Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1920-07-07

BY GEORGE E. COBB


received by mail. There was haste. a
huttering excitement In face and man
ner, as Ii the act was stealthy and
guilty, and evidently a harsh call had
something to do with her preeipitaney.
Olive FASTENED downstairs TO confront
her spinster aunt, Selma Brooks. sour.
chilling, severe as usual.
did you get some mail?" challenged
Miss Brooks peremptorily.
'Yes, aunt" replied Olive. 1T was
letter from my old school chum. Net.
Ia Deane She has married warrcn
Nagel."
About time. ! should think :" snap
ped Aunt Selma. Been engaged for
three years. Wen. don't let that put
any nonsense in your head. am going
to pass the day with Mrs wadhamS"
Olive suppressed sigh of relief.
Her hand lovingly caressed that little
box through the folds OF her dress.
She had not told her aunt that letter
was not all that the postman had
brought She could scarcely represS
her joy al realizing thar she was 10
have full day to herself AS she
thought Of the letter Meta had writ.
ten her and the box and It's Enclosure
she anticipated twelve hours filled
with girlish dreams of romance.
Olive had received her first piece Of
wedding cake. for II was that the box
contained. She longed for Aunt Selma
to depart whilst she might hasten to a
fayorite nook in the woods, where she
could read and reread that gushing
letter. so full of JOY and hope. II was
q spot Enclosed with vines--a veritqble
lady's bower and one where she
was sure TO be free from intrusion.
where she could repose on the most
velvety of green swards and dream the
blissful hours away.
Olives correspondence with her girl
hood friend was the only variation In
an otherwise bleak and dreary exist
enee. Shut out from social pleasures
of every kind, she had lived In fancy
and sympathy the existence of Meta.
following step by step the events In
the experience of her friend and long.
ing for the actual companionship Of
the outside world that seemed so sun.
shiny and sweet. When her aunt had
gone Olive put on her outing cap and
crossed the meadow In the direction of
the woods Her eyes were bright. her
cheeks aeiow as she reached the Sc
queStered spot where she had spent
30 many peaceful hours weaving the
day dreams that had become a radiant
part Of her life.
Olive sat down on a little knoll In
her sheltered hideout and read over
the letter that told of her dear friends
wedding. Then she uncovered the box.
carefully folded back the paper lace
surrounding the dark rich square OF
cake, broke of a corner and laughed
outright as the old-fashioned eoncelt
came to her mind that II she would
make pillow Of her apron and place
the box under II and dream on the
cake her future husband would come
10 her In her sleep.
Insenslhly she drifted into somewhat
hlmy visions. She must have slept for
an hour when she awoke and her eyes
half Enclosed. The vines at one end
Of the nook were drawn aside and
there stood revealed in the bright sun
light a young man arrayed In the
stlken garb OF a chevaiier of an age
long gone by jeweled sword at his
side, jaunty hat with pure white
plumes set upon his head. The face
Olive would never cease to remember
She smiled and the Intruder smiled
back. She sighed dellcionsly, for to
her II was surely fancy--a dream In
this hour of fantasies. Then a whistle
sounded outside and the handsome
ehevalier faded away like spirit In
thin air.
Olive closed her eyes, smilingly re-
calling her dream. longing for a world
where dreams come true. When she
went home she wrote a long letter TO
Meta ~eeiting the Incident OF her
phantom lover" and felicltatlng over
the ideal sutton that fancy had
brought to her.
Mrs. wadhams has her hands full
with ten transient boarders." recited
her aunt. when she returned. There's
a party Of movie people acting out 9
play for the author. He's the main
actor. too. We saw them play a par
Of it-a Spanish play. think, for Mr.
Davenal, the principal Character. wort
regular court suit just like i've seer
10 pictures, plumed hat. blue silk coat
jeweled sword. Why. what Is the mat
ter. Oliver"
"oh. nothing. aunt" declared Olive
suppressing cry OF enlightenment
| Tell me more about him-them." ans
in few minutes Olive was assured
that her cavalier visitor was an actu
ality.
! Two nights later she knew 1t. Shi
was awakened from sleep to find III
room full Of smoke; outside all wa
aglare. Some one dashed into III
4 > n.