The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1873-11-13
HUGH's MISTAKE.
BY MAUD MEREDITH.

"Heigh, no! Well. eight years ought
to make difference in mans looks,
suppose, but somehow / never cared or
realised abous my appearance till now
It's q fact, [ haven thought much about
ooks-since-since-"
The solloquy ceased just there. and
Hugh Adams forgot that he was before
the mirror studying mis- own attractions
In the reflection before him. Thought
fully caressipg his luxuriant beard, his
thoughts retraced the life path he had
trod during these eight years.-y0ars of
loss. of barrenness in heart history,
desert to glance over in retrospect, where
all should have been brightness and
blossoming.
1t might have been. if only she had
been faithful and true. If she had but
trusted him But difficulty arose, and
both vsre proud. Neither bent or yield
cd, and two lives drifted apart, and the
years flowed on.
"Ah, we'll I'm bronzed, bearded
old fellow. and she is lovelier now .han
when knew her in the old time. But
that child
"Glory What an awful twang some
thing Yave my tough old heartstrings-
I'd forgot had any-when recognized
her But she needn't have grasped her
little girl IS if to avoid intrusion from
me
$50 she kew me if 1 have changed
All, limo You haven't cheated mo out
of recognition after all
8" Eight years wonder who she mar
ried To think of that tug at my heart
at her one glance Bah I'm as senti-
mental as boy ofeighteen Who would
have thought it?''
The loveliest Saturday June ever saw,
found Hugh's lay length sprawled in
the shade at Lincoln Park. With hat
over his face. he lay doing and day
dreaming-p-rtly from sentiment, partly
from the effects of late club dinner the
night before.
"Cone on. Teddy l amt 'faidl Man
be you sick. or be you slsep?"
He opened bis eyes to find sunny
dimpled little face near.
Il do jes' love picture books! I'll be
so tarefull''
He extended his book with a smile.
not daring to speak, lest the vision dis.
appear. With mischievous shrug of
the shoulders, an arch look he so we'll
remembered in another. She then con-
tinued
IT Sc ruined away from mamma, way
off, from clear over there by the swans
Dis book amt very pity Des l better
run back Dood bye -
Zone minute, little ono What i.
your name p
"Lulie.'
The same. and her very image !" he
groaned, looking after the retreating
child.
Day dreaming Was spoiled for that day
and half an hour later he stood by one
of the main drives A flock of children
two or three dogs among them-wers
coming to picnic. A childish shrek of
terror startled hem. On seat not far
of, lady was grasping little child, ap-
parently in commissions of terror-while
apolicesan was beating off couple of
dogs who had begun fighting in close
proximity. Another lady-his Lu-bent
over the child.
He involuntarily drew near. That
instant LUIS neck was nervously grasped
By the chill. Something flashed in the
bright sunlight and dropped at mis- feet.
He picked it up and recognized it. A
little ring he had once given her-the
only trifle she had not returned during
that angry time. As if In a dream he
looked around him. A carriage had
driven up. the ladies were leaving with
the frightened child, the picnickers were
again passing on, the policeman strut
ting back and forth. The world was
moving on as befors-birds singing, sun
light dancing on the water, children
shouting-but WAS it the same earth,
after all?
Shaking himself to see if he were really
awake. no secured his treasure-the tiny
trifle that silently revealed SO much re-
mcmbrance, constancy, love. were all be.
tokened here.
Ia hurried home thinking about all
this. and new hope made a new man
of him.
"These eight years have been .
DREAM" he soliloquized, bachelorfashion.
will bide my time I shall win her
yet, forgave her long agol''
Then. with a groan, he remembered
that chiid-thc little Lulie. Could it be?
Had she married another, still caring
enough for him to wear his ring near her
heart?
Oh women 1ncomprehensibIe crea.
tures Was there ever . man capable
OF understanding one of you'll But /
won't think, I'll just wait. and bide nv
time
A few days later Hugh Adams sat idly
running over the columns of the Times
when 40 advertisement met his eye that
reused hir, at once.
LosT. AT Lincoln Park. on Saturday
. plain gold ring. of little value EXCEPT
IN thu owner 4 reward III So. doII,..
for its recovery will be paid as this Office
OF - No. Prairie ASeuue