Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-05-04
BY Bennet Musscn
oopw4oht, 1905. b. n c. Mcclure


G.<ssc.<s.e.c.9o.o~o.0.o-~0.
1t was dull day for bulldogs. Puffs,
whose bull batting ancestors had be-
queathed him love of adventure, sat
on the veranda of the villa and
yawned.
A green aunmobile rolled along the
driveway of the house. When it stop
ped at the veranda, a pretty, brown
haired girl of twenty laughingly greet
ed her enthusiastic friend, who leaped
upon her, regardless of the damage
which dirty paws inflicted ON white
serge dress.
zone would think had been away a
year instead Of a>week," the girl said
gayly.
'Is it only week since first met
your. replied her companion. II seem
to have known you always"
Florence Hastings face became seri-
Gus as she patted the wriggling Puffs.
Lam afraid your Imagination is over
powerful. Mr. oakley" she said. ANY
way, you've saved me a dismal rail
way journey from the Newtons'. | was
glad to let my trunks take it alone. So,
whatever your condition of mind, you
must come in and meet papa"
'Is he at home?v
HE comes on the o'clock relief
express That's what he calls any
train which takes him away from Wall
street,
He leaves his Office at Ar
"Yes. Do you hesitate at the ordeal
of passing the interval with meY Flor
ence was smiling again.
Porter Oakley laughed protestingly.
II was hesitating because Of an impor-
tant business affair."" he said finally.
rs there telegraph Office in the vii
lage?"
''There Is, and viii send groom
with your message"
Oakley looked at his watch. GUAR
ter of g." he murmured. "Wil you
pardon me If l go to the Office in the
automobile?" he asked. 1T will save
fifteen valuable minutes"
As the machine pulled along the
driveway Florence watched it musing-
ly and inwardly resented her feeling
of relief u it seemed like weakness.
When she first met Oakley at the New
tons country house, she vaguely dis
liked him. AS she watched the auto
mobile speeding toward the village
she thought of Trilby and smiled.
Then she grew serious and felt sorry
that she had asked Oakley to stay, but
she knew that if the little scene near
the veranda were to be reacted she
would ask him again.
DO you believe in hypnotic infiu-
ence, Puffs?" she said softly. putting
an arm around the bulldogs muscular
neck.
Puffs did not. Every line in his
sturdy figure expressed disbelief. Then
he conveyed sympathy and encourage
ment by extending a few inches Of
damp pink tongue toward his mistress
cheek.
That evening Florence sat on the
veranda with Porter Oakley. Her IA
Their did not arrive on the relief ex-
press" nor had word come from him.
Oakley had waited for the older man,
had accepted an invitation to dine, and
now he sat with Florence and watched
the moon creep toward the Orange
mountains.
There is still an hour or so of moon
light, and shall have bright road
to New York." he said.
Il thought father would surely be
here on the 8 o'clock train," said Flor
ence.
Oakley held the face of his watch to
his cigar tip. Half past s now" he
answered. when does the next train
arriye%
"At o."
"Your father may be on that. Why
don't you run down to the station with
me and meet him?" Oakley said.
Florence looked up at him quickly.
"Why, II she began, but Oakley
was leaning toward her. the moonlight
shining on his face and lighting his
gray eyes. which were fixed on hers.
Five minutes later the automobile
was running along the country road,
containing one uneasy and one tri-
umphant person and followed by a
white. four legged creature whose I'M
der jaw protruded at the angle of de-
termination and who patiently blinked
away the dust aroused by the flying
monster in front.
The hands of the little red faced
clock in the tower of the station point
ed to a quarter of the hour. and they
passed on, Oakley saying that they
would have FIVE minutes of speeding
before returning to wait for the train.
The lights of the village disappeared.
and the moon was hidden by the over
hanging trees of the road along which
they flew. Puffs stretched his legs