Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1909-12-22

ESrpaexeu, ne &dzeO NJ same. her
blue eyes flashed welcome, but her
words turned him down. All summer
she had been refusing to be seen with
him. This time it was the club dance.
A. they had been friends from baby
hood. he asked for reasons.
"Sallie, what's the matter? II you
really hate the sight Of me I'll keep
away II 1t kills me. but somehow
don't believe You do. What have
done3 Or IL 1t Tracy. or don't you
care, or whatr' In the little sum-
mer house be faced her, bis dark eyes
swapping. She tossed her fair head.
but her face was serious.
Tracy. indeed! You ought to see
he's crazy about Mary Trevor! No;
you have not done anything. Robbie.
only She fingered her rose In en-
barrassment.
"Only what. Sallie? Tell me. can't
stand this much longer"
"Well. l should think you would
hate 1t. too, this being-managed."
Referring to our precious families
very. apparent plot to get us married.
That certainly is the limitv He spoke
coolly. She nodded. flushing with
anger as he continued: II don't blame
You. Sallie. l hate it too. p But
she turned on him like a little tiger,
leaping to her feet to face him.
'sWhy don't You 60 away then? Do
You think that I-are you asking me
everywhere because you think r.
For answer be swept her suddenly In
to his arms. holding her face to his--a
happy face. for she had always loved
Robert Martin.
"Dear, you must know / want you
now, always. But why couldn't our
people be decently reluctant? It's all
so horribly planned. We both hate
being Unanswered into marriage. Moth
er suffers even If l look at Mary
sweet girl. but not you
"And dad gets apoplectic at mere
sight Of Tom-Tom. who is everything
dad and | don't want-but when he
and mother greet me at breakfast
with that repressed haven't you-got-
something-to-tell-us air ! could glee
fully announce Tom as their future
son. That would be real revenge. Not
that Tom wants me-" The two looked
up just In time to see Sallie's mother
carefully steering the children away
from the summer house. 1t was mad
dening. Sallie stamped her foot.
Il simply can't be engaged to you.
Bob. with the family smiling benignly
and all the old pussies purring over the
fitness Of the match. | can'tr'
wait till you're asked" be retorted.
grinning. "Sallie, we want each other.
but we must let them worry. They
simply must worry awhile! Did you
know that poor old Tracy hates me
because he thinks want MaryT
Stupid boy! Anybody could see
where her heart Is by the way she
hates me when chasten dad by going
out with Tom. Wonder why he asks
me-"
ITO get even because play Aary's
little lamb to bother mother. You zee.
Mary's family goes no farther back
than Adam. suppose yours and nina
antedate old Eden. say. Sallier-
But be saw Tom Tracy going past
with his machine and ran after him
with shout. The two men talked q
long time before Robert came back to
Sallie
sGet your ven and things and come
for 4 spin. Well stop for Mary. have
lunch at some little town, have dinner
at Baxter. call on my minister uncle
John and get home by moonlight"
.And a chaperonT Though the -four
had always known each other, Sallie
was going at least to mention proprie-
ties. Bob's wise eye twinkled.
II think can hunt up young mar
but refused explanation till Tracy left
the car to persuade Mary. Then Bob
did his gallant best to make things
clear. He succeeded. Sallie got in
front with Tom. leaving Mary to an
apparently all too devoted Bob. while
they paraded past their respective
homes. for be It said that the Trevors
and the Tracys had long wished Mary
and Tom to like each other.
1t was rather too late that night to
please Sallie's father when Tom left
her reluctantly at her own door. And
Bob. mother questioned. said he had
been motoring with Mary.
That was the beginning. During
August the four were inseparable. and
the parents worried. The only appar-
ent comfort was that the couples re-
manned together. How could they
know that partners were changed the
minute they got from under surveil-
lancer The girls were airy, radiant,
innocent the young men calm. i'm
pervious to comment or question.
Never passing the bounds Of propriety
they still bafied home attempts to
regulate their movements.
Tom was always with Sallie. Bob in
the wake OF Mary. The couples weren't
matched to suit the elders: but. from
&hav xuaeo onno fhov ho-