The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1915-12-23
having been attended to, the guests
one by one went down to dinner.

having been attended to. the guests
one by one went down to dinner.
At one end of the table sat Mrs. Sin
clair, at the other Bob Elliot in but
ler's livery. Next to Elliot Miss Aber-
crombie was given seat There were
one other man in livery and three girls
In the black dresses and white caps
and aprons of maids, the ladies' maids
sitting next their mlstresses and min
istering to their table wants.
Bob Elliot was very attractive
young man. Moreover, he had SYM
pathetic way with him, and after pre-
tending for awhile to have some doubts
as to Miss Abercrombie's treatment
Of butler as an equal and finding her
complaisant he became a charming
dinner companion. He and Miss Aber-
crombie were soon noticed by the rest
Of the company to be oblivious to every
one except themselves.
Mr.. Elliot, college postgraduate,
had been considered not only a good
fellow at the university, but very
bright. He now occupied an assistant
professorship at his alma mater.
When the attraction between him and
Miss Abercrombie became noticeable
the other guests looked at one another
meaningly.
What IL there should be a match?"
whispered one.
"If his mother were here she would
take him away" said another "She
thinks that a poor professor should
marry some money. This girl, judging
from her clothes, is as poor as he"
Put number Of young persons of
opposite sex under the same roof with
nothing to do but make merry and
flirt, and those who are naturally as
similative will very soon assimilate
Professor Elliot, alias Robert the but
Ter, soon became absorbed in Miss
Abercrombie, and vice versa.
The second day after her arrival
Miss Abercrombie went to the hostess,
confessed that she was a seamstress
and, since the Sinclair inn was alto
gether too expensive for her, said she
must leave at once, whereupon Mrs. Sin
clair told her she might pay what she
could afford. This somewhat dampened
the enthusiasm of the house party, for
seamstress was persona non grata
to most Of the men and all the women.
From this time on all except Elliot
gave their attention largely to other
matters. He, despite the fact that Miss
Abercrombie had turned out a seam
stress, seemed unable to withdraw his
attentions from her.
The guests were invited for two
weeks. After the first week they tired
Of keeping up the sham that had been
devised and would have abandoned it
but for the hostess, who would not con-
sent. Despite her efforts to prevent,
most Of them turned cold shoulder to
Miss Abercrombie. Professor Elliots
position was complicated. He was
playing part humber than Miss
Abercrombie's position. How could he
abandon it and become his real self?
What he had entered upon as Joke,
when revealed, would likely not be con-
sidered such by the girl, but offensive.
Supposing he confessed his true char
acter, he did not care to marry a
seamstress, and she would consider
that he had won her dishonorably.
A young person Of either sex when
once thoroughly in love is likely to
throw prudence to the winds. Elliot
forgot his mothers plans for him-the
fact that as college professor he
should marry woman of some
means; that seamstress would likely
have lot Of relatives that would not
at all accord with the families Of his
associate professors. One evening, sit
ting alone In the cleaning with NIL
dred Abercrombie, while 1.-The fitful
freight danced upon the WALL he for
got himself so far as to make love to
her, and that, Of course, with an hon
ora BILE man led to a confession Of who
and what he was and proposition of
marriage.
Miss Abercrombie did not reproach
him for having won her as an inferior
when he was superior After little
thought she told him that she could
not think Of marrying one so far above
her. He argued that she was refined
and he would never be ashamed of
her. but she gave no evidence that he
had overcome her scruples.
When the party broke up 1t was re-
GREETED that Miss Abercrombie had
turned out so low in the social scale,
for otherwise the farce that had been
pIovoI rniubt bova had a marry op6.
Ing. AS 1t was, few of the party took
the trouble to bid her goodby. She
gave Elliot the privilege of calling
once at her humble home, giving him
her address.
Soon after his return to his home
he took train for the city In which
Miss Abercrombie lived and started
for the address she had given him.
The street was eminently respectable,
and he thought there must be some
mistake. When he reached the house
he found 1t palatial. Thinking Miss
Abercrombie had given him the ad-
dress of a family for whom she was
sewing. he paused, then went up to the
door and rang the bell. A butler show
ed him into drawing room and went
away to announce the visitor.
Presently there was footstep on
the main staircase, and Miss Aber-
crombie entered the room. Her APP
parel was in accord with her present
position, and he knew that she was
lady.