Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1905-05-17
THE 800.
INTERRUPTED
FLIGHT By ST..
TfNSLEY
crpurIaht. laa., bu 5. =. Tlnslsp
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:, would be worth thousand dollars
",ora to you If you could leave on the
midnight train"
Mr. Factore took up the roll of papers
nd started toward the door.
.Tf you change your mind so that
rop can manage to leave tonight, why.
au me up. VIII your
Mr. Franklin Thlckerton, who was
onenIng and closing the drawers of
NJ desk. turned around hastily.
ayes. YES, I'll see. my boy, I'll seer
po,cc Factore nodded his head. and
ros about TO leave the room when
Ne Thlckerton whlrled around sud
aonly In his chair, with an expression
~ dismay upon his thin. smooth face.
aFlofsel wat win do with Eloise?"
pierce Factore uttered an exclama-
ton Of mpatience.
MARRY her to some onev' exclaimed
Faetore in evaporation. hardly know
INC what he was saying. To his
amazement Mr.. Thickerton seized upon
his idea with delight.
aBy George. the very thing! Glad
YOU thought OF it I'll attend to It at
once. Perhaps. after all, I'll be able
10 leave on the midnight express"
Then. whirling his chair around, >ir.
Thickerton applied himself to work.
Having finished his letters, Mr.
Thickerton hurriedly rang the bell and
then mpatiently awaited the arrival
Of his daughter. EloIsc Eloise Thick
erton was u tall. slim girl. with pale
face. large gray eyes and short. curly,
light brown hair. When she entered
the room In answer to her fathers
simmons. she looked about her with a
frightened expression. A summons
from papa meant something extra.
Mr.. Thickerton was always too busy
to say more than good morning or
good night to his daughter. When
Eloise had closed the door. her father
began speaking.
MY dear. | must leave at once for
Russia on business. | may be gone
months, and / may be gone years
Elolse grasped her fathers arm In
surprise.
Papa" she exclaimed.
"Yes, must go Mt once. This deal
means much money for me. There
fore | have sent for you to tell you
that you are to be married at once
this evening by s O'Clock at the lat
est That is all, my dear. You run
away. am busy. very busy"
Poor EIoisel The room swan before
her eyes. She sank into chair, be-
cause she could not trust herself 10
stand.
Papa. dear-dear papa. what do you
meant
Her voice was SO pitiful that even
her busy father found time to turn
around and look at her
There. there. my dear. don't fret:
ii will soon all be over
Eloise shuddered. Papa, dear, you
don't mean IL, do you? You're just
teasing me, aren't youT
She clasped her hands. He did not
look at her, but shook his head and
drummed nervously upon the desk.
There there, my dear. run away
now and don't bother me. | am very
busy. But remember, be ready by s."
Eloise walked sadly toward the door.
Then she hesitated and looked back
umidly at her father.
Whom am l going to marry, papar
Franklin Thickerton did not under
stand his daughters question, and he
was too busy to ask her to repeat it. So
he answered absently, "Neyer mind,
my dear. never mind"
Eloise silently left the room.
One hour later Franklin Thickerton
was sitting In Judge Wllton's office.
The judge listened while Mr.. Thicker
ton talked. The conversation con-
cerned Judge waltons son.
You have always favored a mar
mage between Elolse and Harry. As
start for Russia tonight and have no
one with whom could leave my
daughter, why not let us have the mar
nage performed this evening? What
DO you say?"
The lawyer looked at the judge.
What does Eloise say?" replied the
Judge
She will do what I say
Very well. Harry shall be on hand
az 3 o'clock tonight"
The two men shook hands. and Law
yer Thickerton hurried away TO make
me hnal arrangements for his journey.
AT a quarter before S o'clock the
Ihickerton household was In state OF
excitement Eloise was missing. The
housekeeper was weeping in the sitting
room. The lawyer had locked himself
10 the library. The servants were hud-
uied together whispering in the kitchen.
Eloise had left the house an hour
oerore, and her father had expected
hef TO return in few moments. She
aad not returned. and the housekeeper
MAD found note in her room adj
dressed to Mr.. Thickerton.
This note informed the laSyer that
MS daughter would not be married
enat night. She had gone away and
Il