawn up opposite the stage door.
In few minutes he saw the girl hur-
~ out and get into her cab. Then he
Jumped into his own, having instructed
the driver to follow the other vehicle
and keep it carefully In sight.
When they had driven about mile,
his cab stopped. Percival got out He
saw the young lady alighting from her
cab about.a hundred yards away. With
beating heart and trembling steps he
followed her.
Pefcival realized with certain thrill
of uneasiness that 1t was P street,
the street in which his own house was
situated.
But something worse was In store.
The young lady stopped and appeared
to be carefully scrutinizing the num-
bers. Then, after some evident hesita-
ton. she walked straight up to the door
of Percivals house and rang the bell.
A minute later she was admitted.
All at once the truth flashed upon the
unhappy NJ. P. There could of course
be no doubt upon the subject. This
young lady. annoyed and frightened by
his persistent attentions and seeing
that silent disdain had no effect in
stopping them, had taken the ready
ana enective metnod OF reporting him
10 MS "iIe.
ne entered the drawing room. HIS
wife was now alone. She looked up at
nin with coid' Altered expression
that made him vince. But he persever-
ca. lie toiu her all. she aVerted her
race ana heard MS confession to the
emu IN ominous silence.
ana So JIM my make up my gold
en- Wig ana my whirling draperies-to
say nothing a the shifting lights and
shadows thrown upon me-oah1ed even
your penetration. I'm. sirf
jim was staring at his pretty wire.
VINO had now risen ana STOOD oeforH
MIN smlilng archiy' IN evident ENJOY
ment or MS obvious reiier ana aston
ishmenL
ana you ieii IN love Win my make
up-for that is what IL comes 10. ooesn
IL jim