Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1908-08-05
The Elton Case.
tOriSinal.l

AHe ofpudu Earl OF Elton, -FOUR years
old. was playing in his nursery one
morning, when Mrs. Rawson, who was
IN full Charge Of him, brought in a lit
tie girl of about the same years, say
ing to him:
Here's little sister for you, Ralph.
Her name is Gladys. Now, don't let
me hear any mora>grumbling about not
having playmates like other children"
rs she my sister?" said Ralph, look
ing at the girl admiringly. ''Why
haven't seen her before?"
Don't ask questions or I'll send her
away"
So Ralph and Gladys proceeded to
enjoy each others company in the
amusements of childhood. AS they
grew older they wondered why they
had been separated till their first meet
Ing and had been kept together ever
since. Since no one seemed disposed
to inform them they spent much time
building up hypothesis Gladys prefer
ring those which accounted for her abb
sence from her brother, she having
been stolen by>a fairy when she was
baby. But she had very little re-
membrance of her early life.
They had no playmates except each
other. No one interfered with their
growing up together in any way their
fancies led them. BY and by Ralph
began to talk about Gladys being his
wife, to which she responded that she
didn't believe brothers and sisters ever
married. And so as they passed
through different stages of develop
ment there came different kinds Of
feeling till at last they were nearly
grown.
One day when they were fifteen
years old they discovered Mrs. Raw
son packing Gladys belongings. When
asked what she was going to do. she
told them that Gladys was to be taken
away. The color vanished from the
face Of each. Nature had met for then
its first conflict with civilization, and
nature always makes a desperate fight,
especially in the case of the young.
These two had been left to mate like
the birds. A separation now could
not be endured. Something must be
done. Several days elapsed before
there were any signs of Gladys i'm
mediate removal. which time they
spent in talking the matter over. What
was there for two children brought up
as they had been to do except to
fee?
One morning they got together all the
a
MED them-and counted fS, some shil-
lings and lot Of pennies. Taking this.
they went or on such a ramble as
they had often taken. together before.
They had been kept so aloof from
the world that there is a possibility
they did not know what marriage
meant, especially between brother and
sister. Be that as it may, they deter
mined to be married. After much diff
ficulty they found a clergyman. who
consented to marry them for all the
money they had. and the knot was tied.
After the ceremony they strolled aim
lessly about till they came to a little
park. into which they entered and for.
got everything else in the enjoyment Of
sat throwing stones into the water.
They were thus amusing themselves
when a policeman went to them and
arrested them. Their flight had been
discovered and the police notified.
The next morning Sir Michael Frame.
a retired barrister. read in a morning
paper Of the fight Of the young Earl
~ eli nd hoi
riage ut which all England was
shocked. Sir Michael had been a close
friend of the last Earl Of Elton. He
knew that minor was heir to the
title, but for his life couldn't remem
Der that there was a girl. He finally
recalled the fact that sister of the
last earl, the Hon. Mrs. brewer had
left little. girl and that Mrs Dwyer
and the eari's brother, Tweed Spencer,
had been left in charge of the estate
and the two children, who were or
phans. This Spencer, on assuming this
responsibility. had discharged Sir Mi
chael as solicitor for the estate and
employed another man. 1t occurred TO
Sir Michael that since his old friends
DON WIS III tIOuDie lie WouIu Hccu
services of some one who would be in
terested in him. He took the train the
same day for the town where the chill
dren were detained and before they
slept had passed some time in hearing
their story.
When the trial came up the next
morning the children's guardian
Tweed Spencer. was there to claim
their return. What was his surprise
to see Sir Michael step forward and
announce himself as their solicitor In
deed Spencer turned white. He was
playing game that would have been
very easy had not the children over
stepped all supposed bonds by falling
in love. AS it was, his defeat was GER
tain. He made clean breast of 1t and
admitted that there was no intention
RI ~, I-a the, chfiI1rap bpljpyp they were