Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1903-09-16
A LITTLE
LOVE COMEDY


or a mothers care, both his parents
having died when he was an infant.
His grandmother. who had quarreled
Will Yer daughter on account of her
MARI, eng Herman Rikard, had never
seen the child, but had paid literally
for his support and education. She had
died when Paul was in college and had
left him some means. On being grad
uated he was to go to an aunt, who was
to take the place of only relative.
When Paul appeared at his Aunt Car
dimes house a singular looking little
old lady with pair of corkscrew curls
received him In room so shaded from
the light that he did not see her till she
advanced to meet him.
You are Paul Rikard, my sisters
son." she said, "and / am your Aunt
Caroline. You are to stay here till you
are twenty three years old. at which
time 1 am to pay over to you your in
heritance. Unfortunately l am called
away for few weeks and must leave
you under the same roof with Claudia
Chace, young girl whom have adopt
ed and whose home is here. My house
keeper will be chaperon. You will meet
| Claudia at dinner. wish to admonish
| you not on any account to fall in love
with her, since l shall not consent to
| her marriage with any one. / must
have her to myself in my old age"
After this address, which she gave in
| cracked voice, she hohbled out of the
| room and left the young man to HIM
self. He was bitterly disappointed.
| This, the only relative he had ever
| seen, seemed to be not an especially
| lovable person. Well, there was the
| young girl. but doubtless she was as I'M
| attractive as his aunt. for such old peo-
| pie are not likely to make companions
| of girls that men would like.
| Then came a summons to dinner.
A young girl. the very counterpart of
his aunt, advanced to meet him, cor
daily welcoming him. From the mo-
ment he saw her and listened to her
| kindly words he knew he had met one
| with whom he would be especially con-
| genial.
Il am Claudia she said. 81 have
heard u great deal about you from my
dear mother by adoption and | assure
| you for years have felt an interest in
| one who has had no one to take the
| place of father, mother, sister or broth
er. hope you will now have one in
your aunt to fill something of the gap.
| AS for Newell. we must consider our
selves at least cousins"
But Aunt Caroline showed no inter
| est in me whatever"
'She will. Believe me, you can tell
nothing about her from what you have
seen She has the kindest heart in the
world and is very unseltish.'
Paul wondered if the girl would call
| the old woman unsefish had sac heard
| her declare that she intended keeping
| her from a husband to administer to
her own wants. However, his aunt
! and all the world were forgotten in the
delightful evening he spent with
| Claudia Chace. Occasionally she would
refer to the aunt, and in one instance
as very romantic person. Upon this
| Paul burst into laugh, at which Miss
| Claudia seemed a tritie offended, but
| in another moment all was righted and
| Paul saw that he must not mention his
aunt except with the greatest respect.
| Paul lost his heart The return of
| the old lady and declaration of love
came about near the same time. Paul
proposed one evening and his aunt was
to return the next morning.
"Are you sure" asked Claudia Sc
riously, that in doing this you are act
Ing honorably?"
Paul started 81 had forgotten" he
said, that before my aunt's departure
she gave me warning"
| (Which was?"
| "Why, the fact is" said Paul, "the
| old curmudgeon told me she would
never consent to your marriage SIM
she intended to keep you single for her
self"
.4That being the case. I must decline
| your proposal. l owe her too much
and love her too well to marry with
out her permission"
| "Rut'-
| "But WHAT
Il will beg her on my knees to give
| you to me- We will both take care of
| her-be her companions in her old
age
What? Could you live with Il cur
| mudgeonT
"For You could live with q wolf"
| The girl burst into a laugh. Very
WELL" she said you may ask her. and
we shall see if she is as selfish as you
| think"
| The next morning Paul was in
| formed that the old lady had returned
and wished to see him in the library.
| He entered the same dimly lighted
room as before.
"Well, young man." said the crone,
you've been here for three weeks
with my daughter. dare say you've
| been trying TO rob me of her.
my dear aunt. ! would not rob you
of her for the world. But beg of you
not TO separate me from one | love.