Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1911-08-30
THE GIRL THAT
KNEW BEST.

fwrittsn for TEE AnssioAx BY Gleason L.
ARCHER, dean o. Suffolk school Of Law. Bos-
ton, Mass.
Mrs. Frederick Dale, light in hand, led
tbs way upstairs TO her little sswirgrroom,
and Florsncs followed her with 20 much
daughtsrly obedience - could be sxpsctsd
Of . proud young woman now eighteen
ysars Of age, and one, morsovss, who was
Suspicious Of the nature Of the interview
to which her mother had hidden her.
For moro than ten years Florence had been
accustomed to the same solemn invitation
to tho sswing-room, and her experience
had bsen that the interview invariably
proved distressing to greater or less de-
gree, according % the subject lay Close to
her heart or was measurably removed
therefrom.
In her calmer moments the girl could not
feel that, with justice, she could, even to
herself, accuse hsr mother Of being unduiy
exacting % to her conduct; but this was
mot calm moment, and the hot blood Of
rebellion burned in her cheeks % she fol-
lowed her mother up the stairs. What II
she had been out later than usual, and
with Charlie Randall at that, was that any
reason she should meet reproachful
Chances upon her return and then be com-
manded to follow her mother upstairs to
that hateful sewing-roomf Her mother
had been young once, herself, but she had
forgotten that; oh, yes, old people always
forget their own youth when dealing with
young people.
Florence bit her lip with vexation. She
wished now that she had walked farther
with Charlie, - he had 10 earnestly re-
qusstsd, 20 that her mother would have
something to scold aboutl This being
scolded ct and commanded - il she were
. child was growing quite intolerablel
"Where have you been 20 late, Flor
encsf" demanded Mrs. Dale, - she dspos-
tied the light on the table and faced her
daughter. Florence was closing the door
behind them, . most obstinate door 1t
was.
"Walking", replied the girl, turning her
pale face densntly to her mother.
"With whom have you been walking"
demanded her mother again.
"Charlie Randall"
Haven't l told you-hasn't your father
told you-never to go walking with that
man again.
The girl made no reply. The two
women sat opposite each other, the
mothers face full OF anxiety and dis
pleasure, the daughters full Of belligerent
wrath. The two faces were remarkably
alike, so much so that strangers remarked
upon it. The forehead was the same.
The slant OF the eyebrows was identical.
Florence's nose and mouth gave promise
OF being like her mothers when youth
should fade, but not even girlish outlines
could conceal the fact that the firm chin
of the mother was duplicated in the
daughter. II there Was resolution written
in the mothers countenance there was
obstinancy in the daughters.
In one respect, however, they differed.
The mothers hair was dark, although
now streaked here and there with gray,
while the daughters was Of the hue that
is said to accompany . hasty temper.
Certainly 1t accompanied hasty temper
in this instance, and Florence's mother
realized it as never before ~ she studied
her daughters countenance.
"Do you know how late it is, Florencef"
she demanded ct last.
"No, l do mott, replied the girl sullenly,
svsding her mothers glance.
'It is half past ten o'clock at night"
Mrs. Dale nodded emphatically at every
word. "You left the church at min
o'clock, Florence Dale, and you have been
out for an hour and q half with that good
for-nothing puppy"
The girl sprang from the chair, her face
ablsze, and clutched the door knob. But
the door caught and would not yield, de-
spite her frenzied efforts to open it.
"Florence! Florencel" cried her mother
sternly. s'Sit down there this minute.
What do you mean? Would you insult
me? Isn't it enough isn't it enough to
disobey me and to disobey your father,
without trying to run out OF the room
when am talking to you."
The girl dropped into chair, turned her
cheek against the back Of it and gave way
" AAVhAy "a RAACAs IhNC AAAAA0SSo AovoA
Frederick Dale entered the room and
found both women in tears. Florence's
stormy passions were subsiding. She did
not look up, but her fathers nervous tread
told her that his fiery nature was fully
aroused.
Back and forth he paced through the
open door, watching the girl narrowly and
occasionally looking at his watch. He was
short and thick-set. His red hair was dis
ordered. His heavy red eyebrows were
frowning and his pointed red beard
bristled with rage.
"After what proved to you about that
man" he Numbered, at last, ''proved thst
he drank and got beastly drunk, that he
associated with cheap women, you, .
daughter Of mine, who might marry well
II you would be decent"
The girl sobbed aloud and chung shud-
dovi u0lv over the hack ri her chair