Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1916-03-22
Daisy'sHero:
He Proved, Too, He Was a
Real One
BY cLARlssA MACKIE

where her pretty daughter, Daisy. was
engaged In animated conversation with
good looking, athletic young man.
Daisy is SO ifGprudent" murmured
Daisy's mother as she neared the
chairs. There Is poor Hal eating his
heart out. and that naughty girl is de-
voting herself to young PEARSON
She smiled coldlysat Ben Pearson as
he arose promptly at her approach and
arranged her chair. When she was
seated and the rug tucked about her
feet Mrs. Howard glanced significantly
at Daisy.
MY dear. did you know that Hal
was waiting for you? You promised to
play accompaniment for him.
"Oh. mother. I forgot all about IT.
cried Daisy as she arose and settled
the blue cloth cap on her bright hair.
MIR. Pearson was describing the great
Yale Harvard game-you know he was
haifback on the football team" Daisy
cast an admiring glance at Pearson's
broad shoulders.
Mrs Howard smiled perfunctorily.
and she was ncttled to observe that
Ben Pearson accompanied Daisy in her
search for Hal Denison. Just as she
was congratulating herself that this
Mediterranean tour. with all its pleas
ant intimacy of ship life. must bring
about an engagement between Daisy
and Hal Denison. the son of her old
friend. why. who should appear but
this football hero. Ben Pearson, and
promptly put poor Hal out Of the run
ming.
why they called Hal Denison Poor
Hal one could not tell. for. although
he was not big anG brawny like Ben
Pearson. he was not frail looking I'M
less one especially noted the intellectu-
al face which had certain delicacy OF
feature and expression. Otherwise.
although Hal Denison was small In
stature. he was wiry and strong. He
had never gone In for athletics. He
was a musician. and even now there
came the dreamy strains Of La Sere-
made" as he played on his violin to
Daisys sympathetic accompaniment.
Later the music ceased for awhile.
and then Pearson's deep bass voice
was heard booming forth popular
songs.
Dusk was settling down over the sea
when Daisy came along the deck quite
alone and slipped into her chair with
unusual ouiefness.
Hal played beautifully, my dear
murmured Mrs. Howard sleepily.
II suppose so. mother" returned
Daisy: then. hesitatingly, she added,
"You don't like Mr. Pearson. do your
Il don't admire him, my dear, but I
cannot say that dislike him." return
ed Mrs. Howard.
II like him very much" said Daisy
simply
Not better than Hal?" demanded
Mrs. Howard. throwing caution to the
winds.
Daisy >hesitated, and that instant's
hesitation told AIRS. Howard that the
girls love was wavering beween the
two men. Which would she choose
There was little doubt, for Daisy was
hero worshiper, and she plainly ad-
mired the burly football player.
"Oh. mother" she cried impulsively.
you know I'm fond Of Hal. but he's
more like girl. don't you know-Quiet
and dreamy and fond Of simple things.
One could not imagine Hal doing any
thing heroic, now, could one?"
"Some people rather thought 1t was
heroic for Hal to give his cousin Ned
three-Quarters OF their uncle's estate,
when the uncle mad purposely cut Ned
OF In q moment Of anger: that's an>ex-
ample Of moral courage. 1t was coura-
geous Of Hal to submit to transfu-
sion OF blood In an effort to save his
brothers life three years ago. In my
opinion. Hal Denison is a hero"
But. mother, dear, that is all very
well, but that isn't the sort of courage
mean. There is certain charm In
physical courage, don't you know
Jeopardizing ones life to save that OF
another. couldn't imagine Hal doing
that"
How about giving his blood for bis
brother? He has never been as well
since then"
II know, but the kind Of heroism
that mean is born of an impulse, the
sort that leaps TO stop runaway
horse. that plunges overheard to save a
drowning person. Oh. you know"
Mrs. Howard smiled.
"A spectacular heroism." she said
dryly.
II can't imagine Hal doing anything
of that Sort" went on Daisy. He Is &c
deliberate In all his actions. He would
want to stop and think the matter oveI
whether there might not be a safe
and sane way of accomplishing the
end. Do you know. mother. that Mr.
Pearson has saved eight people from
| drowning In the past ten years?"
II didn't know 1t. Daisy. but am
sure it is very creditable record. Did