Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-03-09

fate!
Ii was nearing the end of the thru
year. He took the same train now
with a regularity which made her sus
plcious. The results of chance wer,
never so unerring. Intention was an
parent.
But through 1t all save Mt unexpected
moments when the curtain would lft
for a second and an unlntentiona.
glance betray a deeper knowledge theJ
regarded each other with the battling
impressive eyes we keep for the IN
known. No twentieth century romance
ever moved so slowly.
Then Billy Stoughton. who in this
particular case was the instrument Of
fate, awakened one morning with an
unaccountabie but imperative yearnlng
for Broadway. Five years earlier an
equally compelling desire had landed
him on the ranch. where he had blded
contentedly enough up to that particu,
lar morning. The evening of the next
day found him in Denver, from which
place he proceeded with as much haste
as the railroad facilities would permit
TO New York.
On the day of his arrival he planned
to dine with RenwIck. the closest Of
his college friends. He had just time
to catch him by telephone before be
left his office. which he did. arranging
TO meet him at the elevated station and
go up town with him.
The first efyervescence of their meet
ing over. Stoughton's beaming eyes
roved over the other passengers, A
slight figure Mt the far end of the car
held his glance. He looked again to be
sure
Pardon me a minute. Jack" he said,
rising and making his way toward the
girl, with whom a moment later be
was shaking hands cordially and talk
ing with the ease OF long friendship.
Presently he returned TO Renwick. and
as he did so a revealing look passed
between the two. A bridge nj last!
Its Natica Aston. n cousin OF mine,
you know" he explained TO Renwick.
Tough luck they had. tell you. But
she's plucky girl. She has earned her
own living now for four years"
"will you present meF demanded
Renwick eagerly.
Certainly. I'll take you up there
with me. Natica viii be glad to re
ceiye any friend OF mine"
THANK you. old fellow; thank you"
Renwick paused awkwardly. He
seemed to have something else to say
but scarcely knew how to say it.
when | said-asked you to intro
duce mel didn't mean the usual thing
I'm going to ask you to do something
queer and TO do 1t without asking too
many questions"
What kind of a mystery is thisT'
inquired S;oughton. "If didn't know
that there isn't a grain of romance in
you | should certainly think"-
Now, don't think-there's good
fellow" soothed Renwick. Just fol
low instructions. Tell Miss Aston all
about me, and mind that you tell her
everything good that you can or III
wiring your neck. and make an appoint
ment for me to call. Don't make any
mistake. | want TO see her and see
her alone. l don't want you there"
When poor, mystified Bin Stoughton
preached the subject TO Natlca her be
havior was doubly mysterious. No
she didn't wsnt to know anything
about him. Then moment later:
Did you say he is a bachelor2" On
nocently1 Il thought he was q wild
over
Stoughton, Indignantly, Il thought
you knew nothing about him."
\ 81 don't. but he wore mourning"
THAT was for his mother"
In the dim little parlor OF the small
apartment where she and her mother
lived they met for the first time alone
save for the dead aud gone Alstons
that looked down upon them from the
walls. Surely never was such a first
meeting before.
When the maid ushered him in
Natica, looking rather more like lily
than usual in her long. soft black
gown, rose with every intention OF
greeting him IN the most formal man
ner. Then most unlocked for thing
occurred
For moment they look ed into each
others eyes Then he stretched out
his hands toward her. and she placed
hers in them. moment later she
was swept up into his arms as if she
had been a child rs he murmured soft
ly, My dear, dear lover
What shall we tell mamma % wall
ed Natica in despair half hour later
How can we ever explain ourselves
I'VE can't" replied Renwick com
fortably.' I'VE might just as well re
sign ourselves to being thought mad
1t all comes from the ridiculous SUI
perstition that in order to know people
| you must talk TO them"
| And then-well, then they forgot tn.
world and its opinions to talk OF fl l
lovelier things.
The blockhead and the genius ara