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

"As was saying" lie observed I'M
pressively, making frantic but inef-
| fectual attempt to recall what he had
been saying. "as | was saying-that is
oh, hang it all. Cynthia. | was so
busy looking at you that forgot what
l was saying. Don't know where I'm
| at"
| At this plain avowal they both
laughed. and he went on with mascu-
| line frankness:
II say, you've done yourself proud.
You're ripping. you know!" And lie
gazed at her with so much of the old
boyishness in his face that the reproof
that rose to her lips was suppressed.
Then black thought suddenly
clutched at her.
"You aren't married, are your she
demanded so abruptly and intensely
that she WINGED the moment the words
were out, while his prompt negative
was tempered with certain shame as
he recalled some events of the previous
year. Cynt a was so direct that she
inspired him with desire to meet her
on her own ground.
mo. I'm not married, but / am
afraid that should have been except
for the firmness of the young lady's
mother" he acknowledged honestly.
"She had other views for her daugh-
ter. You see. l wasn't rich enough,
and I'm mighty glad / wasnt-now,"
he added with a fervor that was be-
yond suspicion.
Still, Cynthia's manner seemed to
take on a slight coating of ice. so
you're blighted be.ng!" she said
thoughtfully, her chin resting on the
back of her hand and her eyes fixed
upon his face speculatively.
They parted few minutes later.
reluctantly. it is true, yet with the
feeling that the fine glow of the meet
ing had suddenly faded.
Hes mourning for that horrid lit
tie thing with the mercenary moth
err" reflected Cynthia scornfully and
without any conjunction whatever
anent the injustice of calling an I'M
known damsel "a horrid little thing"
while Jack Mayhem. his eyes dazZlcd
ny tue hue, p!ltu Idct VI HIS Oi1 Iitls~
mate. wondered how he could ever
have faneied pretty little pink and
white Dorothy
AS he remembered Cynthia's mouth
with the little curlycues at the cor
ner that looked like baby smiles, his
face grew gloomy.
Depend upon it. old fellow. you'll
E,,I Il, ;,,
ground" he confded to himself darby
on the way homeward. Don't get
the idea that there's any chance for
you. A girl like that Here he gave
up at loss for words to express his
convictions on the subject
But in spite of this mutual cynicism
Miss Williar and Jack Mayhem were
seen together very frequently during
the next three months. They affected
palm rooms and art galleries and such
places where a certain soft splendor
and quiet made for sentiment and low
toned conversation.
1t was upon one such occasion that
a patron of art who had closed the
book of romance before the young
people in this story were born over
heard the following extraordinary BIT
of conversation. He was sitting with
one eye screwed up critically in the
effort to form judgment of Claude
Monet on the wall before him when
he heard the young man murmur anx-
iously:
"you don't suppose your mother will
say that I'm not rich enough. do you?"
Indeed. nor replied the girl at his
side confidently. My mother is not
that kind. Besides, didn't our moth
ers know each other before we We're
bornF'
The patron of art looked slightly
puzzled. From the tail of his cool.
estimating eye he sent furtive glances
at the pair. vainly endeavoring to fol-
low the young lady's reasoning.
There was an ecstatic silence for a
second, during which the patron of
art found the two decidedly interest
ing from an artistic standpoint 1t
was an eloquent moment-and paint
able. 1t was really a pity. Then the
girls face dimpled and she began to
speak.
''Oh, Jack" she said, and her tone
was a caress. isn't it lucky that
got you out of the grab bag after ala"
The patron of art moved away. shak
ing his head as If the times were get
ting beyond him. Got him out Of the
grab bag" he murmured, just to see
how it would sound-'got him out OF
the grab bag!"