Ellsworth American., 1904-03-02
A BASHFUL COUPLE

pcotIcs II HuFu on u girl OF HcT asSe
to be shut up with her grandparents
Besides, she's of an age when | fancy
a young girl ought to have a lover
Il wonder if she has anything ON her
mind"
ITS my thinking she's unconscious
of the true cause.-the natural yearn-
ing for husband and children
"Polly's always been backward in
encouraging young men,"
We'll have to give her more oppor-
tunity to mingle with them. In that
way her bashfulness will gradually
wear off"
The next day grandma announced to
Polly that she might invite Edward
Dwight, a young midshipman from the
Naval academy home on leave, to tea
Polly eolored at the mention of such
a thing.
"oh, grandma she exclaimed
well. what is it, PollyT'
'Do you really think we'd better in
vite him to tea?''
Certainly Why not, childr'
''Oh. l don't know. I'll think about
it."
John" said grandma that evening
to her husband. II never in my life
saw n girl so timid about meeting one
of the opposite sex as Polly. I've told
her to invite the midshipman to tea.
but I'm afraid she'll never have the
courage to do So"
Don't force her, Sarah"
However, the Invitation was given
and accepted. Young Dwight appeared
on the evening in question and sat talk
ing with grandpa while supper was
being prepared. He was somewhat in
coherent In his remarks and replies,
and the old man thought him as easily
embarrassed as Polly. Then they all
went in to supper, and under the in
fluence of the hot biscuit, cream pota-
toes. thin slices of ham and a salad,
REINFORCED by the grandparents efforts
to make the young people feel easy in
each others company, all was going
well, when grandma made a bad slip
of the tongue. She was dreaming of
the time when her dear little Polly
might be the wife of an admiral, and
In the midst Of her reverie, having occa-
sion to speak to Polly, called her Mrs.
Dwight
Had 1000 pound projectile been ex-
ploded on the deck of a man-of-war 1t
could not have created as much con-
sternation as this blunder produced
upon the young people. The midship-
man turned white, the girl red, while
grandpa and grandma may be said to
have looked blue. Grandpa saw the
midshipman dart glance at Polly,
half angry. half surprised. What it
meant the old man could not explain,
but he took 1t TO mean that Dwight had
no fancy for matrimony, which, consid-
ering his youth and condition, was not
surprising.
There was no comfort at table after
the fatal blunder, and grandma, who
had caused it all, had the adroitness to
leave out the cake and preserves, which
had been intended for a last course,
and, rising from the table, led the way
to the drawing room. But grandpa
found something to take him out to the
barn, and grandma found it necessary
to interview the servants. The young
couple were left sitting on opposite
sides of the room. and grandma could
have bitten off ler tongue at having
spoiled an incipient affair between a
boy and girl. she wished she could
have left them not so far apart, bur
did not dare risk any more blunders by
trying to bring them together. She
was busy for some time about house
hold matters, ana grandpa was talking
TO neighbor. Then grandpa came III.
and the old couple went upstairs.
The young fellow don't seem to be
in hurry to 60" remarked grandpa
at 0 o'clock.
Hasn't he gone:" replied grandma.
Il thought heard the gate click some
time ago"
Il don't know. Perhaps we'd better
so down and see
They went together softly down
stairs. All was still in the drawing
room. The door was shut. but if there
had been an ordinary conversation be
tween two people it could have beeL
heard In the hall. The old couple lis
tened for moment; then grandpa re-
htu llidl ut ItthOuGu hlle IOOli wa
empty. He opened the door.
Wonder of wonders. There sat Polly
on the midshipman's lap and in the
midshipman's arms.
Polly sprang up, and Dwight rising,
stood looking with a mingling of sheep
ishness, assurance, conscious pride and
happiness. Then he spoke out like the
little man he was:
This can go on no longer Polly
and | have been married for a month
If it is known, I'll be shipped from the
academy. for no undergraduate is al
lowed to be married. If you good peo-
pie win keep our secret all will come
out right. | graduate in the coming
June and will then be an officer in the
United States navy. If You object to
me as a husband for Polly, l shall
blame myself; If not, shall be glad
for what I've done"