Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1915-08-04
Romance of a
Broken Nose
How a Dream Turned Out
a Reality
By MARTHA v. MONROE

Howard Chichester stood at his club
window looking out on a street along
which now and again some pedestrian
was forcing his way against wind and
rain Mr. Chichester was depressed
and the sight from the window did not
tend TO raise his spirits His club was
supposed to be a home for bachelors.
but it was great stone structure, its
interior faced with marble and during
the day usually deserted
Mr.. Chichester thought how pleasant
a real home would be on such day as
this. He pictured himself coming home
from business. met at the door by
loving wife with kiss. divesting him
self of wet clothing and sitting down
before cheerful fire In his library, his
wife on the arm Of hts easy chair listen
ing TO a recital Of the events OF the
day.
gust Of wind changed a woman's
umbrella from concave TO convex and
sent a mans hat rolling over the wet
pavement Chichester turned away
from the scene contrasting so widely
with his dream OF a home, and to
escape 1t be went into the billiard
room. There was no one there to play
with, so after knocking the balls about
for few minutes he started out into
the storm to go to his room TO dress
for dinner.
The wind sent the rain almost
parallel with the sidewalk. so Instead
OF holding his umbrella over his bead
he held IT before his face. Suddenly
he felt shock and heard scream
Raising HIS umbrella be saw a girl
directly In front of him from whose
nose blood was running. 1t occurred
to him that he had drawn that blood
with the stick OF his umbrella
1t was no time to talk. but to act.
though Chichester gave vent to two
words. Thousand pardons.- as he
whipped out his handkerchief 10 sup
ply the place of the one used by the
girl, which resembled a dolly rather
than blood stancher She seized
the one he offered Der greedily and held
1t to her nose.
A cab was passing. and Chichester
hailed II Fortunately IL was empty.
and the driver was ready for a fare.
He drew up by the curb Chichester,
opening the door, said to the lady:
Il beg OF you to permit me TO do
what l can to atone for my careless
ness by taking you home
The girl removed the handkerchief
from her face, saw that her nose was
still bleeding. hesitated. then got into
the cab. Chichester asked for her
street and number, then. giving II 10
the driver. got In and sat down beside
her On the way he bemoaned having
injured her and hoped that there would
be no Ill result The girl said very lit
tie and when they reached her home
and he handed her out was In no state
OF mind to thank him for his attention.
Nevertheless he followed her to the
door and into the house. where she
was received by her mother. who natu-
rally showed great anxiety to know
what had happened.
Inviting Chichester to little parior,
the mother went upstairs with her
daughter and presently returned with
NsS AN1r0At t1HA NAit tzIik1ke nAQ
ceased. but she had decided to call In
doctor TO make sure that all was right
Chichester asked IL he might remain 10
hear the doctors report and was grant
ed his request A telephone message
was sent for the family physician. who
arrived In due time and went upstairs
to the patient
Meanwhile Chichester remained in
the coy room to which he had been
on the hearth. and some one had been
sitting in an easy chair directly before
II. for such was the position Of the
chair. Chichester dropped into II. and
presently his mind became diverted
from the damage he had done to his
immediate surroundings.
The room was very tastefuIly fur
nished. Indeed. there was an air Of
comfort about 1t which is In some
rooms and not in others. why. 1t Is hard
to tell On the wall were pictures. all
works of art. one of which was por-
trait of a young girl evidently about
fifteen, which Chichester recognized at
once for a likeness of the girl he had
injured. though 1t must have been
painted several years before His at
tention was fixed on the nose. which
was very shapely. He WINGED as he
thought that he might have made 1t a
DETACHMENT instead of thing of
beauty.
Chichester sat musing. He recalled
the dream that had come to him while