Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1903-06-17
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By LOUISE LAMPRAY
By LOUISE LAMPRAY


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"Why, / don't know, Bobby. What
would you like to name him?" From
under her fllmy gray parasol Fairfax
Browne regarded her son with a look
grave in its perplexity. Bobs adored
his pretty mother because she never
laughed at him; also because she had
big blue eyes and a mass of fluffy red
gold hair precisely like a princess in a
FAIRY tale. Therefore, as matter of
course, the pepper and salt terrier was
brought to her to be christened.
Call him Rags" suggested Captain
Frederick Lawton, the navy officer,
who CHANGED that morning to be at
tendant. This had happened so often
or late that dowagers were beginning
to suggest in penetrating ~undertones
that If dear Mrs. Browne were really
thinking of marrying again she could
not do better than to take Captain
Lawton, suitable in age, good looking
ana quite independent of his profess
sion. And every one knew that Mrs.
Browne had but little besides that
ramshackle old plantation in Louisi-
ana, or was it Maryland?
| Bobs had overheard one or two of
these suggestions and, revolving them
in his seyen-year-old brain, had come
to the conclusion that something por-
tentous was impending. This or some
thing else made him regard Captain
Lawton's suggestion with vague disfa-
vor. 80 1861
II don't Like that" he said shortly.
1T might seem disrespectful, you
know" ----'---"---
He turned sturdy blue back on
them and trudged OF. with the meek
terrier under his arm. Presently came
In sight fresh faced young subaltern.
"Hello, Bobs! Where are you going
with-what's his nameT
"He hasn't got any yet" said Bobby
soberly. THAT old Captain Lawton
said to call him Rags, but 1 shan't.
How would he feel if his father had
named him Rags, I'd like to known
| THAT 10 question which Captain
Lawton has probably never consid-
ered," answered Charters gravely.
"But you might call this little beg
| gar after General Kitchener"
ais General Kitchener a great SOL
dier?"
'The greatest next to Bobs,"' averred
the lieutenant. And that settled it.
Henceforth it was Bobs and Kitchener
to all the American colony.
Meanwhile, as the gossips had sur
missed, Bobs' mother was bordering in
the remote depths of her subcon-
seriousness the question of accepting
Captain Lawton. There were times
when she felt longing for the home
and position which he could give her.
1t would be home for Bobby, too-Bob-
by, who looked at her with his big, hon
est, adoring gray eyes, so like his faith
er's. But, curiously enough, as often as
those eyes met hers she felt strong
distaste for Lawton, with his precise
1 speech and immaculate uniform.
She had no idea that Bobby was also
considering the merits of prospective
stepfather but he was.
"Mr. Charteris," he said one day,
''you aren't married, are you?"
| Charters blushed all over his boyish
face Not yet" he said.
Because" said Bobby with deliber-
alton, "rve been thinkin' it over, and
1 believe I'd rather have you for a
father than anybody that's here now"
Charters gasped. IT'S very good of
you, I'm sure" he said, smothering an
impulse to laugh, but your mother
might have something to say about
that"
pooh! She wouldn't mind" said
Bobby superbly. "She'd like you any
amount better than that old navy cap
tain. Ny father was a cav'lry Off Ger,
and his swords hangin' up in the libr'y
at home. I'm goin' to wear it when
| grow up, but l won't be in the navy.
| A mans no good less he can ride"
Bobby's tone was that Of long set
tied conviction, and in his heart Char
| teris, subaltern Of hussars. with a
! medal won in Africa, may have agreed
with him. At any rate, when he made
| 4 third that day in group otherwise
| consisting of Mrs. Browne and Captain
| Lawton the latter inwardly cursed
the inclination of the subaltern to talk
| of cross country hunts In England,
rough riding on the plains and wild
dashes over the African karroo. All
| the more violent was his emotion as
| he saw the rare color come into Fair
fax Brownies face.
HE was the best rider ever saw"
| Charters said at the conclusion OF
one of his stories, "a big. gypsy look
ing chap-one of those men who don't
seem to come from any place in par
ticular, though believe he was born
in New York; chap that was always
sure to do great things some day, by
Jove!"
Charteris' eye had fallen on para
graph in the paper on his knee.
"What is it?'' inquired Mrs. Browne.
interested.
"The very man. He's in Brighton