The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1871-09-07


harm in flirting with her girlhood friend.
Haidee Cony drew "a quick breath.
:" VIII never go out with him again,
she inwardly resolved.
But here another voice broke unon he
ear, and some ones thin hand lay on he
bare shoulder, and, looking up, she sa,
standing before her a tall slender woman
OF about twentw-fTe, with light hair an
| great fathomless brown eyes, while a round
hectic spot burned on the wasted cheek.
She was attired in some flmy dress o
black, with black trimmings, and iewelrv
and she looked like dead woman standin.
before beautiful Haidee, her deep, sunken
hollow eyes cleaning Ike fire.
Her thin, transparent hand lay Ike rec
Goals on Haidee's white arm 1t burnt so ter
rible that Miss Cony shrank back with 6
low cry.
You are Miss Cony p said the strange
lady, III soft sleepy voice, as low and
sweet as the sighing Of dying winds. "You
are liaidee Cony.'
out heart tremble, Il am Haidee Conv.
And You, what is your name, madame ~
q Caroline Levine" she said, slowly, :"
n2sso n2 so'Ur66f 'Ur6ny, TO- Is beg bacE my husband
She raised her thin hands to her shrunken
face and walled, " You are young and
handsome, Miss Cony, while | am plain
looking and delicate. | am almost dying,
and yet have not had my husbands love
or care for months, and they say, people
tell me that it is goa who have won him
from me. / do not think you bad and
evil hearted, Miss Cony-your innocent
face speaks different, but oh if YOU could
only know my heartache, as | have laid i'll
my bed for weeks, seeing and feeling that
my husbands love was gradually leaving
me. | cried, | grieved, and gave up entire
ly to despair, when | first learned that
was loveless; but it only aggravated my
sickness, and | resolved, if Oliver did
not love me, it was useless to battle against
fate. But to-day friend called, and told
me that Oliver WAS making love to you,
and would be here tonight. So | reused
myself from out of my apathy and dressed
and came mere.
Il thought no harm of coming with my old
school friend, said Haidce, with 4 trcmulous
quiyerinr Of her ripe lips; g but ny sister,
Mrs. HaLton, spoke with me this evening
and an hour since | saw the folly of ACCEPT
ing the escort of my married friend. Par
don me, Mrs. Levine, | never meant to
wrong YOU, or win Your husbands 3 afcc-
tions, for Oliver IS to me rs q brother.
"God bless you, Miss Cony," sobbed
the unhappy wife; u know YOU did not
wrong me Intentionally, sud hope now t.
win back divers love. I viii try and
pray God to bless you, dear friend
: oh Mrs. Levine, believe me when |
tell you / never, Rerey meant to wrong
you"
= 10, Miss Cony," she began; "for CT
all
But mans form entered the lace dra-
perry, and arrested the worls OF her lips,
and Oliver Levine stood beside them.
q have been delayed il;,islcc," hc saIl.
and only Just got away from Wells Till
ton. Eou racolIoct him, don't you, Hay =?
ife u>el to De tie greatest Ounce in the
whole lass.
"Wells Hilton here When did he
arrive Oh Oliver, | must see Wells.
lie was SO kind to mc when | was ii
trouble
" All right Come !Taidco; you promised
me this waltz Oh here comes Wells
now You see he is impatient, and can't
wait to be introduced
" uaidcc," sighed the soft voice Of the
neglected wife, who stood tke black col
ulnn beside her lege lord.
''Celvine. you hcre!' gospcd Oliver
levine. You 10 not know Miss Cony.'
"Y You are mistaken, Oliver" LAUGHED!
Miss Cony. noticing the wife's white,
trembling face, and feeling that she must
take hcc part, :. Cellinc and | are acquaint-
cd-in fact, we are friends.
Il did not know" he smiled, Offering
his arm TO his wife
"And, Oliver, | want to be excused
from this waltz; for I'll rather speak with
Wells, aud hear all about the girls
Mrs. Levine clasped Haidee's hand CRATE.
fully, as she walked away, leaning on Wells
Hilton arm.
Don't neglect to put your boquet in
water tonight, Haidee, " said Oliver, with
quiet excitement. "rhosc camelias need
water to keep any of their beauty"
When, few hours after, IIaidee,
blushipg and excited from the reception
tossed her handsome boquct upon the lit
tered drcssing-tablc, covered with bjoa
t0rie, Oliyer's ords returned to her. auo
she cut the string that held them together
and away down in the centre, wedged be
tween Il hlood-red and white camc'ia, was {
tiny pcrfulnci slip Of paper, with her namc
on the outside.
With scarlet cheeks, HaiLcc read these
words
My Darling: Ever since the days thai
We studied together | have loved you. Sep.
arated, as we were, for years, | lost sight ot
YOU, and, in a mad moment, married TIA,
woman who is row my wife. Ny darling
with q word ofhopc from you, viii sever
my loyclcSs bonds, and fly to you, and il
another cline, we VIII live for and Low,
each other till death Say YES, Uaidee, my
love, and make me happy for life"
"False, treacherous husband" sicheC
Miss Cony "And to think how have tor
turcd that poor wife, Q, Oliver, that yol
should prove 50 trcacherous to your nobl,
wife!
Twice, three, four times, Oliver Levin,
called on Miss Coney, and ent-eated t.,
favor Of an interview, bat Ilaidee alwav.
sent down word that she was engaged.
Finally, three weeks passed, and Haide,
oiiNtt tlAI III tiiS IsiiS Il
room Of his sisters house, and allowed tn
tips of her pink, dainty, fingers to rest il
his hand, which trcmblod as he locke,
! eagerly down to her sweet, oval face.
Congratulate me, Oliver" she said
''for | am engaged TO Wells Hilton
Oliver Levige's face was very white is h
raised her hand to his lips and said:
"May yUu be happy, Iiaidee,'
Il viii, she said, softly: land, Oliver
want you to be SO, too. For the sake Q
our childhood days, Oliver, want to Civ
you advice. You have noble wife, Oil
yer: and we have wronged her almost be
yond eparation-though God knows | Wa
innocent of any intentional wrong when
accepted your escort and attention, and
never thought you could be so bewitched
you, & husband auI father. Go back I
your wife, Oliver; win back her love, an
be happy,
Three weeks ago, tonight" she con
tinucd, noticing his quick gasp and pal
face, Il found your note in my bouquet
Oliver, | forgive those passionate word