The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1861-03-22

bic farm house.
"And you have friends-a familys"
"Ah Sir, they are kind enough to me;
but they must be very tired otme by this
time"
Come" said I encouragingly, laying
my hand on his shoulder. "corne, tell ms
all about yourself Pm good listener;
beside, | am interested in you. Bob here
looks as if he was anxious for a story
This is charming nook that We are il,
so I'll Just iglt cigar, and do you talk"
The free and easy mnaner l assumed
seemed to surprise him. lie glanced shy
ly at me out of his large blue e, es as if
susI,ciou, of my sincerity then he heaved
a lit;e sigh, stroked Bob's feathers, rs if
to assure himself Of a. least one friend,
and saving, " As you please" commenced:
81 am eighteen he said "you would
not think it, for know look younger
than | am Confinement and suffering
have made my complexion pale and trans
parent, and the sun and the winds that
naroeu v;i,vs ",," -siu-, rnu ryv :.o;: .';o;:
features, have had but little to do with
me. Ever since | can remember | have
been paralyzed in the lower limbs. For
years | lay upon an inclined plane Of
board, looking up at the ceiling with a
mind very nearly as blank as the white
plaster I gazed at. My father died when
| was a mere infant, and there was no one
left in the house but mother and Cousin
Alice and nue."
"Cousin Alice" said "who is shel"
His eyes wandered timidly towards the
house behind the naples, as if he expect
ed some apparition to start from thence
on the very instant.
"Cousin Alice" he repeated vaguely,
"weIl, she's-Cousin Alice"
Excessively explanatory" / said
laughing. "ls Cousin Alice young?'
"My age
Us she prettys'
One deep, reproachful look of those
large olue eyes told me all. Poor fellow,
there he lay MANNED. useless, passing his
days and evening in the presence Of some
beautiful creature whom he could never
hope to possess, but loving her with all
that concentrated intensity which belongs
to the passions of the deformed.
He seemed to know what was passing
in my mind for without a word from me
he continued "She is engaged to Ralph
Farnwell who lives down yonder. She is
very fond of him, and he of her 1t is
they who bring me down between them
TO this pl lace every fine day, and 81. here
with Bob while they 60 off and pick nuts
and-and-" and here the picture was too
much for him, and the poor fellyw burst
into tears.
Ne wonder. To have bis misfortune
paraded through necessity before the wo-
man he loved. To be carried about like
a piece of furniture by her and his rival.
How often that poor heart must have been
smitten bitterly. How often those Grip
pied limbs with agony.
took his hand in mine, but did not say
word. There are times when consolation
is cruel. 1t was better than all words TO
let him feel by the pressure Of my hand
that he found friend. We sat this way
for some time, until | was aroused from
painful reverie into which had fallen by
long black shadow be:rg projected across
the spot in which we were sitting looked
up and saw tall handsome young man
with bronzed checks and curl " Chestnut
hair, on whose arm was hangi, an ex-
ceedingly lovely young girl, whose face
was a perfect Il essury Of archness and in
nocence. They looked rather surprised
at seeing me, but explained how it was
that | came to be there, and they seemed
satisfied.
Harry isn't it time to come hone"
said the young girl. Ralph and are come
for you.
"Thank you, Alice, bnt I'd like to stay
an hour longer. The day is so bright
and sunny, that it is shame to be indoors
You don't want to 60 home yet" and he
looked at Ralph as lie said this with
bitter expression of countenance that PEI
haps alone observed, but which seemed
to say: 1t twill give you an hour more to
wander together. Of Course you don't
want TO 60 home.
well. as you please, Harry. Ralph
1870 VIZ ~ VII W eho pUuu III tlo CeudT
grove and come back in about an hour.
But | say, Harry, look here; isn't this
pretty!" and as she spoke she held out
little box for his inspection. He opened
it, and disclosed a pretty little ring set
with garnets. While he looked at it, Alice
stopped over and with blush whispered
something in bis ear, whicn made him to
my keener sight quiver in all that part of
him that was alive. 1t was but momentary
however, for he returned the box, saving
coldly: "WelI, wish YOU kc.a bel, every
h.aTrrr;;u-ss. You will find me here when
you return"
As they walked slowly away, he follow
ed them with his eyes, then turned to me.
They are to be married next Sunday, he
said.
| felt all the meaning of bis words.
pitied him. Solitude is a need TO him at
this moment; will leave him. As l pull
ed out my watch and prepared for nv de-
parture he said to me: "I am arcead;r,.
ly obliged to you, Sir, for your compapy
but l want you to do me one more favor
before you leave. You are strong and |
am light. Please take me to the giants
chair. | love to sit on it and dip nv hand
10 the salt wash Of the sea-"
D..A