Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1902-05-07

~ ebu SAaiAeu tNe nest dance.
prayton West was well bred and good
iooking and left poor "Neck or Nothing
as fairy routed on the held as he was on
the parquet, For the rest OF the evening
ne sat alone in a corner Of the gallery.
looking down at the dancers-he never
took his eyes on Flora, aud | think she
was quite aware OF the fact. Neck or
Nothing did not so to bed that night.
he trampet twenty miles through brake
and brier, and when next morning he pre-
scented himself before his enchantress he
was wild eyed and determined. The in
terview was short and stormy.
w III you marry me? Yes or no?" was
the thunderboli he launched at her grace
ful head. Flora sank down on the settee
with eontented sigh, and. in her tender
hearted way, tried to temporize. But he
would have none of IL. He refused to
come here and sit down, he refused to
have nice comfortable talk, he refused
to be good. sensible boy. Eyes or no."
and Yes or no" only, was the refrain.
OF course this did not suit Flora at all.
She didn't want to marry him, but she
did want to be nice to him. but at length,
finding him monotonously obdurate. she
admitted regretfully enough:
Ntiis IL you Will. OF course IL no..
Neck or Nothing" laughed loudly and
rudely.
''0f course II is!'' he cried and walked
out OF the room and out of the house, and,
to Flora's evident disappointment. be
never came back.
For three whole months he detached
himself from frivolous society, and il his
friends missed him so did his tailor. for
.tx..t. IL. Al n n
new suits had been simultaneous symp-
toms. 1t was calculated that when the
fever was at its height he changed his at
tire every twenty-five minutes, and what
attentions he could spare from his divin-
ity were bestowed on color schemes in
socks and ties. But the answer was no,
ond our hero went home to find consola-
ton in pipe, an old jacket and boots
that were big enough.
One day in autumn we all rode to Ken
nythorpe. Flora was anything but an
intrepid horsewoman, but she looked very
beautiful in her habit. and Drayton West
rode by her side. II was surely the finger
OF fate that drew Neck or Nothing to
Kennythorpe that day. for as we cantered
down the High street we saw him riding
toward us. Neck or Nothing" rides that
sort OF horse you can hit with a stump
and il doesn't mind. He called il a Welsh
pony. and people said II was hollow, for
its sides reverberated like a drum as he
clattered along the road and belabored
them. At the sound Of his approach our
horses laid back their ears and began to
fdget, and there seemed some possibility
Of a stampede. when all Of sudden
fresh incident occurred which engaged
- L.. u. r.xL a.
be on the bridge which crosses the slug
gish little river Kenny when there rose a
sudden clamor. and we saw a child strug-
Cling In the water.
Flora went very white.
''oh, do save H." she cried.
Drayton West dismounted Immediately
and as he did so he glanced at his late
rival and could scarcely repress a laugh.
for, quick as thought, Neck or Nothing"
had dashed from his horse and leaped
upon the parapet OF the bridge. The next
instant we saw him throw his arms above
his head and dive deliberately into a cou-
pie of feet of water and half foot of
mud. Scared before. the child screamed
with redoubled vigor at this fresh calam-
ity. and Drayton West ran down the
bank at the side of the bridge and drew
tuAp etAfts win lhN VI us
hunting crop. When Neck or Nothing"
had got some of the mud out OF his eyes
and found, after n great deal OF founder
ing, that he was standing in about two
feet of water, he discovered that the res
cue had been gracefully accomplished and
the assembled company was incapable with
laughter. But there were two exceptions
the wet child still shrank from him in
terror, and noticed that Flora's blue
eyes were full of tears. Meek or Moth
ing saw them, too. and he at least had
no doubt as to the emotion which brought
them there.
Alas for the schemes Of mice and men,
that ride to Kennyihorpe hardly turned
out as Drayton West had intended. We
waited while Neck or Nothing" got
change. and, IN the return journey.
Floras horse had rather more OF the
Welsh pOny's company than 1t Card
about.
Flora" said the next day, meek or
Nothing seemed TO find a great deal TO
say TO you last night"
Flora smiled a little ruefully.
"Yes," she said with a sigh. Il expect
shall have 10 marry him."
And she dd.-king.