The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1872-05-30


to the heroine of work of fiction. He
believed her all she represented herself to
be, poor and plain, and, moreover, had set
ber down in his mind as an old maid.
/ When she made known her decision of
closing their correspondence, he received
it with suave regret, for he had long known
the cause of her desponding letters, and
erratic flights from tenderness to sarcasm,
and here the curtain seemed to drop upon
this eyentful drama in at least one life.
Soon death dropped again his asphodes at
/ Elma's door and in the early fall she glad
4 Iy accepted an invitation from her kind
cousin to make his western home her own.
She found Ralph Parrimore an elderly
man, CHEEKY and prosperous, who greeted
her warmly, and ushered her into the pres
ence Of his large family consisting of Mrs.
P, gentle and lovely, one of those purified
by the fire Of suffering; four NOISY, good
natured boys; little lame Gertrude of
eleven years; and last, Helen, magnif-
cent Helen, with glorious, Cenci-like, ever
following eyes; tall and queenly, and yet
withal tender and lovable to all.
| Here in this, the first real home she had ever
known, Elma found books, and music, and
congenial companionship, yet did not her
life of unceasing minstery end. A willing
anxious spirit found much to do even in
their we'll ordered household. Gertrude
she made her especial charge, and if she
wearied of her fretful whims, no one was
ever the wiser for the knowledge.
Helen, though so amiable, was, as amia-
bic people are very apt to be, little indo
lent and the boys soon found who was
most willing to help them with their
studies; besides, Helen was deep in the mys-
teries of trouSseau, for she was to be mar-
ried, before winter set in, to a prominent
lawyer, whom she had met the winter be-
fore in southern city. She was very
gentle and kind to this stray little wait
who had come among them, snd SO, indeed,
were they all, trying to make her forget
the hariships Of her former life, in the peace
and plenty Of this; and, surrounded by this
atmosphere of love and sympathy, Elma's
face soon reflected the peace and light of
her heart. until her saucy little cousin, Ed
mund, laushingiy declared she would some
day wake up and find herself beauty.
A November day, very mike most No
vember days, was closing IN With mist OF
golden light and rosy clouds. Helen and
Elma sat alone in the library; the former
playing soft rcsper hymns, and the latter
on Il low ottoman, her heal bowed upon
her hands, the fire-lgh shining Of the soft
brown braids OF hair. A door opening
near Elma caused her to look up, and, as
she did SO, Il gentleman of elegant appear
ance entered and not needing her tiny figure
sitting in the shadow, approached Helen,
and, before she was aware, had imprinted
a kiss upon her brow. A glad cry of sur
prise burst from her lips, and then, blush
confusion, intro laced Mr.. Jennings"
Ema would have Withdrawn at once,
but Helen gently detained her, saying, 81
want you AMI Paul to get acquainted As
soon as possible, and this gloaming hour is
just the best in the world for that purpose"
They seated themselves around the glow
ing CRATE, for the evening grew chill ,and Mr..
Jennings opened the conversation with un-
affected ease. They had all conversed
pleasantly fifteen minutes or Sc, when, turn
ing to Elma he said: II know what Hell
en- thinks of twilight, Miss Reese, but l
would ike 20 know your sentiments very
much After moments pause, Ehma
said, softly, 81 think it is the hour of
prayer" Il had a little friend" said he,
"who was something Of an improvisatrice
and who sent me some very pretty verses
embodying that idea. Agnes, you remem-
Der, Helen p
Elma's heart gave a bound, and she
clutched spasmodically at the back of her
chair What would come next? 1t was
IIelen's clear treble.
"Yes, have the verses and, Paul, by
the way, you never told me where Agnes
lived"
Hcsitatinsly, 81 never told any one, she
seemed so pure, so like some dear little
sister whose honor l must guard; but it
will not make any difference now, sup
pose 1t was in the little village of NJ
in Vermont"
"M-v' echoed Helen, why, Elma
1 is from thercI Just then the footman
entered with lights, and Helen's attention
to Elma's infinite relief, was diverted, but
she felt that he was reading all in her
downcast eyes and crimsoned face max
ing desperate effort she raised her eyes
full of passionate entreaty to his, so calm
and reassuring /; her secret was safe, but
all the old love, all the passionate idolatry
of those dreary, loveless years, threatened
to spring up into an unextinguishable
fame could she live in the same atmos-
phere and see that love which she had once
dreamed might be hers, and so transform
barren life, given to another?
"God gives patience" Elma did live,
and vet lives Between Paul and herself