Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-08-27

acquaintance? Faithfully yours.
ELLERSLIE.
When ON Thursday afternoon Mrs.
Lincoln and Ethel drove under the
porte cochere of Ell isle Abbey al
ready the lawns and terraces were dot
ted with bright frocks and parasols.
while from n gay marquee came the
strains of military band. Ethel's
spirits rose.
Il feel that | am going to have a
good time" she declared. my new
gown is becoming. my hat perfect. so
cheer up. mumsie."
"Mrs. and Miss Lincoln" shouted
the fiunky. and into the great hall,
paneled to the roof with oak and
hung with the family portraits Of three
centuries. they passed. A gentleman
turned from the nearest group Of peo-
pie and came forward. Tall. slim,
frock coated. with n white flower In
his buttonhole there was yet no mis-
taking him. For a moment Mrs Lin
coin stared, then slow smile curved
her lips.
$50 1t was you-you all the time"
she declared. You were the game
keeper" The man looked repentantly
back.
II really didn't mean to-" he pleaded.
You see. only expected to stop mo-
ment and pass on. But then that
seemed uncivil, and So
And so you merely deceived us In
stead" laughed Mrs. Lincoln. Ethel,
dear. this is Ellerslie. bad as ever"
'No. no." he protested. 1T was my
cap that deceived you. not I. At first
l hardly appreciated the situation. and
then-it seemed too late. And l never
hoped to see you again. But when you
spoke Of my mother l began to think
who yoa might be, and of course the
name on the locket settled 1t. Indeed,
I was innocent"
Mrs. Lincoln laughed.
Certainly you took the tip badly
enough.
but l still have it." he asserted,
land always shall. II only as being the
first money ever earned"
AS host Ellerslie's duties kept him
busy through the afternoon. and 1t was
not until the long shadows lay wide
across the lawn that he was able to
follow the direction In which his eyes
had often strayed and Join Ethel where
she stood under a huge Japanese um-
brella.
u have been talking to chaperons
until 7 a,,, ha .,rnnd snn
take pity on me and let us make IN
escape. Oh. no. 1t is not yet late" rs
the girl hesitated. And there Is the
view Of the mere that you have not yet
seen." he added mischievously.
Ethel smiled and let him take her
parasol from one of the group Of men
about her
Don't keep her too long. Ellerslie."
said one in rather an injured tone.
Ellerslie shook his head. II cannot
promise. Miss Lincoln and I have
much to discuss" he laughed.
But as they paused on little rustic
bridge commanding view of lake and
woods stretching away to the red sunlit
sky Ellerslie seemed to have suddenly
lost the desire to talk. When finally he
turned to her there was an odd little
CLINT in his eye.
WELL" he said. do you like itr
waving his hand toward the pictur-
esque reach of wood and water.
Indeed do" she answered earnest
ly. The CLINT In his eye deepened.
'Then you are prepared to keep your
wordf"
MY wordY" demanded the girl.
startled.
THAT you would marry Ellerslie to
get all this" He pulled coin from
his pocket and giZcd mc,litatively at II.
This precious coin fell in love with
q girl when II was given to me.
Wasn't 1t an odd thing to do? But
am SO delighted with the fact that
am going to have this bit of gold made
into the best thing l know of. and that
Is u wedding ring. Shall I? Do you
think she might wear II In timer
Although he spoke jestingly. there
was an undercurrent Of seriousness In
his tone which the girl was quick to
catch. For moment n new. strange
shyness kept her silent. then she
spoke
"Of course I am hardly competent
to advise on such u subject" she began
demurely, but" with swift upward
glance that suggested bewildering pos
sibilities. there could certainly be no
harm In having the ring made"
1t was several years before Ellerslie
admitted to his wife that as Mrs. Lin
coin had dropped him the coin she had
dropped the locket and that he. willfully
and deliberately. had concealed 1t. To
his establishment. however, Lady FL
lerslie only laughed.