Mr. Ellis

“ PAMELA. It’s our only chance. (Crosses to arm-chair, kneels on front of it, looking up at TULLY, who is behind it, and pleading.) He may be back here at any moment. You’ll have to do this for me really, Mr. Tully.
TULLY. I’ll never do it unless you use force—and a woman can’t force a man to get into pyjamas. It isn’t legal! (Dashes up to window R. PAMELA follows him.) If you come any nearer I’ll shriek from the window!
(Bell heard off L.)
PAMELA (up to window L. quickly—looks out—then back again) . There is the doctor! I knew it! Now what on earth are we going to do
TULLY. The doctor?? ”

“ It was not wholly interest in his house, therefore, which took Ellis to Chebasset before many days. He went to the office of the mill, and as he stood before the chimney and looked up at it he mused that, metaphorically speaking, it would not take much prying at its foundations to make it fall: Wayne was a weak prop [Pg 177] to such a structure. He opened the office door. Jim, from bending over Miss Jenks as she sat at her desk, rose up and stared at him. And the little pale stenographer grew pink.
"People usually knock," Jim was beginning. "—Oh, Mr. Ellis!" ”

“ Well, never mind; Judith encouraged the man, so where was the harm? The whole thing was the most natural in the world.
"Why, Mr. Ellis," he said, looking up, "I like this little place to eat in; it reminds me of Paris, you know. I hadn't thought we would seem to be dodging people." ("Lies better than Wayne," thought Ellis.) "The Exchange Club, of course, if you wish it; it's more convenient, anyway."
But Ellis's reminder, before they parted, the Colonel [Pg 187] took hard. "And perhaps we can have a little dinner-party soon, Colonel?" ”

“ Although his mother, in all her later years at least, was a devoted attendant upon Theodore Parker's services, Mr. Ellis in early life was a Baptist. But when the Unitarian Church was founded at Cincinnati, in 1830, his name appears among the organizers, of whom he is almost the sole survivor. Of that church he has always been a devoted supporter and constant attendant. He was a leading banker of the West, and Sallie was born into one of the most elegant and luxurious homes in Cincinnati. ”

“ I exclaimed, "or I shall run my bayonet into you; I am Oliver Ellis, the boy whom you would have sold to the press-gang—do you hear me, rascal?—to the press-gang, to whom I shall surrender you in five minutes as a prisoner. Time about is fair play, Mr. Dick Knuckleduster." ”

“ Ellis and we engaged new apartments.”
“I’m sure I had no wish to go away,” broke in the elder lady plaintively. “The people here are most obliging, the rooms are clean, and nobody could be more civil or more respectful than Mr. Rahas and his uncle, Monsieur Fanah.” As the elder merchant spoke with a strong foreign accent, Mrs. Ellis thought him entitled to a French prefix to his name. “But there’s no doing anything with Nouna when she’s made up her mind, I regret to say.” ”

“ I’m surprised at you—treating a woman like that.
(Crosses to AUNT HANNAH, kneeling by her.)
JOHN. A woman! (Gazes into AUNT HANNAH’S face.) Oh, good lor’, it’s a woman!
(Sinks into chair R. of table L.C.)
PAMELA. Yes, a woman. There, there, calm yourself, calm yourself. (To JOHN.) Mr. Tully told me you were trying to get clothes off someone!
JOHN. Where—is—TULLY?
PAMELA. I left him in our flat. He was telling Mr. Trippett that you withdraw your claim. John, she’s fainted! (Rises—looks round.) Get some water, get some water, John. (PAMELA goes up behind table L.C. looking for water.) ”

“ Ellis had not lived long enough to learn that impossibilities are merely things of which we have not learned, or which we do not wish to happen.
Sandy returned at the end of a quarter of an hour, and dinner was announced. Mr. Delamere led the way to the dining-room with Mrs. Ochiltree. Tom followed with Clara. The major went to the head of the stairs and came down with Mrs. Carteret upon his arm, her beauty rendered more delicate by the pallor of her countenance and more complete by the happiness with which it glowed. Ellis went in alone. ”

“ The survivors were quickly within them, and they were about putting off again when the mate of the Relief said:
"Are you all here?"
"Yes, yes," was the impatient reply of Mr. Tiflings, the man who had sold the suit of clothes to Mr. Yard, "don't wait any longer. I shall lose $500 by not being in San Francisco to-day."
"But they are not all here," interrupted Mr. Yard, in some excitement. "There are two boys in charge of an Irishman that are missing."
"Where are they?" asked the mate.
"They went back from the shore some time ago. I do not think they can be at any great distance." ”

“ He is a lovely little boy. He looks as if he wanted to know "Miss Ellis;" but I doubt if he does, without his mother to call attention to her. Hope you all passed pleasant holidays at Meadville. I must close to write to Aunt ——, who always looks for a Sunday letter from me. [This was an aged blind aunt.]
Miss Ellis's first Post Office Mission correspondent was a young man in Ravenna, Ohio, Mr. Julius Woodruff. His first letter to her said:
"Thank you for your kindness in sending me the 'Christian Register.' I am much pleased with the paper, and may become a subscriber at no distant day. ”

“ Ellis joined in a quartet of silence, then laughed again, a short, embarrassed laugh.
"You don't look like anything famous, you know," said Jones reproachfully. "Why didn't you tell me who you are? Why, man, I own two of your pictures!"
[Pg 179]
To brown-eyes, known so far as "Helen," Ellis said: "We painters are a bad lot, you see—but don't let that prejudice you against Mr. Jones; he really doesn't know me very well. Besides, I dragged him into this villainy; didn't I, Jones? You didn't want to trespass, you know." ”

“ DOCTOR. Mr. Tully, Mr. Tully! Where have I heard that name before? Ah, you were in the ’bus accident with him, I believe? (To JOHN.)
JOHN. No, that was my brother.
DOCTOR. Your brother? And he escaped unhurt?
JOHN. Er—yes. He fell on top of a fat old woman who was sitting opposite.
DOCTOR. Yes, that poor lady had three ribs broken. (Rises.) Still, that concerns your brother. (Sarcastically. JOHN and TULLY exchange looks. DOCTOR takes chair up to R. of table L.C., opens bag.) I can’t quite understand all this, you know—according to Mr. Trippett’s report, the patient was a much smaller man. ”

“ Ellis very cordially.
CHAPTER XVI. WHO ARE HAPPY?
Emily sat alone in her room. Mr. Graham had gone to a meeting of bank-directors. Mrs. Ellis was stoning raisins in the dining-room. Willie detained Gertrude in the little library, and Emily was indulging in a long train of meditation. Her head rested on her hand; her face, usually so placid, was sad; and her whole appearance denoted despondency. As thought pressed upon thought, and past sorrows arose in quick succession, her head gradually sank upon the cushions of the couch where she sat, and tears slowly trickled through her fingers. ”

“ This young sister also selected for herself 'Day unto Day,' as a book of daily study in an upward path. It is such pleasant work to have it within my power to loan and to recommend so many good books to those who have not read them. They always enjoy them. Julius would have been so happy in it out at Leadville."
Mr. Woodruff's sister wrote, Feb. 15, 1886: [Pg 90]
"Some one very kindly sent us the obituary of our dear friend Miss Ellis. ”

“ Vincent.
"I don't think so, now that he's tasted blood, but if he does," said the leader of the party, "we must foller."
"But he can run faster than we——"
"There he comes!"
[Pg 96]
In the darkness they saw the faintly-outlined figure of an animal clambering over the fence, with growls and mutterings, and hardly conscious of what they were doing, the three men immediately separated several yards from each other and nervously clutched their ropes, ready to fling them the instant the opportunity presented itself.
"There he comes!" called out Mr. Scrapton again; "throw your lassoes!" ”

“ All rise. MAMIE gets behind arm-chair. TRIPPETT drags chair up to table L.C. keeping eyes on door R. all the time. TULLY stands by chair L. gazing at door R.)
[Pg 33]
(JOHN enters groaning from door R.; he is in pyjamas, with a blanket wrapped round him. MAMIE assists him into arm-chair, JOHN groaning all the time.)
TRIPPETT (advancing timidly to JOHN) . Er—Mr. Ayers—are you the injured person? ”

“ You always take his part whether he be right or wrong. I shall send him to bed without his tea, and to-morrow I will take his marbles from him; and if I see his knees showing through his pants again, I'll put a red patch on them—that's what I'll do. Now, sir, go to bed, and don't let me hear of you until morning."
Mr. and Mrs. Ellis were at the head of a highly respectable and industrious coloured family. They had three children. Esther, the eldest, was a girl of considerable beauty, and amiable temper. ”

“ Bring three bright-witted boys together and let them concentrate their mental energies upon the solution of a problem, and even if they don’t succeed, they are sure to evolve something worth while.
“It is useless to apply to Mr. Hall,” said Alvin, “for nothing could induce him to violate the confidence of another. But Uncle Elk holds the master key and can speak when he chooses.”
“Which the same is the rule with most folks,” commented Mike.
“Now, see here,” put in Chester ”

“ Instead of leading a gay life at the gay inland watering-place, flaunting her charms and her fashion in the eyes of other sojourners, Lady Ellis found herself compelled to live a very quiet one. She has a small villa, an establishment of two servants only; and she does not wish for more. In heart, in nature, she is growing altered, and the refining, holy influence that very often--God be praised!--changes the whole heart and spirit with a change which is not of this world, is coming over her. Two visits only has she paid to the Red Court Farm, staying about six weeks each time, and Mr. ”

“ Every body asks me the question, go where I will; and it's making me look no better than a fool; to think I should be at such an expence as to hire a harp for a person I know nothing of.'
Affrighted at the effect which this display of her poverty, and detection of its mystery, might produce upon her hostess, Ellis was again entreating for a tête à tête, when Mr Riley, descending from his [Pg 240] room to pass through the shop, exclaimed, 'Ah ha! the Demoiselle? ”

“ Perhaps the warden had been delayed by some unexpected happening. Oh, well, a few minutes longer wouldn’t make any difference. Suppose that he were in Ellis’ place! In for life! He didn’t want to think of Ellis. But somehow the face of the “lifer” kept obtruding itself—his face and his words.
What was it that Ellis had said? “You, for instance, are a physician, a man of sterling reputation, against whom no one ever breathed a word. Yet I doubt if you could endure several hours in the dark cell.” ”

“ If Trippett calls he’ll demand to see me; if the doctor comes he’ll expect to see Tully—and if they both come together—Heaven help us!
PAMELA. Hush—Sh! (Hurries up to window L.)
(JOHN and TULLY start back in fear.)
JOHN. What is it? What is it?
PAMELA (coming down) . Ah! It’s nothing!
JOHN. Well, don’t do it, Pam. It unnerves me.
TULLY (coming down R.) . I’d give anything to be out of this.
JOHN. Of course you would. Always thinking of yourself.
(TULLY stoops and pulls down leg of pyjamas.)
And don’t stretch those pyjamas!
TULLY. I don’t enjoy the best of health. ”

“ TULLY (off, window R.C.) . Everything’s going splendidly! Everything’s going splendidly!
(TULLY enters windows R.C., comes right down C. and faces audience. He is dressed in woman’s clothes which are much too big for him and is padded out with the cushions.)
JOHN (looks up—sees TULLY) . Take it away! Take it away! You’re too late!
TULLY. Don’t I look all right?
JOHN. All right? You look more like a goat than a woman!
TULLY. I thought I looked like a little bit of fluff. What’s happened? (Turns to JOHN.)
JOHN. Do you realize that the stout—lady—in the ’bus accident was—your—aunt!!! ”

“ Howsomever, it am all right now, and jest as soon as I kin git out of this ar' infernal scrape we'll travel to whar we kin build er wigwam and live in peace."
"The pale-face is a great chief, brave and handsome," she replied, looking into his face with bashful confusion, though making no effort to conceal either her great admiration or love.
"Wal, I don't know erbout ther handsome part," he replied with a laugh, "but I do know you have become very dear ter me. And do yer love me so much?"
"He has become the Manitou of her heart."
"That's lovin' most mighty well, Cloud. Give me ernuther kiss. ”

“ Still the old man was dumb—sat with open mouth and staring eyes, shivering in every limb and vainly endeavoring to command himself.
"Will you not speak?" questioned the voice. "Then pale-face come hither."
Obey the red-man could not, and the white one stepped forward, raised the skull, and after holding it for a moment, held it toward the Medicine, who saw that the unnatural light had faded away, but reeled back again as from the fleshless lips came the words:
"Coward, you have lost the opportunity to learn wisdom. Take me back and bury me. Never again will I come at your bidding. ”