Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-07-20
The Fortune
Hun ter
BY Clinton Dangerfield
conyraghi. lWs. By Z. &. McNlura
copyright, lsa, by t. Z. Moclurs

calico gown and rural hat. what YOU
are wearing that getup for:"
Doesn't it seem suitable to a farm
house In the country she inquired
with obvious satisfaction In her cos
tune.
Il can't see why white lawny stuff.
with embroidery and things. the kind
you usually wear, wouldn't be quite
as transformations" / said discomfort
eddy.
Alicia leaned near TO me. Really
she ought not to put that kissable
mouth Of hers so close to even mar
ried man. Then she whispered dra-
matically:
I'm poor. I've lost every cent"
What / cried. aghast. Alicia is
not fitted for poverty.
"Shl Not truly. you know. I'm
making believe. | want to meet few
men and know they are not fortune
hunters"
Humanity is more decent than you
usually suppose It," | said dryiy.
There are few ripping good poor
fellows in our own SET. uutainted by
self seeking. though that guardian aunt
of yours won't let you believe IT.
Well but here" said Alicia. with
such satisfaction that knew at once
some enc was on the tapis-"here one
can be absolutely sure"
Whom have yen metz asked
sternly.
NO one" slid Alicia obstinately.
Eut the next moment she blushed rosl-
Is as a tall, sun Drowned young man
came slowly up the wide steps Of the
piazza. y red handkerchief knottcd
around his columnar throat and wide
hat set slightly a-tlh gave a pietur-
csque finish to him. am bound to
admit he looked attractive.
Mr.. Roberts" said Alicia. 81 want
10 have you meet my friend, Mr.. Ham
lin johnson. His wife comes out 10
hoard here next week"
You are down 10 have Il look at the
lay of our country suggested Rob
erts. holding out strong tanned hand
and nearly smashing mine in IL.
As he spoke Alicia vanished She re
turned Immediately with huge pan OF
green peas and, seating herself on the
step. began Smelling them as industri-
onsly as though her future depended
ON 1t. Roberts promptly Joined her.
while | diseontentedly dropped Into
Alicia's hammock. Alicia was too ut
terly unlike Ter bored and ennuiel
self She laughed now In low ripples
and then lifted the shining eyes OF
child to Roberts earnest and altogcth-
or too handsome face. 1t would never
do. I told myself to permit Alicia to
throw herself away on an uncongeniai
rustic
For the next two days | criticised
Roberts fiercely 10 myself. could not
but admit that he was manly. that bs
seemed capable OF taking on polish
and that his grammar. while not OF the
best (he made breaks occasionally.
was reasonably good. lie openly and
frankly adOrei Alicia. who proudly
aired her poverty and exulted In her
captIyatlon OF man who must indeed
love her for herself alone.
But could not bear the thought OF
1t all. AT last. for | saw matters were
approaching climax. | determined TO
appeal to Roberts generosity.
! got him off on a days fishing. and
as we came homeward | prepared my
appeal. / led the conversation up TO
marriage by beginning to talk of home.
Yes; his father and mother We're liy
ing, he said Yes; the old folks did
miss him. but be got an extra good
chance to get a job with Farmer Ket-
terer. and he Guessed they could stand
it awhile longer,
II suppose" | said bravely. "that
some day you will be thinking of mar
riage, just as they did once"
He shot peculiar glance at me.
And when you do marry" ! pur-
sued. of course yOu want everything
fair and aboyeboard You want no
chance for Ill feeling or mischief max
ers to creep between you and your
wife because there was any misappre-
hensiou at the beginning
He turned red under his tan
Misrepresentation? How could there
be? What do you mean anyway
The guilty look on his face gave me
a sudden insight into the matter. Alas.
poor Alicia, This innocent rustic low
er belonged to the very class of men
she most ahhorred, He knew who she
was, and he had deliberately let her
play her poor little play before him.
You know who Miss Alicia Gordon
is?'
'Yes. / do" he answered doggediy.
'She is Alicia Van Anderson. the heir
ess and society woman"
And knowing this as you do" /
said, bursting with natural indigna-
ton, lyon dare to let yourself make
love to her. to let her believe you hon
est
Il hold myself honest" he returned
quietly.
"a man cannot be considered hon
est" | said sternly. ''whc courts wo-
man under false pretenses. You are
letting Miss Van Anderson think that