Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-02-17

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prejudice. Jnney would have been like
wise the belle IL II bad not been accept
ed as q fact ever since she put up her
hair and let down her frocks that she
was, In neighborhood phrase. mort
gaged property" Phil Mayhem had
laid claim to her when she came hardly
to his elbow. He had, further. let no
body dispute the claim even after she
came back from boarding school, fear.
fully and wonderfully accomplished.
He was . big fellow. square jawed and
square headed, who cared nothing for
books unless they dealt with figures.
At figures he was marvelously quick
ana clevcr-so clever II was nothing for
him 10 stump successive schoolmasters
even though they were college bred.
while he knew nothing higher than the
neighborhood academy.
Possibly II was triumph Of this sort
which had nrst melted the present
schoolmaster. Leonard Trabue. Esq,
to try conclusions with him In the field
of Miss Janey's favor. Janey loved
books In the freshest. most whole heart
ed fashion. Trabue could talk books
by the hour. and talk very well. Nat
urally he found himself welcome at the
Gates homestead Quite as naturally
Phil Mayhem resented his presence
there and showed it outright, after the
manner of masterful man crafty in
love. Thus by fate and free will and
the obligation of hospitality fancy was
In manner forced to take Trabue's
part. The result was very pretty
quarrel and the transfer of Pills at
tentiobs to Miss Dora Meakins.
There had been no set engagement to
break. That made Pills attitude all
the more aegravating. Janey was fol-
months bitterly unhappy over the rup
.ture, although she let nobody see 1t, not
even her mother. Outwardly she was
Eayer than ever, and so charming Mr..
Leonard Trabue quite lost his head
that pestilent fellow, Mayben-inciden-
tally, of course, to divert himself and
pass time otherwise heavy on his hands
Teaching was merely a stop gap. Lit
erature was his chosen vocation. He
meant to enter upon II through the gate
of newspaper work as soon as he could
scrape together a few hundred dollars
The Gateses were not rich folk, but
still comfortably Off. and fancy an only
child. Ii is but just TO say the fact had
little TO do with Trabue's falling In
love. That came upon him unawares.
But once he had realized his frame OF
affections he took full cognizance of
it. Might It not be easier to make him
self immortal even here in the deep
country, with a charming wife and as
sured comfort, than out in the hustle
and hurry burly OF city? To settle 1t
out of hand lie proposed plumply to
Janey. He was dazed to get refusal,
distressed, almost fearful.
Next week the county paper printed.
with nattering comments, love rhyme
signed "Leofric" Cane Creek read it
because reading the paper thoroughly
was certainly the part of thrift, If not
of Christian duty. Still. 1t felt no curl
osity as to the authorship until the
rural press quite generally copied and
praised the rhyme. A second bit of
verse got reprinted in three city pa
pers. so. upon the appearance of the
third, Leofric's identity became burn
ing question, one that the editor him
self could not answer. All he knew
was that the copy came to him by the
hand of Mr.. Murdoch, leading law
yer.
All winter long Leofric wrote inter
mittently, becoming more and more II
riddle and parsonage. All winter
long. too, Phil Mayhem ate Sunday din
ners Mt the Meakins' table. and Leon
ard Trabue talked books and the world
10 fancy Gates. He was playing Il
waiting game. resolved to win her in
spite of herself and Phil Mayhem.
Janey's heart was singularly stead
fast Still, there were times when she
Thought Trabue would succeed. Phirs
going had left her desolate indeed.
He could never have cared as he pre-
tended or he would not be able to stay
away. OF course she could not make
the first move to reconciliation, espe-
cially since he was so taken up with
the Meakins generation. Since he was
forever lost to her. it was far from I'M
pleasant to sun herself in Trabue's
devotion.
Spring came with such a rush that
year the picnic season opened in mid
May Sister Meakins and Sister Hodg-
in, self elected social autocrats, got up
the first one and set the place for it,
Clear Spring. just little way of the
Gates pasture. The spring was, in
fact Gates property. so Sister Meakin
let the owner know she thought 1t
would be no more than neighborly Of
him to put up tables, seats and stakes
for the gypsy kettles. to say nothing Of
the swings. There Phil Mayhem inter-
fered. You don't play lone hand at
this game with me around. squire" he
said to Janey's father. Thus it fell out
Il l.. 10. he