Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1917-11-07

~ much of Il as she iikes - ,... eat
Their. The old man. Opposed +. IA "a
bis children. was obliged to give ~
and left them together. As soon a. ~
had gone Ethel closed the door .ae
looked inauirtngly At the stranger ~'''
Il was trying to begin.- be saIa -,
delivery Of . message from Won, ae
brother He was my partner il bua, s
ness In western city. and reprs, y
say that come to announce his dsa.,o
Ethel sighed 1t was rnther ia.
hoped for support would not matar,.,
lie than grief. for she scarcely ra,naa
bered her brother But the stransa.
who gave bis name as George Mason
assured her thar her brothers In,eras,
In the business would be suffic,en, -
make her father and herself ouits ~,
Portable The story Of Sam gar,lo,.
career WIS. as Mason had said a ~
one. and after giving II 10 h.. ,hs
question came up as to what course
10 pursue In the matter Of breaking tho
news OF sam = death to the father
Ethel could nor make up Der mind ).
tell the old man that his son. instead
OF having returned to him was dead
At any rate. she felt that II mus, ~
put OF But she invited Mr.. Mason 10
remain In the house-indeed. her fa,ha,
would misunderstood her not doing 60
until he returned TO the west, Tbs.
old man was Informed that Sam wac
In business IN the west and must re-.
turn there. but possibly he might take
his father and sister with him. George
Mason before leaving his business had
taken Ia one Of his clerks as mariner
aud there was no hurry for nis return
He remained with the Bartlets as
prodigal son. Ethel taking care to IN.
form her friends and acquaintances as
o the true state Of the case
Several weeks passed and Mason
made no move to return to business
Ethel was beginning to fear thar some
stupid person might let the cat GU, of
the lag 10 her father Besides this
playing brother and sister by two per
sons who we're not related was NOT
likely to go on without criticism To
guard against any such issue George
Mason told Ethel that they had better
announce that they we're engaged
which was his way Of proposing. Ethel
didn't quite like that way Of doing 1t.
but she acquiesced.
Every day It became more risky to
disabuse the cid man and confess the
deception. lie was failing rapidly and
II was feared that the shock OF know.
ing that bis son had not returned TO
him. but was dead. would kill him.
Mason and Ethel. who were very much
married. and II was necessary that
Mason should return TO his business
II would not do TO leave the old man
behind. aud II they took him With
them. blind rs he was. they could not
live together rs man and wife without
his knowledge Of their relationship
The puzzle seemed insoluble.
However though Mr.. Bartlett would
not solve Il BY dying. he grew 50 blind
that the young couple decided 10 be
married and take him west with them
without letting him know the secret
The ceremony was performed private
". where he would know nothing
about II. and the three departed the
same day for their new home.
Months passed and. although Mr..
Bartlet's ears and eycs got no better.
his health was no worse. The difficult
~ Of keeping the situation from him
was tri:ilir compared with the no. urGi
ty Of his s:.l..i,.;. aiaui the relat.oa-I Zip
that h. supposed tu exist LeiweeD his
two children.
when Sam nrst came home. he
said to friend. II feared Ethel would
not forgive him for oil the trouble be
had given III. but now she acts toward
him just like q bride and he like a
young husband. They kiss when he
goes down to business In the morning
and when be comes home In the even
ing. never saw such loving brother
and sister,"
While the old man was content TO
live. as he supposed. with his children.
be often wished that one or the other
would marry. that he might have lit
tie grandson to love him and cheer
him In his old age. But to gain this
he must give up part OF what he al
ready enjoyed. An outsider must be
introduced into the house. and this he
knew would endanger the family peace
and comfort. The thought Of bringing
In another woman appalled, him. for he
had theory that no woman couIo
come Into u house without sooner or
later taking over its management bui
he saw no difficulty In Introducing an
other man. So he occasionally hinteu
TO his daughter that abe should marry
Il have no wish to marry. father
she would say Il am perfectly con
tented as ] am. Why do you wish me
10 marry?-
well. you see. I'm lonely during the
long days when Sam IL at business. anu
Id like TO have child for company.
Finally about a year after the mar
rage the old man gave out. One Gay