Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-02-24
THE AMEkl(

thoughtful tone. Stranger
"Well-now-I didn't say just that
you know"
blush on Miss Farrars smooth cheeks
but her glance met Mowbray's with it,.
! usual answering honesty.
Men Lave told me that they loveC
me-severai of them, But that's no.
a proposal. you know, any more that
its purchase when say that | ador.
a string of pearls at Tigany's"
"A-a-hr'
The ejaculation was full of enlighten-
ment. Mowbray was beginning at hast
to understand things that had always
puzzled him. as his next question
showed.
Would it be impertinent TO ask how
you have received these declaratl0nsT'
why, l just listened! You see. it's
embarrassing. Il makes one feel so
terribly CONSCIOUS
What about the MANI" Mowbray
asked quietly. Doesn't it occur TO
you that perhaps he might need little
encouragement-tha perhaps he might
be trifie conscious toO:'
For moment there was silence be
tween them. The point of view was
utterly new 10 Miss Farrar, and she
was obviously impressed by il.
Il never thought of that" she ad
mitted slowly. Il thought that sort
of thing was so in mans line-his
meter" She laughed bit ruefully.
\ squirrel darted swiftly across the
grass and. turning its head jauntily to
one side. fixed Il bright. inquiring eye
upon them. Then. with a saucy wave
of it's tail, it scurried away.
Il have it" said Mowbray. Il have
it. Learn from the squirrel. Light
ness. airiness. coquettishness. Don't
you see what | meanf" And he looked
at her teasingly.
But she was not TO be diverted. Il
am serious" she assured him. There's
always reason for everything. and
there must be a reason for this. There's
Alice Nixon. She's not so awfully
pretty. 1 heard her say that she had
had nineteen proposals. Miss Far
rar's voice was touched with awe
Then a skeptical thought seized her.
''Still-she's from the south" she add
ed, and her tone implied that an allow
anee should be made for the fact.
Mowbray biz his lip.
Then there's her sister-just an orii-
narily nice girl-folIows with fifteen.
Marion Pierce owns up TO a dozen. and
Beth GaFrett-dear, bomely Beth-ac-
knowledges six! l asked her because
I specially wanted to find out Per
haps you can imagine how queer it
makes me feel"
What do you say upon such occa-
sions?" demanded Mowbray. watching
the squirrel that was again eying them
from a distance
There was Il palpable pause before
Miss Farrar replied. But at last her
traightforwariness prevailed.
Sometimes / shake my head and
look rather shocked Then they think
that I disappuove Of such conversations
think Tn noble you know! At other
times laugh and say. 1 have never
had one" in a tone which implies Just
the reverse"
She finished this confession and look
ed at Mowbray put of the corner of her
eyes in & way Mat drove the last YES
use Of fear out Of his mind. This naive
woman, the person whose dignity and
GOODNESS he had stood aloof from in
absolute embarrassment for 50 longi
He could have laughed at the absurdity
Of it Why had she never shown him
her real self before?
y think shall propose TO YOU" be
remarked deliberately.
For 8 second she looked surprised.
and then her eyes danced.
Let ii be in your best style" she
pleaded Remember, its my first. and
/ fear it may be my last toor'
He leaned toward her and locked
straight into her eyes.
1T viii be your last. undoubtedly"
His voice was low and tense. For a
long moment he looked at her-looked
in way that first made her small ears
burn and then troubled her clear gaze.
which wavered and fell.
Il love you. dear" he said simply.
"and l think you know the rest Tell
me that you do
Her cheeks were hot and her lips
trembled. A strong hand reached out
and took hers in masterful way. and
she suddenly knew that something
which she had never even dreamed
was true.
But asked your she moaned when
ar last she recovered something Of her
wonted serenity. Il positively asked
your
You encoura ged me-" he corrected,
"and that's what they usually do. only
your method was brutality direct"
1t was when she began to flush again
that he added. Il shall always have
something to tease you about, dearest"
And the squirrel, which had been
watching them in the lingering hope
that they might possibly have brought
him nuts. like sensible people. gave up
in disgust and sf.urriad away.