Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-03-16
A Sufficient TEST
[Origlnal.l

leave Fer BfbtASI W htNP hVuSS "aN''Nf
Enoch did not take the love fever till
he was nearly forty. Then Miss Ma
tilda Fairfield, ten years his Junior, was
the person with whom he was inoeu-
Lifted.
Deborah concealed her disappoint"
ment when her brother told her OF hs
engagement. She had no acquaintance
with the Fairfelds, but it was to be
expected that she would call on Ma
tilda. and she did. That young lady
returned the call just as soon as
would not appear that she was making
unseemly haste. Enoch was at home
ana came down with his sister to wei
come her. Miss Fairfield did not hear
them coming, and when they entered
she was making an eye measurement
of the parlor with view to an entire
" different arrangement of the furhi-
ture when she should come into pos
session. Deborah had some such feel
ing as she would have experienced had
she been supposed to be dead and an
undertaken was measuring her for her
coffin. However, she welcomed her
gNlREI2DL S-NitI ttAth 49,
awhile excused herself on the plea OF
some special work that wouldn't wait
and left the lovers together.
"Enoch." said Miss Fairfield. this
narlor is all wrong. shall have the
piano moved to the other corner and
the bookcase put over there. That
frenlaee is as black as your hat with
I'm ~ MI in 81
gas log"
The fireplace was Enoch's delight
He loved on winter evenings TO warm
his shins before it and especially de-
tested the modern sham substitutes.
An alarm struck within him.
Deborah and l have long loved that
fireplace" he said. 81 don't know
what we shall do without II"
1--WE? 1t surely viii not concern
| your sister"
why not?"
"You don't expect her to live with
us, do your
This is u pretty big house even fo'
three"
Miss Fairfield's foot began to pat the
carpet. Evidently there had been
misunderstanding.
"If you think any house is biz
| enough for wife and a sister-in-law
YOU'RE mistaken"
ANY one could get on with Deb
orah."
do you suppose It would be prac
| ticable for me to come in here ant
| manage 1t with the woman who ha:
always been its manager TO criicis'
| everything | do?"
Enoch sat bordering awhile, thel
said he hadn't thought of that.
You will think of ii IL I'm to b.
your wife. and provide for it. Eithe
I'm TO be untrammeled mistress of m.
own house or don't want the hous
at ALL"
Enoch had been proceeding on tn
principle that she would marry hin
under the most adverse circumstances
He began to waken from his dream.
II see," he said. "I'll-I'n think
over"
Think it over? Think what over:'
"why. about turning Deborah out"
at isn't turning her out; it's tn
natural course of things"
II haven't any doubt you're right
now ! come to think of It. You see.
never intended TO take a wife till
saw you and loved you for your amia
bility, your unselfshness and You
good sense. This part of it is all ne'
to me-"
She went and sat down by him, tai
ing his hand. He was a good fellow
and she was growing very fond @
him. She had supposed that he kpe'
sisters-in-law could not live togethe
and this sudden coming against til
problem troubled her. She earesse
him, but somehow there was Il
warmth in his returns. Finally 81
rose TO leave. Enoch called his siste
and there was an adieu which. thong
on the surface did not appear to /
constrained, was really without &C
diality.
A week passed, and Deborah sa
nothing of the woman who was I
take her place. Enoch spent his eyc:
ings at home. His sister began
grow curious.
You're not treating your ladylov
just right. Enoch. / fear"
I've broken il off,
Broken ii OFF," .-sl.+.
Yes"
How could youl"
4, Il have no desire to marry any W,
| ... who does not love me well enoug
=. See for me- Indeed, she mus
To- - 49,, -. 'er than all the world"
"WenTr
81 mad, - ssss With Matilda. ! IT
tended TO make seYs>~ ISIS out sh
didn't stand the first. r. Jay sue re
turned your eaif she told aIe,> 'a' Whe'
we were married she would - "
the fireplace In eur sitting rooss se>
put In gas log. When I went to ssse
her the next day told her that the
fireplace must remain as ii is. She
fared up and told me that no man
should dictate to her how the house