Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1919-06-04
Connie S Friend
tcOpyrisAs. 1918. Western Newspaper uaioD.,
By MILDRED WHITE

| 'Shh"RANh 10 ltlt tONElitot Ntlbhu i
have ever met"
1 Handsome is as handsome does"
/ her sister quoted Il for one can't
see that your Miss Wentworth does
much for the good of this town.
you say she has beautiful voice;
she cannot be persuaded to even help
our poor little choir. She plays won
derfully, you tell me; yet she sat with
bored expression while we stumbled
through our singing without music be-
cause Miss Hamilton was absent.
Constance turned away impatiently.
"Oh, you do not know her, Ruth"
she said; ''if you did"
What" interrupted pleasant
voice from the doorway, as all the
argument about7''
The two young girls looked eagerly
toward their father. He was q hand
some man. his twinkling gray eyes
belying the dignity Of his bearing.
"Father" Ruth burst out, 81 have
been reprimanding Constance for her
companionship with this fashionable
woman who has come to Bronton. Con-
stance seems to be infatuated with her
personality. The example OF luxury
and beautiful gowns is not good for
one who admires these things as much
as Connie.
Smilingly the pastor advanced into
the room.
mo jealousy there, I hope. Ruth"
he remarked quizzically. Who is this
new friend OF Comics, of whom you
disapproveT'
She is writer" Constance has
tened to reply. who comes from Cali
fornia. She has rented the Baileys'
bungalow and lives there with a house
keeper. Just because she dresses
prettily and amuses herself driving
about or reading In her garden. Ruth
chooses to call her selfish and world
ly. She attended services while you
were away for your vacation. and
after hearing old Fairburn preach It's
no wonder she did not come again"
Where did you meet your friend,
Connie?" he asked
Il was passing the garden" she
said. land looked. suppose admir-
ingly, across the hedge TO where the
lovely lady was gathering roses She
wore the darlingest white dress and
her eyes glanced back at me kindly.
They seemed to be young eyes, daddy.
though the curls on her forehead and
down close to her ears are touched
with white. as she showed me yester-
day; and she said:
Wont you come In and share my
rosesT So In went" Connie
paused breathlessly. I've been going
ever since" she added.
Comics the only person who does
60" Ruth snapped.
Il am the only person who has been
invited" Constance retorted.
The fine face OF the minister grew
grave as he gazed at his motherless
daughters, then the twinkle came back
TO his eyes
Perhaps" he suggested, "Constance
may be the means Of bringing the
worldly lady to service. Ny effort
might not be as discouraging as poor
Fairburn's."
Connie leaned forward impuis,vely.
Huth, she said. would you believe
that In her glrlhood Elizabeth Went
worth was very much like you-in
her views, ! mean. coaxed her the
other day into telling a love story
OF her own. II you could have watched
ner as she talked-musIngly, more as
shs were remembering and / not
there at all. Her cheeks arew mink
as the roses on her dress. You would
not have thought her eyes proud then
with the tears glinting upon her
iashes- Years ago, when she lived In
humble little town-ohi Il must
have been just like this town. Ruth
she had lover. He was the daring
est boy. but you can't dislike him as
she tells of his reckless college pranks
he was expelled from coilege-he-
cause you seem TO know all the time
that he really had good heart under
all his waywardness. But young Eliz-
aoeth Wentworth, who was so very
much like you. could make no excuse
for-well, lack of character she called
It. So, right at the beginning Of their
engagement, she threw the young man
over.
"Dad!" the girl called suddenly, and
Jumped 10 her feet. "win you 20 over
to church now, and direct me In plac-
Ing those plants for tomorrow's SER
vices7"
As the tall minister and his young
daughter entered the church with its
rows OF empty pews both paused alb
rupty before pretty picture.
In the center Of a mass of bloom
stood a sweet-faced woman, over her
armful Of flowers she looked at them
Miss Wentworth" cried the girl
and rushed forward.
Il was passing the open door," the
writer murmured. land could not re-
sist the temptation Of coming In to
arrange the flowers. I did not know v