Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1914-07-29


| over Europe, Asia and Africa, but
didn't say anything. l let him stay.
And one day he blurted out what
| knew must come:
Mrs. Thayer, I'm In love with Lu-
| ella. You've been mighty good to me
this summer--taken ME in off the road,
patched up my wounds, kept me on
faith l owe you a lot already. Are
you willing | should speak to Luella
and make my debt of gratitude to you
all the biggerg'
"Why do you say all this to me?" |
demanded You're not in love with
me, are you?"
Good heavens, nor he CALCULATED,
and then he looked frightened when l
glared at him.
"Then don't waste your time talking
to me-" l retorted.
Things were going so much to my
liking that felt free to drive to the
village and have my lawyer draw up
a new will and attend to various other
tangled legal affairs.
Twas somewhat absorbing, because
that lawyer thinks he must do things
in a certain way, but I know what 1
want, and my ways always best.
These matters preoccupied my time
so much that | didn't have much lei
sure TO give to the young folks matri-
menial arrangements, which | sup
posed were progressing according to
the lines I'd laid out. But when young
Holbrook burst into my presence, look
ing kind of wild and detected, saw at
once I'd have to give more time to his
affairs.
whats the mattery'
He splashed round the room desper-
ately.
I'm six feet tall. broad shouldered
proportionately, look manly enough,
don't IT, he demanded angrily. 81
never thought my worst enemy could
say I wasn't masculine. But Luella
treats me as if We're sentimental and
silly and-effeminate. I've tried in
every way imaginable, but somehow
can't get at 1.-THE proposal. / mean.
She won't walk or drive with me any
more; she won't let me get near the
subject. This afternoon | made up
my mind I'd say it somehow And
where did l find her? In the barn
experimenting the packing of the egg
crates! You don't want your niece to
spend her time in the barn counting
eggs-now, do you. Mrs. Thayer?"
Its just as well TO keep our own
figures as TO how many eggs the men
ship, when there's nothing more i'm
He dissented impatiently.
well, / said to her: I've some
thing awfully important want to say
TO you. Can't you give me little time
aloneT She sent the man and maid
away, and then she whirled round with
her watch out. We've got TO get these
crates of for the afternoon train she
declared. I can give you just five
minutes. Now. say what you want
Hang it all, how can a man propose
across a dozen crates of eggs?'
had suspected this practical trait in
Luella, but never dreamed it had de-
veloped to this extent. l seized my
gold headed cane and pounded vigor-
ously.
"Luella, come herer'
The girl came, flushed from running.
"Luella, give this young man more
than five minutes. He wants to marry
you"
IL love your he stammered.
"Luella, will you have me?'
Nor cried Luella furiously.
'Neverr'
"Hoity toityw exclaimed in anger.
"Of course you'll have him, Luella.
I've made up my mind to it. 1 won't
be gainsaid."
81 won't be married offhand to the
first stranger who pitches himself
across our front door yard,' cried Lu-
ella passionately, her eyes widening.
II won't-I won't--I won'tp'
was amazed at Luella. Never have
/ seen such a display of obstinate pig
headedness in any individual, and aft
er l had made up my mind to this ad-
vantageous marriage the first day
saw the young man. 1t was prepos-
| ferrous,
l stamped my cane upon the floor,
but forced myself to keep calm.
''Luella," 1 said with finality, u have
decided it is most advantageous for
you to marry Dudley A. Holbrook."
Hold on" the young man interrupt
ed; I'm not Dudley A. Holbrook
He's the rich New Yorker
1t always irritates me to be inter
rupted, particularly by young people
And this interruption was especially
annoying, as it made Luella fare up.
She turned ON me like a whirlwind
1T serves you right, Aunt Myra,
that he isn't the rich Dudley Hol-
brook. 1t shows you the futility of
such sordid matehmaking-tryi to
marry a girl off in that way--your own
niece. too-it's outrageous"
Something caught in Luella's voice
and the tears brimmed over In her
| brown eyes Waterworks don't affect