The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1923-09-28
She was. momentarily. startled out

alick and he'd ought to be licked.
But-but, honest, do wish you'd take
this thing. 'Twould look nice on you
and-and amt got nobody of my own
TO give it to. I'm stranger here.
Won't you take it, please7 IL don't
mean it fresh nor nothin'."
Lurelia looked at him. He was
about her age, or a little older. He
had an honest face, II she ever saw
one. He was blushing and did not at
all resemble the bold, bad lady-kllers
of whom she had read in her favorite
romances.
She hesitated. Then well.
then her own romance began.
Before she returned to Trumet that
evening she had learned much concern
Ing the man in the blue uniform. His
name was Obed Ellis. He was
bachelor, had been to sea in his
younger DAYS, had since worked hard
Mt various employments on shore, and
was now acting as Waterman and care
taker in charge of the property of the
big hotel at 0rham. During the sum
mer he was in command of the hotel
pier and boats. but now, as the season
WAS over. had more leisure. His
wages. he informed her with satisfac-
tion, went on just the same, summer
or winter" He was Methodist, a
Republican. and his life was insured
for two thousand dollars. He was
alone In the world just as she was,
Together they inspected the poultry
and live stock exhibits. He treated
her to saltwater taffy, fee cream soda
and q shore dinner In the refresh
ment tent They saw the trotting races
and the balloon ascension. Before
bidding her good-by at the railroad sta
tion, he informed her that he owned an
automobile, and, If she hadn't no oh.
lection be would kind of like to drive
over one of these days and take her
10 ride
The following Saturday afternoon
he did drive over. The ride was de-
lightful; the little ear ratified and
Skipped but kept going. A week
later he came again, and twice during
the week following. A month later
he proposed marriage 1t was then
that she told him OF her other love af-
fair. When she was eighteen she had
been engaged to man who kept
billiard saloon at Pigeon Cove. Later
she broke the engagement.
Il found out" she said with shud-
der, that he was dlssipated He
never told me, but once l saw him
drunk intoxicated. l mean. He had
been drinkin' whisky then. but when
he couldn't get that he drank Jamaica
ginger. He'd been arrested and In the
lookup two or three times. II he'd
told me | might have forgiven him
I was girl and l probably should
have forgiven him and been sorry af-
forwards But he'd never told me and
/ couldn't forgive that. That's why
I'm telling you this now, Obed. The
time 10 tell such things is before mar
rjage. not afterwards. There mustn't
he secrets between husband and wife.
I've read too many stories IN books
about folks with past gettin' mar
rled. and nnthln' but misery ever came
IF It, Il you've got anything in your
past lie nov is the time TO tell me of
#, ohed."
'Sure thng" agreed obed, prompt
~. what do yeu say Lureliaf VIII
you marry meE'
she said yes, and. six weeks later
they were married and she came TO
0rham to live with him in the little
cottage at the rear of the hotel prop
erty. Now. very happy wife, she
was making him cranberry pie De
cnuse he liked II better than any other
kind,
The pie baked, and the table IN the
dining room set for dinner she
stepped ia the Kitchen door to see II
ne was In sight. lie was not but some
one else was, disrepuable male
Who was saunterlne to"ard her across
the back yard His clothes ms nat
his unshaNen face CLASSIFIED MN IN
her Judgment as tramp She was
not afraid OF 'ran'ps ana asked MN
what ne wanted
"Maam. he SAID does anybody
name OF Ellis i've heref
Mr.. obed Etls lives here" she re
piled "but he's ont. I'm Mrs. tIlis."
The tramp nodded "1hey told me
this was his hang-out," he observed.
81 Thought IA Just stop in and see
him. So you're his wife. eh? didn't
know he was married"
Come in and sit down." she said
lie camc into tire spotIess kitchen md
sat down upon one Of her freshly
scrubbed chairs. lie looked about the
room. crossed his dlngy ragged
troueered legs. ana shifted.
SAY he observed. cheerfully,
that ME over there smells good TO
me"
sbe did not tal,o the hint. 81 can
rtvo rou some cold meat and bread
and buftern she said. coldlv "Wul
mic Oh p he qupried