The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1877-08-16

to make myself just as disagreeable as
possible. And / have a little plan in my
head, and you must say yes. l want
you to pack up and be ready, when i
come TOR you tomorrow, to come and
stay several weeks with me. Say yes,
that's dear g
Not if you are going to put me in
that Mr.. Earle's way" said Sadie, look
ing little suspiciously at Lina's mis-
chievous face.
Nonsense, child! You need not look
1t him, if you feel that way. Only
come; we will have grand times"
There was no opposition to this pro-
ject, and the next day found Sadie set
tied in the great stone house over the
river. She loved luxury, and it was like
a beautiful dream to live amid such
elegance. She fancied that Mrs. Grey
was not quite as pleased as she might
have been with the arrangement; but
Ralph was so pleasant, and Lima so de-
lighted, that she did not mind it. Lima
was right in pronouncing Ralph Earle
elegant. He was a gentleman in every
sense of the word; and although not re-
markably handsome, his face was one
that could be trusted forever. Mrs.
Grey was a widow, and although wealthy
this beautiful home belonged to Lima
So it was no wonder she was exerting
her utmost to make match between her
favorite nephew and the heiress.
So the summer days passed on. Pleas
ant morning rambles in the old woods;
lazy afternoons by the willow, at the
trysting place beside the lake; and gay
evenings over the piano, or on the GRO
quet ground, out on the lawn, where
Harry always joined them. Indeed,
he was with them most of the time, and
Sadie had grown quite used to being
engaged. There was not much chance
for love making, as the rest did not
know of it; and Lima, in trying to avoid
Ralph, made it SO that Sadie was his
companion most of the time, while she
Harry.
Sadie could not blame her, although
she wondered how she could help loving
the one her mother had selected for her.
He was SO brilliant and interesting; so
different from any one she had ever met
before. He seemed to understand her
wants so well, and sympathize in all her
tastes. SO it happened, while Lima and
Harry played games, or ran races on the
lawn in their wild fashion, the other two
sat on one of the rustic seats that the old
elms shaded, and read or talked Ralph
had that charm that is so irresistible in
any one, a melodious voice. 1t seemed
to Sadie, when he read, that all the
world was drifting away, and leaving
them in an enchanted real. What happy
days those were, and how swiftly they
flew by. No one thought of the Fall
that was coming, to part them ALL They
lived in the happy present, and were
satisfied. One day Saddle had promised
Ralph to meet him at the rustic seat,
and found, on going, that Mrs. Gray
was before her. She seemed unusually
gracious, and inclined to conversation.
and, after few commonplace, said alb
ruptly:
9 | suppose you are aware of my wishes
concerning LauraT'
Sadie bowed her herr head.
{" Luna persistently refuses to believe
that | am disinterested in this matter,
and | see, has made you feel the same.
| am convinced that Mr. Earle is lust the
one for her, and she is throwing away
her best chance of happiness, in flirting
as she does with Harry. As for Ralph,
know that if he were left alone, he would
love her."
The last words were emphasized in
such a manner, that her listener could
not help but understand.
If you think l am interfering, you
are mistaken"
81 viii be frank with you," said the
elder lady. " | feared you were becom-
ing interested in my nephew, and |
thought | would warn YOU"
The bright color faded from the girls
cheek, and strange look came into her
eyes. For a moment she was unable to
speak. Like flash of lightning came
the terrible revelation, the meaning of
all the happiness the summer has brought.
She knew now what love was. To her
there was but one hope of happiness in
the world, and that she must put from
her. 1t was hard strained voice that
answered Mrs. Grey.
" You need not be alarmed, madam.
am engaged to Harry Barrows."
The lady looked at her in astonish-
ment; then she actually kissed her.
" You sly little puss, to keep that all
to yourself. How glad am that YOU are
going to do 50 well. There comes Ralph
now. | am going to surprise him with
the news And before Sadie could
stop her, she called him to them, and in
q few words told the whole story. Then,
seeing guests at the house she left them.
With a nod and a laugh thinking as she
did 50, "She loves him, poor girl: but |
can trust her. Sadie is the very soul of
honor, As for Ralph he will soon over
come his admiration for her pretty face"
There was nothing said for some time
after she left. An observer might not
have noticed anything strange in the
figures of the two. Sadie, sitting quite
with her face turned away:
Ralph at her feet, in the same attitude
he had first assumed. But who can tell
of the anguish in both their hearts,"
Will he never move or speak?' she
thought. AT last he rose, and taking
the vacant seat at her side, turned her
face gently toward him. AT the sight
of it, pale and tear-stained, his calmness
was gone. "
My darling, my darling, you do
love me! what is this hateful engage
ment to u.s."
For moment she yielded to his pas
sionate carressess. then she remembered,
and cried, brokenly,
: Ralph, you must not tempt me 50.
have promised to be Harry's wife. /
Will never break promise that is 50 sa-
cred"
Bat where there is no love, YOU
surely are not bound 1t is a mistaken
sense OF honor that permits such sacri-
ice"
She shook her head mournfulIy.