Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-07-31
HIS DEAR y
LITTLE GIRL
The Story of a Recreant Lover
Who Changed His Mind.
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That was what Terence Dawnay had
always called her ever since they had met
and loved each other. He was in Ireland
now with his regiment, but he wrote very
regularly to his dear little girl, and,
though there was no question of any for
NAL engagement between them, he had
assured her that their understanding was
as sacred a bond to him as any public
hetrothal, and of course she believed him,
for she was young and she loved him.
She was thinking of him as she walked
down the path to meet the postman. This
was her letter day, and Irish letters al
ways came by the midday mail to the
Devonshire village where she lived within
sight and sound of the moaning sea.
1t was late in June, and the summer
wind tossed her pretty hair against the
cheeks, which were soft and flushed like
n peach. The postman was coming up
the hill. A smile crossed his weather.
beaten face as he caught sight of the
waiting figure.
''Two letters, missy, this morning." he
said, as he sorted them from his bundle.
''That's all, MISS"
Two letters!
She went out on the cliff side with
them. One was, of course, from Terence.
How well she knew his dear, untidy
writing! She smiled as she put it in her
pocket. That must be keIt as a bonnie
bouche.
The other one was in quite strange
handwriting, and she tore it open, look
ing at its contents with bewilderment A
blank sheet of paper inelosing a small
newspaper cutting met her eyes. What
could it mean? The color faded from her
cheeks.
1--WE understand that an interesting en-
gagement will be announced before the
end of the summer, and we may safely
offer our good wishes to the beauty of the
year, Miss Sergeant, at the same time
congratulating the gallant fance on his
luck. Mr.. Dawnay is well known in
Dublin, where his regiment is at present
quartered."
The little bit of paper fell to the
ground. OF course it was not true 1t
could not be true. Some one was trying
to make mischief between them. That
was ALL Why, he was hers-he had been
hers from the very first day that they
had met! The Newspaper did not know
what it was talking about. She eyed the
envelope with disgust. Who had done
geant? Terence never mentioned her.
She pulled his letter out of her pocket
and opened it, reading it with a sudden
chill which quenched the happiness in her
pretty eyes.
My Dear Little Grill have hardly a moment
for letter. SO AN afraid this will be very short
but there is so much to be done here Just now,
what with polo and goodness knows what else
besides, that l have enough to do to get every
thing done in the day. Pm going down to stay
near Cork next week with some people called
Sargeant-jolly house and no end of gayeties, of
course. / wish [hera something had been scratch
ed outl could have managed to run over to you,
dear, but it is quite impossible. You see, there
are our maneuvers coming on, and I must be
within easy reach of headquarters. l don't know
that there is anything OF interest to tell you.
have been thinking lately that it's bit rough on
you to be kept hanging on for such an inter
minable time-not that I've altered, you know
that-but, you see, things are not looking very
bright for US, they? It's awfully late. l must
stop. Good night, dear little girl. Ever yours,
TERENCE.
The sun was hidden by a thick cloud,
the sea moaned on the rocks below, and
light wind ruffled the waves. 1t looked
like a change in the weather. But the
girl did not notice the signs of change.
Her eyes were fixed unseeingly on the let
ter in her hand. She stopped and picked
up the little paper, which she had allow
ed to flutter to the ground UNDECIDED. No
need to read it again. 1t was imprinted
on her memory for all time. She wonder
ed what there was for her to do. Must
it be remuneration?
That was a question to be answered at
once, and before she turned her steps
homeward she had made her resolve.
Our dance, Miss Sergeant"
The girl looked up.
us it? No: / don't want to dance. Do
you mind If we sit it out?''
'Do mind?" repeated Dawnay, with a
look in his blue eyes which only amused
the beautiful Miss Sergeant. She had
seen that look so often that it made little
or no impression on her. Had she not
danced and firted through some dozen
seasons and received more than her share
Of attention? OF course Terence was a
nice, dear boy, but as to anything else
she laughed at the mere idea. She was
striving for higher destiny than that,
in spite Of all the society papers and
their rumors.
Dawnay looked at her as she lay back
In a low chair waving a great feather
fan TO and fro. He believed in her thor
oughly. He believed that here was the
lady of his dreams.
Have you any more dances to spare
mel? he pleaded. 81 know / was late,
but that was not my fault"
mot one left" she said indifferently.
She talked to him in her low sweet
voice, and he was quite content to sit in
the cool shadow and listen to her.
"And when do you go on leavef' she
said lazily-
''That," he said steadily, entirely de-
ponds on circumstances"
Why had she never written to him?
Had she given him up without a word,
without even struggle?
The thought paralyzed him.
Truly he was TO be sorely punished for
bis madness.
His eyes fell on revolver hanging