Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1914-02-11
Abel'S
Rebellion
How "He Made
Good"
By CLARISSA MACKIE

ing he revolted at the usual corned
beef hash or bacon and eggs. He de.
clined to eat her breakfast and sought
Miss Pollock and gave notice that he
would leave. He gave, among other
reasons for his doing so, that he was
about to be married.
! Anastasia Pollock's head went up
proudly. Fire came to her blue eyes.
"Biddy," she said smoothly, TASK Mrs
Jasper if she will have some more
corned beef hash.'
Abel Durham battered down the
brownstone steps of his boarding place
| and wandered aimlessly to the corner,
| where he waited for a car. His eye
glanced siyly back at Miss Pollock s
comfortable abode. and he stifed a
sigh as he thought of its many good
qualities, its homelike atmosphere and
its home cooked food. and to one who
had been a dweller in boarding houses
during twenty years of city life, Miss
Pollock's house was pleasant refuge.
But the monotony of the daily meals
Jared upon him.
Each day in the week brought its
allotted bill Of fare, and there was no
wavering from this rule. AS her moth
er had ordered so Miss Anastasia car
ried ON the house when the mantle fell
upon her delicate shoulders.
This rebellion of Abel Durham was
the outcome of several years of hope
full waiting for change: Now he had
not only given up his pleasant front
room with the open fireplace. but he
had told Miss Pollock he was to be
married. How to make good this last
reckless statement was puZzling the
usually tranquil mind of the bachelor.
Abel Durham had not courted girl
for twenty years. not since he had left
Telfeet village to enter business life
in the great city.
81 will do it. I've got to make
good said Abel. with a sickly smile.
as he boarded his car and rode to the
railroad station. He bought ticket
for Telfeet and took his place in the
stuffy, cindery coach that the railroad
company considered good enough for
the little single track Telieet branch.
"Whoooo-eeee-ee-e-e shrieked the
engine as it wound away among the
hills toward Telfleet
Abel Durham looked out of the win
dow and noted the familiar landmarks
as the train rumbled through villages,
over bridges or skirted the river bank
in its progress. Suddenly a large
mountain overshadowed them.
"Telheet mountain" murmured Abel
without joy in his tones.
Since he had left the home of his
boyhood all his family had moved to
the far west. so that Abel was not
going home to any near relatives. Per
haps there were distant cousins. but
it might be they We're dead or had
forgotten him.
Abel Durham was bound on a sin
gular errand.
He was going back to Teldeet to try
to resurrect one of his old romances
He had told Miss Pollock he was to
be married. and married he must be-
His busy life had left no room for SEN
timent. and so he perforce must fall
back upon the half finished romaaces
of his young manhood. There was
pretty Amy Cox. She had given him
a pink rose when he left Telfeet and
told him she would wait for hiIu-a
hundred years if necessary.
Somehow Abel had forgotten all
| about Amy in the rush of business.
They had correspondent for awhile,
and now he couldn't remember who
had been the first to stop writing.
'"Telfeet," called the brakeman.
The station stage backed down, and
the driver yelled TO him: Stage. All
-yupv'
| Abel climbed into the long swa wing
vehicle and ratified around in its
emptiness as the big white horses bore
them through the village streets at a
heller SHELTER pace.
Where you want to go?" called the
driver from corner of his mouth.
"Philander Cox's place." replied
Abel. turning red.
'Up mountain way" muttered the
man as if for his own information
The stage whirled perilously around
the corner by the postoffice and rat
tied along the road that ran by the
river bank. At last they began to
climb the mountain toward a white
house perched among the oaks.
! 'Whoa-yup." called the driver, and
Abel paid his fare and dismounted.
The stage ratified down the mountain.
and Abel went into the yard Of the
familiar place
The same lockwood bordered the
paths, and the same roses bloonled.
and the same bees tumbled in and out
Of the blossoms. He felt a boy once
more as he settled his necktie and
started toward the house.
A pretty girl sitting on the steps of
the house arose as he approached.