The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1870-12-01
Written for the Dodge County Democrat
THE DYING CONFESSION.
BY KITTIE BELL GRANDY.

As | write this [ see the softened light
OF a glorious spring afternoon, peepine in
through the opened blinds of small white
cottage. AT the gate before the door, over
which myrtle twined gracefully, stood
Evangeline Winter, delicate beauty of
eighteen summers.
Presently Der quick ear caught the SOUND
OF approaching footsteps. Looking up she
saw the mail boy coming toward her and
with bow he asked:
Are you Miss Winter?'
81 am
II have letter for you," he said, hand
ing her large yellow envelope
h6 eaFhS h can sad i, sc qfdat Would write
letter like this to me-?
She spoke as # unconscious Of the boys
presence; but he caught the faint excla.
nation, and !n reply rffol to what he snnnosedk
Il do not know ma am.
As she broke the seal, cry OF delight
escaped her lips, for she recognized the
writing.
Her little heart beat very fast, as she
bound up the plain but neat staircase. She
went directly 70 her room, closed and lock
ed the door against intruders.
| With eager eyes and trembling hands,
she commenced reading her lover s letter,
| for such the readers must surmlse.
| She read only few lines, and the letter
dropped from her hands
| She stood for moment like beautiful
/ statute; and then a death-iike paieness
spread over her face. A mournful sigh,
and she sank to the floor ir a swoOn.
| While she is left to recover, We will glance
at this mysterious letter.
CORTLAND, May 9th, l8-
| Miss WINTEll You will please con-
| slider our engagement closed, as l do not
wish to unite with lady reduced to pow
erty. From this hour you are free. Fare
we'll. GEORGE
And why this cruel, barharous letter, to
so pure an apgei?
Listen, dear reader:
! Mr. Winter, Evangelne's father, wa, g
wealthy merchant in the city of He
died suddenly, leaving his wife and daugh
ter poor, and they were obliged to sci
their stately mansion, and remove to the
little cottage by the sea- In the days o.
prosperity, Evangeline had . lover, 6
DEVOTED one.
George Carson was our hero's name
He was pleasant young, man or whose ad
miration any girl might have been proud
Evangcline was proud of it, and IN return
she gave him her heart.
George was not like his father, for he
was cold, stern, sche man, whllf
George was loving, and torgiving like hi
dear patient mother, who had passed from
this world of sorrow, tor her happy hom:
in heaven, and George was left to the crue
mercies of his father.
Mr.. Carson was the proudest of men
{ H. tol nf1
but refused to look at her, for she wa
nothing but music teacher now.
GeorRe had left the city some months
before Mr.. Winters failure, and on hear
ing it, said
My poor darling, must hasten to he
at once.
How sweet those words fingered on hi
lips.
A year has passed since that time, ant
Mr.. Carson lies dying.
George received a telegram to hasten t.
his fathers bedside. He hastily packet
his travelling bag and started, once more t
be near Evangeline, even if she did no
love him.
He arrived in time to hear hi, father
confession. As he entered the sick room
, his fathers face frightened, and as h.
held out his thin wasted hand, he excaim
ed:
''Oh, my son, thank heaven you hav
come in time | could not bear to di
with my secret untold George, kno,
not what to say, or how to tell you; bu
prepare for terrible shock. l have rob
bed you of love and joy all these month
that you might have been enjoying Evan
. gehne's never dying love. whom you sup
posed TO be a heartless firt. 1t was nc
EVangeline that wrote that letter, George
it was me, your father; and that is not al
, my son. | also wrote one to her.-on
that would have sbaned an honest hea,