Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-06-08
THE ENDOWMEHTS OF YOUTH


alts+A AFNNAtsiE NAANA @ANFh+A 49,
were devoted college chums. The in
.ia.aay was inesplicable 10 others.
What Douglas. with his splendid phys
lcal s~lds4ntellectual endowments. could
find TO bind him TO Brownell, reticent,
cynical man. without an element OF
popularity In him, no one could dis
cover. Douglas was the pet of the pet.
ticoats and invited everywhere.
Brownell was considered very dull by
the fair sex and seldom invited any
where. II he had been invited he
would not have accepted. However.
there was one surprise concerning
Browneil. Though he stood quite low
in his class. when he was graduated
one of his classmates. who was an
honor man, said that he wished he
had Brownelrs mind.
The friends studied law and prac-
tlced in partnership. They were still
young when the more SNOWY endow-
ments constitute prominence, and ev-
cry one, at least in society. wondered
how Douglas could have taken mp with
such an ordinary partner Douglas
was courted by the social world. every
one striving to secure him for en-
tertainments He tried to drag Brow
nell out with him, but failed both on
account of the dlsinclination Of socie-
ty for Browneli and BrownelIs dis
inclination for society
Douglas married belle. She was
member OF the smart set and very
smart member. There was nothing she
would have considered more out OF
place than attention In public from her
husband. aud there was nothing she
considered more in place than To have
some prominent society man dancing
attendance upon her Finally cotlllon
leader. Ernest Racklc, became SO de-
voted 10 her that the intimacy became
the town talk As usual In such cases
no one talked OF 1t to the husband
One night Browpell went into a fash.
ionable hotel restaurant where the
smart set were used to taking supper
after the opera. He had never been
there before and went for a purpose.
Presently Il gay party sailed In like
fleet Of yachts under spanking breeze.
among theE Rackle and Mrs Douglas.
They passed directly by the table at
which Brownell sat. and as Rackle
passed Brownell put out his foot. and
Rackie tripped. He didn't fall. but
came very near II. Turning, he gIared
at the man who had tripped him, then
went on. Rrownell toyed with a wine
glass and waited. Rackle as soon as
seated gave him threatening and CON
temptuous glance Brownell took a bit
of paper from his pocket. wrote some
thing on It. folded II and gave it 10
waiter TO take to Rackle. Rackie
opened 1t. glanced Mt IL and put II in
his vest pocket without any OF the par
ty having noticed anything unusual
AT O'Clock the two men met in the
cafe.
Well. SIR" said Rackle. what do
yon wantT'
ITO fight you"
For tripping me up?"
''No; ostenslbiy for scowling at me;
really for a matter which 1t concerns
you and certain lady to keep dark"
who are your" asked Racklc. nerv-
ously pulling his mustache.
ALLAN Douglas law partner"
Indeed. | am surprised that you
wish to bring trouble on him"
II don't | wish TO save him from
trouble
by public aiterca tionT'
''No; by a private fight 10 the death"
There was something so calm in
Brownelrs tone and eye, yet so deter.
mined. that Rackle paled.
when and where?"
Now, in an upper room OF this ho.
tel"
Rackle stood looking in different di-
rections like cornered rat seeking an
outlet.
What win obviate the necessity for
this meetlng?"
Your pledge never 10 communicate
with Mrs. Douglas again"
Rackle thought il over. still pulling
his mustache. Finally he said:
TO avoid bringing a lady's name
Into unpleasant notoriety l shall have
to submit. promise"
Write it."
4 paper was drawn and signed,
which Brownell put in his pocketbook,
and the two separated.
In less than week Douglas came 10
his friend and announced that he must
dissolve the partnership. Mrs. Doug
las had taken an Uncomfortable dislike
TO Brownell and had made the dissolu-
ton sine qua non. Brownell pressed
L. Is.
ed.
TwsSears passed. Douglas endow-
ments had not gained him any promi
nence except in society. and. though he
did not know the cause. his wife's init
macy with Rackle had detracted from
even this. Certain prominent judges