Ellsworth American., 1904-09-07


! me have the pleasure Of renewing an old
acquaintance? Faithfully yours
ELLERsLIE.
When on Thursday afternoon Mrs
| Lincoln and Ethel drove unaer the
I porte eochere of EllerslIe Abbey all
ready the lawns and terraces were dot
4 ted with bright froeks and parasols,
while from a gay marquee came the
strains Of a military band. Ethels
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. mnmsie"
Mrs. and Miss Lincoln" shouted
the flunky. and into the great hall.
1 paneied to the roof with oak and
hung with the family portraits of three
centuries. they passed. \ gentleman
turned from tee nearest group Of peo-
pie and came forward. Tall, slim.
frocl coated. with white flower In
his buttonhole. there was yet no mis-
taking him. For moment Mrs Lin
/ coin stared, then slow smile curved
her lips.
so it was you-you all the time,"
she declared You were the game
! keeper" The man looked repentantly
/ back.
u really didn't mean to-" he pleaded.
i ''You see, | only expected to stop mo-
ment and pass on. But then that
seemed uneivil, 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. 'It was my
cap that deceived you, not l. At first
| hardly appreciated the situation, and
thcn-it seemed too late. And l never
hoped to see you again. But when you
| spoke Of my mother l began to think
who you might be, and of course the
name on the locket settled II. Indeed,
| was innocent"
Mrs. Lincoln laughed.
Certainly you took the tip badly
| enough
But l still have it." he asserted,
"and always shall. if only as being the
first money ever earned
AS host Ellerslie's duties kept him
busy through the afternoon, and it 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 un-
brella.
Il have been talking to chaperons
until am exhausted he urged. DO
take pity on me and let us make an
escape. Oh. no, it is not yet late" as
the girl hesltated. And there is the
view OF the mere that you have not yet
seem" he added mischievousls.
Ethel smiled and let him take her
about her
Don't keep her too long, Ellerslie, =
said one in rather an Injured tone.
Ellerslie shook his head. Il cannot
promise. Miss Lincoln and l 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 suniit
sky Elierslie seemed to have suddenly
lost the desire TO talk. When finally be
turned to her there was an odd little
CLINT In his eye.
We'll" he said. do you Ike it?''
waving his hand toward the pictur-
esQue reach of wood and water.
Indeed | do" she answered earnest
ly. The CLINT In his eye deepened
''rhen you are prepared to keep your
wordY'
MY word?" demanded the girl
startled.
THAT you would marry Eilerslie 10
get all this" He pulled coin from
his pocket and gaxed meditative!y at it.
This precious coin-I fell in love wit.
a girl when 1t 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 know of. and that
IL a wedding ring. Shall |? DO you
think she might wear 1t in timer"
Although he spoke jestlngly. there
was an undercurrent of seriousness in
his tone which the girl was quick to
catch. For moment new, strange
shyncss kept her silent, then she
spoke.
"Of course am hardly competent
to advise on such a subject" she began
lemurely, but" with swift upward
glance that suggested bewlldering pos
sibilities, there could certainly be ne
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 astonlshment, however, Lady FL
lerslie only laughed.