Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1905-01-04


her preparations early, for Goring had
telephoned her that he thought the
couple would arrive at and he would
drive up with them.
But he stepped In alone, unan-
nounced, for he had retained one of the
keys, and entered an atmosphere of
delicious, savory doors. A bright light
radiated from the kitchen, and he stood
silently in the doorway. unseen by
her. admiring her as she stopped to
basic the golden brown fowl in the
oven. Goring said nothing. There was
q telegram in his pocket, and he hest
tated to mar her pleasure all at once.
"OhH' She nervously dropped her
cooking spoon as he crossed the thresh-
old.
ITS better than an Alma-Tadema,"
he commented, drinking in the home
like suggestions.
II hope they'll be happy" She gave
the fowl an undeserved prick with the
fork. fiuttering at something indeflna-
BILE in his manner
"Would-you be-here?" he asked I'M
StSauiAg anu Win ulltiCSSs
A piercing whistle at the dumb wait
err interfered with her reply. 1t was
the ice cream coming up with convuls-
i've movements and noisy creaking,
sent by an overpunctual confectioner.
Metaphorieally Goring received it as a
cold douche to his hopes.
isn't it almost time for them?' she
inquired anxiously. regrettlng the lost
opportunity which had rudely inter-
rupted the lowering sentiment. 81
thought you were going to meet
them?"
Slowly he took the telegram out of
his pocket. extending 1t toward her
"What is 1t? Nothing serious l hopper
she cried In alarm.
"No! Only Tom has been ordered
west by his firm to manage a branch
house. 1t means the making of his
future. They're not coming here, after
ALL"
"Oh, and the turkey so beautiful
She sank weakly in chair, tears fill
ing her eyes. I'm so sorry
Goring crossed the room and placed
MS arm around ner.
Look here, you're not crying?" he
said, peering into her face There,
there! 1t is shame, l admit. But
you. and can enjoy that dinner just
as much as they
ayes, but what about the fat? VIII
they sell everything? And we fixed
it up so pretty
She was sobbing quietly now.
"Cant-can't-we pretend that It's
our home for always?". he asked soft
ly, with tremendous beating of his
heart "And-and can't you-make it
come true, dear? 1 love you-you
must have known that: but l heard
you cared for some one else. Tell me,
May
She tried to steal her handkerchief
from the bloused front of her shirt
waist. but something white and dimin-
utiye and square tumbled out with it.
1t was her answer to that other man.
in which she had SO nearly signed
away her happiness. She took out
the letter, forcing him to read it, and
taking infinite relish in his visible
symptoms of agitation. The futility
Of his love stared at him uncompro-
misingly. 1t was as he had feared; he
was too late.
The cheer and coziness of the toy
house tainted him. He turned away
from 1t and away from the woman
he loved
"Well?" said Miss Carlton sharply,
compelling his attention. Her lips
were quivering. her eyes mutinous at
his easy defeat.
you've ruined my life-for the Sec
ond time" he said, unsmiling.
She grasped the letter from his
hand and tore it into innumerable tiny
pieces which scattered over the floor
like snow.
That's my answer" and her voice
trembled happily.