Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1908-09-30
Glincr'S
Hfternoon Or.
By CECILY ALLEN.
Copyrighted. 1905, by Associated
Literary Press.


Mrs. James Regain that their flower
like daughter, Elinor. had never set
foot in that plebeian vehicle, trolley
car.
To be sure. there had been time
when James Regain would have well
coined the chance to drive one of the
good. old fashioned street cars. but
those days belonged in the dark ages
of Regain family history along with
the momentous Sunday when that
same fowerlike daughter had been
christened plain Mary Ellen.
Today, thanks to a pocket Of gold in
the Sierras and few lucky specula-
tons made possible by those same gilt
tering pockets. the fair Elinor had at
her disposal a variety Of private ve-
hicles, from a tiny electric runabout to
sixty horsepower touring car. from
a smart trap on their Long Island es-
tate to correctly equipped victoria
for her daily drive in Central park
L he ueh WIZ NeiS Siuu " rue be-
side the girl in motor car or trap were
equally glad to acknowledge their
friendship with the blunt. shrewd Irish
capitalist. for. though the Regans were
counted among the newest Of the new
ly rich. they were not of them.
A strain of royal blood had surely
ha Aovl- e
gan family history. for both genera
tons took to the newly found luxury
as ducks had taken to the mudholes
behind their cabin in the Sierras.
From the moment they had come
east Elinor had been surrounded by
irreproachable governesses. conpln-
ions and chaperons. Her comings aud
goings had always been attended by
chauffeur or footman or groom. And
there had been times when. watching
other girls tiit fearlessly and unattenl.
ed from ferry to trolley car. she had
felt an odd twinge Of envy.
Some things of life she had missed,
and this something was vaguely rep
resented by the trolleys in which she
had never ridden. the city streets on
which she never set foot unattended
Even more vague was her feeling that
somehow her doting father had not
quite played fair with her about Regi-
maid Schuyler.
1t meant something. of course. TO
marry into one of the old knicker-
bocket families. Schuyler always let
her realize this fact He allowed his
blue blood, which showed little enough
in his pallid face and deep ringed eyes.
to do his wooing
The other man-he was, like them.
selves. new as to wealth, fresh ard
vigorous in every vein-he might have
been so different if given half chance
Sometimes she wanted to give him the
chance. Sometimes she wanted to
please her father. And neither of the
two men in the case nor her father
dreamed Of the vague unrest in the
girls heart.
All this to explain why Elinor Re-
CAMS eyes fairly danced when she
stepped from the door Of the ferry
house and reviewed the long line Of
public vehicles. Belden, the punctil-
ious. was nowhere in sight.
Elinors companion, Miss Greenleaf.
was young. but keenly alive to her du-
ties and very anxious to retain her
pleasant and lucrative position.
Something must have happened. |
am sure l worded the telegram very
carefully. Shall l call a hanson or
an electric cab?"
Elinor shook her head.
I've heard you can get smallpox
riding in public vehicles. Don't they
use them for funerals and that sort of
thing?"
She was watching her companion
from the tail Of her eye and wondering
just how far she might 60
Miss Greenleaf looked worried
Perhaps l had best telephone to the
house."
"Oh. no." interrupted Elinor quickly.
I'VE can reach home by trolley while
they are sending down the car for u.s. -
Miss Greenleaf hesitated-and was
lost. A few seconds later she was
swept golf clubs and bags, into a
crosstown car. 1t was crowded with
suburban women bound for the shop
ping district. Elinor swung blithely
from 4 strap and enjoyed Miss Green
leafs discontinue.
If Mr.. Regain ever hears of this.'
thought the worried companion. And
just then they alighted to change cars.
Evidently there was delay far down
the street, for the two women stood
some minutes on the corner. and then
Eiinor spied drug store whose win
dows were filed with garish adver-
tisements. beyond which doomed a
soda fountain. Miss Greenleaf never
knew just how it happened. but she
found herself. feebly protesting. be-
fore mahogany topped table which
a white coated boy mopped up with a