Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-03-30

upon Amy's loyclin ass. The iatter's
most ordinary movement was endowed
with a grace that made Barbara half
believe that beauty was the only thing
after all. When other girls lifted their
hands and removed their hatpins ii
was an action scarce worthy of notice,
but when Amy's arms went up with
,1nguN .-'..ca and hCg Rather l.s.e bus
beautifully nodded hands, with their
long. tapering fingers, drew forth a
glittering pin and removed her hat,
Barbara felt vaguely that she was wit
Messing a rite-that she was seeing
poem.
But after few days of her eompan-
ionship the glamour was always be-
dimmed. The eyes were Toasted, to be
sure, but the mind and heart were
starved. One wearied of her roselike,
fluttering color and the amiable but
unmeaning smile and even of the very
perfect rows of teeth that the smile
exposed.
II am going to have friend with me
for a month";" Barbara had told Baird
particularly want you to meet. She's a
raving beauty and as sweet as she can
be-"
II she had spoken all of her thoughts
perhaps she might have added, $50
sweet that at the end of month you
will want to kill her or do something
desperate and outrageous" But. with
a commendable self restraint, she ban
ished this unruly idea to the dark
chamber of unspoken thoughts.
In the weeks that followed she eff
faced herself, pushing Amy into Dun
hams society in every possible way,
but doing 1t so gradually and skillfully
that he scarcely realized how little he
was seeing of his friend and comrade.
If she saw less of him. however, she
saw more of Jack Lester, whose COM
partnership was q grateful balm, be-
cause he was not forever talking about
beauty, however much he may have
admired It,
At first Baird haunted the house like
a spirit, while his plans for Miss Aver
HIS entertainment fairly tumbled over
plans, of course, always included Bar
bara. but with a mastery skill she
withdrew from them more and more
until almost before Baird realized what
had happened he noticed that he and
Miss Averill were usually alone. With
Miss Averilfs exquisite profile beside
him, however, he was not in II mood to
complain.
Then. about the middle of the fourth
week. his soaring spirit suddenly touch
ed earth. He was guilty Of brutal.
heretical thought. Right in the middle
of long afternoon that they were to
spend together he was seized by great
WEAKNESS. For the life Of him he
could think of nothing to say. He was
bored,
He stared at the beautiful Miss Az
GRILL with sort of stupetied wonder.
Ii seemed incredible that the society OF
so exquisite a creature could be so IN
commonly like muggy weather. IL
seemed an age since he had had good,
bracing talk with Barbara. Now that
he thought OF it, Barbara must be see
ing a good deal of that Lester chap.
Vaguely. as If he had happened upon
them in dream, he recalled having
met them together several times lately.
II don't believe you are thinking OF
me at allr' pouted Miss Averill. i've
spoken TO you twice, and you haven't
even heard me. 1t isn't nice of you
"Eh-whatw exclaimed Durham, try
ing to call his rowing thoughts together
and insisting upon hearing the remark
he had inadvertently missed.
II asked IL you don't think the Wal
dorf is lovely? l think it's just sweet
YES" assented he recklessly. THAT
expresses it sweetly It's just sweet
And he cast about In his mind for
some excuse by which the hours that
stretched before them might be short
ened. He felt precisely as he had once
in his childhood, when he had surrep-
titiously bought and eaten six char
lotte russes.
Miss Averill confided to Barbara that
night that she didn't like Mr.. Durham
so well as she thought she did.
Hes so dull. Don't you think soT'
she demanded.
There have been times when he
seemed So" Barbara confessed airily.
Then she wondered if Baird's ears
were aflame. Three days later the
radiant Miss Averill's visit came to an
end. Soon afterward Durham dropped
in to see Barbara. quite in his old man
ner.
"Ah, this is good"' he said gloatinS'
" as he sank into the depths of his
favorite chair. There's so much talk
to make up" he went on in genial en-,
joyment, that l scarcely know where
to begin"
Barbara turned her head to one side
and surveyed him with half closed
eyes.
I'VE might begin with feminine beau
ty,' she suggested helpfully There's
SO much to be said about it,"
A pause followed in which several