Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1903-09-09

the man and woman. The girl looked
exhausted, and Morton felt as though
there was a glowing furnace in his
chest. How long could he last out? he
wondered. Then be felt the car run
easier, and then-they had reached the
Greet Of the grade and started down
ward. Morton looked at his watch. IL
was L. o'clock.
1--WE make it now he said. "You
rest"
The girl sank YEARLY upon the plat
form, while the car sped through woods
and meadows, ratified over bridges and
rumbled past walls of rock.
Il wish | could ever thank you" she
said, looking up, her face clear In tie
soft starlight.
"You have thanked me-many times"
But | mean in words. l don't know
what l would have done if you had not
helped me. May 1 tell you why | am
running away?"
"You needn't unless you wish. I
know you've done nothing wrong. You
couldn't"
Il want to tell you. couldn't bear
at least-I mean / want you to under
stand. 1t wasn't wrong. l don't think
you'll say it was wrong. You see, my
mother died few days ago-and, oh, I
loved her so!-and my stepfather hated
me. He was cruel to me and cruel to
her even at the last. After she was
buried he was worse than ever, and
yesterday he told me / must leave his
house. | was glad to go-only too glad.
l asked him for my mothers little trim
kets, things she had had as a girl,
few little bits of jewelry my own IA
Their had given her and her picture
She told him on her deathbed they were
to be mine. But when l asked for them
he refused me; said the law gave them
to him. l told him l would take them,
and he threatened me with the Jail if
| did; told me he would have me drag
ged through the streets like common
criminal
To-day he left the house for mo-
ment, and | broke open his desk and
took them and ran away. l thought 1
could reach the city before he could
catch me, and. once there. he would
never find me, and | could live happily
alone"
The girl hid her face and cried. Nor
ton longed to comfort her, but he felt
it was best to lei her have her cry out.
you are going alone to the city, with
no plans, no money, knowing no one?"
he asked when she became quieter.
II can be lost there and safe from
him. l can find work. I'm not
afraid"
He returned no answer, but the
thought of this friendless, innocent IN
protected girl exposed to all the dan
gers of great city was more than I'M
pleasant.
The car was slackening speed now,
and far up the road We're the lighted
windows of station. Morton brought
the car to standstill.
I'VE must ditch it." he said. And to-
gether they lifted and tugged until the
machine was down the bank. Then in
silence they went on to the station,
and Morton bought tickets from a
sleepy clerk.
"Would you mind telling me your
name| he asked as they walked to-
gether in the darkness.
Mildred Clarke. l feel as though
you knew it, you've been so good, so
kind-as kind as a friend could be, if l
had one"
Far down the track sounded the
whistle of 80.
mildred want to be more than
friend. You put your trust in me to
help you tonight. Won't you trust me
longer? Let me help you for all my
life?'
The light of the engine fell full upon
the upturned face of the girl.
"Yes," she said softly.
Then the night express bore them
forward ito that new world which is
the old -