The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1876-06-08


together he sat holding the pen listless
ly in his hand, leaning his arm wearily
upon the table listening, as we all listen
when alone, to what sounds may be GO
ing on near us, from a feeling which is
not curiosity, but more overpowering.
Suddenly what must have been q very
light vehicle dashed swiftly down the
road and drew up with great precision
at the door of the house, while the voice
of newcomer became audible. Seton,
however, could only catch few discon-
nected words, such as "Caught in the
-delicate-shelter-a closed carri-
age"
Then the door opened, the landlord
presented himself upon the threshold
and said, in very pointed manner, 'It
you please, sir, young lady driving
over to Covington in light, open carri.
age, has been caught in the rain, and
her servant wants to know if can give
her sitting room, while he drives back
for a closed carriage"
''And this is the only one you have ?''
rejoined Seton. s'Oh ask her in by all
means. However, I am sorry the room
smells so of SMOKE" he added, knock
ing the ashes from his pipe
"Don't you mention it, sir. and thank
you very much" replied the landlord,
retiring.
In another moment the door opened
again, and the unexpected intruder en-
tered-a lady, tall and very graceful,
having pale, Madonna like face, and
gold hair shining like an aureole round
&. small, classical head.
Seton's face had grown white to the
lips, and his voice quivered perceptibiy
as, extending his hand, he said
'.This is very unexpected meeting" p"
Every unexpected" echoed the lady,
removing her wet mantle, and sitting
down on the worn leather sofa. The
recognition had been mutual, but wom-
en- as q rule, are more self-composed
than men.
''Let me recommend this chair" said
Seton, laying his hand upon the one
from which he had just risen.
''No, thank you; prefer sitting away
from the fire."
81 am sorry the room should smell so
of tobacco" observed Seton, after a
pause; ''but you see, I did not expect
the pleasure of visitor"
She smiled rather forced smile by
way of answer, and Seton folded elabor-
ntoIy and put inbo an envelope shee.
of blank paper.
''The country is very beautiful around
here" he observed, writing his own
name, with great care, upon the envel-
ope. le
eve have only been back from Eu-
rope about six weeks" she observed,
after pause. "Mamma has taken o
house near C.. I was driving over
to Covington this morning and I was
caught in the rain and induced to ask
for shelter here"
''And how IS Mrs. Clarefeld ?''
'tMamma is quite well, thank you. I"
Then, after pause, in full, sweet, low
contralto voice, which had ring of in
finite pathos, ''Are you stopping here 2"
Hardly, - said Seton, with an assump-
ton of gayety in his tone; ''but I'll tell
you all about it. My friends kindly
took it into their heads that I WIS stick
ing too closely to work-that wanted
fresh air and exercise-so they bound
me over, on my word of honor, to walk
from c. to this place daily. I acqui-
esce in everything now, SO of course I
acquiesced in this, and this is my first
day of hard labor and Imprisonment"
"But you used" began the lady;
then she colored little, and seemed
unwilling to finish her sentence "you
used to he so fond of walking"
''But man changes good deal in
three years" he replied YEARLY.
Then came a long silence, broken at
last by the pop of an ale cork, at which
they started as if an explosion hnd taken
place.
'Ohi you grow used to it in time,
observed Seton.
It seemed impossible to imagine these
two persons, more formal to each other
in manner than the most distant &C
quaintances, could ever have been pas
sionate and devoted lovers. What tho
had they, I wonder, as they sat together
and yet SO far apart, OF the old days
wherein love led them and all was we'll
1t would weary you, dear reader, and to
no purpose, were L to set down here the
dreary commonplaces with which these
two tried to beguile the time for over an
hour. AT length, worn out by the ar
duous effort of trying to entertain each
other while their thoughts we're so far
away, they took refuge in silence and
the wind roared, and the rain lashed the
window, aud the dusk CANE on prema-
turely, and Seton, looking out on the
cheerless prospect, ,shivered as with cold.
Then that other person in the room rose
very quietly and stirred the fire to a
blaze, and resumed her seat on the sofa.
''No, you shouldn't, really" said Sc
ton, not turning round, however, though
with a look of great pain upon his face.
1t is wonderful what suffering some
small, commonplace word or action
may cause us. What vistas of impos-
sible joys, again may they not open Up
to us.
81 suppose the carriage will soon bc