The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1874-09-01

i never thought OF it, returned;
but it would be good fun; something to
laugh about when you and Lena have
married and settled into the Darby-and-
Joan style"
1T would be the only safe way, he
said. "There would be 40 danger OF
| mistake On either part; we should both
know our role; and if [ should fail IN
mine,' he continued. with a gallantry
touched by melancholy. land overdo 1t,
Lena would lose nothing that she values,
and you would gain as little.
What would Lena say if she knew
that we were plotting against her peace
of mind
Wednesday-So the play begins l
was helping Lena on some garments
for missionary box, when maid came
I'D to say that Mr.. Ostrander was wait
| ing.
s'PIease excuse me to him, said Lena,
laying on the patterns an calculating her
cloth; really can't see him to-day.
at was the other young lady he was
afther askin' for" corrected Bridget.
"Oh For YOU" looking up abseatly,
with suspended scissors. 1t is so dread
ful to have an up and down to anything!
Don; let me keep you
"No, WON'T" said |. "We are 60
ing out boating-foat floating like a
dream-Mr. Ostrander AID |"
You and Ossrander,' she repeated,
mechanically. well, ask Bridget to
put you up lunch. p"
! She won't take my usurpation SO calm
| ly by-and by, or Ir no prophet.
Monday-Rain, nothing but rain since
| Wednesday-and Ostrander. Lena goes
out all the same to ragged schools and
committees o2 charities Ostrander offers
to carry her umbrella, but she objects
that bis presence would be embarrassing
in sick chamber or schooroom. He
watches her out Of sight, and returns to
ne. We play a solemn game OF crib
bage, and then, before | am aware. m
telling him everything | know and don t
know, and really making him laugh at
my nonsense, as if the weather and Lena
were kind. To- day he has an idea; he
is going to paint my portrult. Otcousre
it will be daub. What will Lena think!
We have been singing psalms and spirit
ual hymns all the afternoon. Lena came
In on us. and stood listening In her drip.
ping clothes. They are to have voluDt-
airy choir at church, and she thinks we
might offer our services. OStrander Is
afraid We should quarrel, chores are so
touchy.
Thursday-I have sat for my portrait
several times. It is SO odd to see my
own eyes AID nose growing upon the cam
vas, and the unreal semblance Of myself
"a sort OF wrath lie is painting me
as the Lady of Shalott. don t half like
it. The towers Of Uamelot, and Lance
Lei riding down. are TO be family llDned
In the dreamy distance.
II am half sick Of shadows, said
The Lady Of Shaiott"
August-Lena for some days made 10
sign, but the charm, or counter charm,
begins to work For while Ostrander
aud | roweo alone on the river, canter-
ed through the green roads Of Newbury,
to Craneneck I'LL, to cool ourselves with
the filmy vision of Mount. Washington
against the far horizon; together explor-
ed every inviting path through the woods,
and scared the partridg e from its covert.
The neighbors begin to look askance at
me. They think [ am stealing my cous.
ms lover before her eyes But what do
1 care for their disregard, if so [ can Sc
cure happiness to Ostrander and Lena
Aud what matter is il by what round
about way happiness reaches us? Be
sides, the more they frowu on me, the
mere Ostrander smiles. He is grateful
that play the part so well.
One day Lena proposed to join us! It
was about this time that Mr. Lowell
came to illustrate Uncle Aristotle's book
on the Andes. He proposed to rival
Ostrander, and paint me as Hilda in the
Marble Faun. [ could hardly spare the
time to sit, for my pleasurings with
Ostrander. Lena took a lively interest
in this portrait, brought her work TO see
it grow under her eyes. She was too
proud to show like enjoyment in Ost-
ranher's attempt; the Bradfords are
proud as Lucifer, and Lena is aBradford
to the backbone. So at last there are
four of Us when we take our pleasure
out-of-doors It is a forsaking of work
on Lena's part; she seems to have for
gotten the lame and the halt. She fol-
lows Ostrander with her eyes stealthily.
I wonder If her heart aches?
Ostrander does not half relish this
new intruder; he wears a wrinkle across
his brow. [ have seen him so constant
" in these weeks that [ can interpret
every expression that fits across his
face. Perhaps he too is tasting jealousy,
and it has a bitter favor But he has no
L
Only last night, IN the windy lane, when
cloud blew over the moon, Mr.. Lowell
caught me in his arms and swore that
[ should love him willy nilly. l was too
d! angry to do anything but tear myself
away aud VOW L never would.
never mean to be married mysely.
Sepsember-The play goes OF and on.
viii Ostrander never see that his time
has come, that Lena hangs upon his
words, worships the ground he treads?
How blind these men are. / feel sas
though we were actors who had petTified
In our masks. Ostrander still keeps up
the pretty farce OF devotion to me. Does
he not see that IL has served his turn?
All! what delicious evenings we had
in the old chapel practicing those me-
lodious fugues and chants for the choir
before dr. Lowell came-lngering
homeward through the twilight lanes,