The Glenwood post., 1924-02-14
She was. momentarily. startled out
Of her propriety.
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"Oh, nor she exclaimed.
II will II you say so. He's smart
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 1t to. I'm a stranger here.
Won't you take 1t. please7 II don't
mean 1t fresh nor nothin'."
Lurella looked at him. He was
about her age, or 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-killers
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 a
bachelor, had been to sea In his
younger days. had since worked hard
at various employments on shore, and
was now acting as watchman and care
taker In charge of the property Of the
big hotel at Orham. 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, Ice cream soda
and '.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, II she hadn't no OBJ
lection" he would kind of like to drive
over one Of these days and take her
to ride.
The following Saturday afternoon
he did drive over. The ri q was de-
nghtful; the little car 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 a
billiard saloon at Pigeon Cove. Later
she broke the engagement.
II found out" she said with shud-
der, "that he was dissipated He
never told me, but once 1 saw him
drunk-intoxicated, 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. If he'd
told me / might have forgiven him; /;
was girl and I probably should
have forgiven him and been sorry af-
terwards. But he'd never told me and
1 couldn't forgive that. That's why
I'm telling you this now, Obed. The
time to tell such things is before mar
riage, not afterwards. There mustn't
be- secrets between husband and wife.
I've read too many stories In books
about folks with past gettin' mar
ried, and nothin' but misery ever came
of 1t. If you've got anything in your
past life now is the time to tell me of
1t, Obed."
.:Sure thing" agreed Obed. prompt
ly. what do you say, Lureliaf VIII
you marry me7"
She said yes, and, six weeks later
they were married and she came to
Orham to live with him in the little
cottage at the rear of the hotel prop
erty. Now, a very happy wife, she
was making him a cranberry pie be
cause he liked 1t better than any other
kind.
The pie baked, and the table in the
dining room set for dinner, she
stepped to the kitchen door to see II
he was In sight. He was not but some
one else was. disreputable male,
who was sauntering toward her across
the back yard. His clothes, his hat.
his unshaven face. classified him in
her Judgment as a tramp. She was
not afraid of tramps and asked him
what he wanted.
"Ma'am," he said, "does anybody
name Of Ellis live hereT'
'Mr Obed Ellis lives here" she re-
piled; "but he's out. I'm Mrs. Ellis"
The tramp nodded. "They told me
this was his hang-out," he observed.
II thought I'd 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.
He came into the spotless kitchen and
sat down upon one Of her freshly
scrubbed chairs He looked about the
room. crossed his dingy, ragged
trousered legs, and sniffed.
Say" he observed, cheerfully,
that pie over there smells good to
me-"
She did not take the hint. IT can
give you some cold meat and bread
and butter" she said. coldly. "Will
that do"
He grinned. "And a slab Of that
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