Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-04-10

father.
To-day" she said.
well, WELL" said the girls father,
"this does seem very sudden" And he
laughed again.
Then the girls softly withdrew from
the table and went away to their own
room. 1t was all too evident that their
father again contemplated matrimony.
Their designing old maid cousin had
broken down his resolution to remain sin
gle for the girls sake. What an awful
woman she was! Could it be that their
father had grown fond enough OF her to
go wherever she led him? Then they
both had good cry.
"And what" groaned Margaret, 'do
you suppose she meant by today?"
"Pp-perhAps they are going ito
elcpew gasped May.
I'm run into papa's room and see il
he has packed anything" cried Margaret
and darted away.
Pretty soon she came back.
NO. she said, nothing is disturbed.
Papa's valises are both on the high shelf
In his closet, and there's dust on them"
So the girls moped through the morn
ing, miserable, suspicious, watchful. Aft
er luncheon, Cousin Laura, who was in
excellent spirits, went to her room, say
ing she would be down presently.
Then came ring at the bell, and, the
maids being busy, Margaret hurried to
the door. Perhaps curiosity quickened
her footsteps.
There was a gentleman in the vesti-
bule, a distinguished looking gentleman
with gray beard and very bright black
eyes, gentleman who raised his hat
and asked for Miss Laura. Then he
added, with a bright smile:
is this Miss May or Miss Margaret"
Before the astonished Margaret could
reply there was quick rustic on the
stair, and the old maid cousin came fut-
tering down with both hands outstretch-
ed, and the gentleman caught the out
stretched hands in his and, STOPPING,
quickly kissed Cousin Laura full on the
lips.
At this poor scandalized Margaret
beat hasty retreat, and little later
she and May talked the astonishing cir
cumstance over. But really they could
make nothing of it. Cousin Laura's call
err fingered in the parlor, and the girls oc-
casionally caught the hum of lively con-
versation.
Perhaps" said May, "he's the minis
ter that's come to marry Them"
do you think sop groaned Margaret
"But he seemed so affectionate. Well,
we shall soon know"
And just then they heard their father
coming in. He went right into the par
lor, and then the hum of voices suddenly
grew louder. May and Margaret, sitting
in the library, strained their ears to catch
a word.
"Does it sound like the marriage cere-
mony?" gasped May.
"No," replied Margaret, mot yet.
There's too much laughing"
A little later they heard the door open,
and then their father came into the Ii
brary.
ooh, you are here, girls" he said. II
came out to find you. have something
pleasant to tell you. It's about Cousin
Laura" May clutched at Margaret's
hand. do you know why she came
here? She came to be married" Mar
garet pinched Mays fingers until they
ached. "We are her only relatives, you
know" May stared at Margaret, and
Margaret stared at May. What their IA
theirs last sentence had to do with it
they couldn't imagine.
"T've been afraid at times" their father
went on, that you have failed to appre-
ciate your cousin. l want you to under
stand now that you owe her debt of
gratitude. Your cousin is woman Of
wealth and of unusual business ability.
When she came here, your fathers BUSH
ness, through an unexpected turn in the
market, was in very bad shape. Your
cousin Laura found this out. She exam
ined into my affairs, and when she was
&c 81 10, OF an
tirely hopeless she advanced to me
large sum of money and became a silent
partner in the firm. l am very glad to
tell you that her money and her advice
have put me back on solid business
footing. | tell you this. my dears, be-
cause | want you to understand that all
the respect and regard you can pay your
cousin can never offset the aid she thrust
upon your father in his hour of trial"
He paused, and the twins gave a little
gasp. There" he went on, that will do
for that. The gentleman who is with
your cousin in the paror is Senator Lori
mer who has just returned from abroad.
1t is the senator whom she is to marry,
and the wedding will take place here
some day next month. 1t is to be quiet
wedding, but there will be a number of
out of town guests, and your cousin will
need all the help you can give her. One
thing more. They will take wedding
journey to the Pacific coast and then go
at once to Washington. and Cousin Lau-
"a wants you girls to come and spend the
winter with her in the new home the
senator is fitting up. That's all, my
dears," their father concluded. "And
now come into the parlor and be pre-
scented to your prospective relative"
He stepped into the hall, but the twins
hung back.
LET me take your handkerchief" whis-
pered May.
81 can't" shifted Margaret. I'm using
it."-Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Chair Older Than America.
There is in the possession of the Bing-
ley family of Hanover, Pa, an armchair