The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1877-07-19


ears. How can you be so happy? / am
miserable, and in constant fear of being
found out Have you no dread of itp'
Indeed, l care not one iota, Caro-
line; like the sport of parrying off the
attacks-it is capital fun! l should like
to write anothern
"Only think of those satirical lines
upon Mr.. Edsalll How severe they
were, and 50 perfectly undeservipg and
unproyoEed."
cob, by the way, hear he is making
his bow to my friend Miss Bowen; surely
you are not serious in encouraging the
report; it would be too ridiculous after
what you wrote"
81 esteem Mr.. Edsall highly, Ellen;
he is a noble, right-minded man. and
happy, indeed, viii that person be whom
he honors with his CHOICE
Fairly smitten, | do believe, by the
incorrigihle gawky, But do not throw
yourself away. But how nicely that
letter did scatter Hates obsequious low
ers; she ought to thank the writers of
that precious missive for putting them
to the test.
at has injured Hates feelings severe
ly; she Is deeply wounded"
at always makes me laugh to see the
! lordly Mr.. Allen pass on the other side
when he meets Kate; he so lately all
bows and politeness; it is first-rate.''
"But she feels it too severely; | never
committed an act for which was so
heartily sorry and thoroughly ashamed
| do wish it could die away"
Fie upon such susceptibility. 1t is
capital joke; | do enjoy it."
Mr.. Edsall was one of the first that
had been mentioned in the letter, and
the lashings of embittered pen has been
keenly felt by him, for he was possessed
of fine and noble feelings, and the
thought that his poverty and awkward
ness should be brought forward as an ap-
probrious stain stung him to the very
soul, and most severely did he censure
the writer of such malicious article
He had often met Miss Bowen, and adj
mired her for the gentleness of her ma
ture, the softness and delicacy of her
manners, as well as for her genuine and
cultivated intellect; and he often looked
into her sweet face and dared wish that
| he might call the treasure his. Caroline
priced highly the character of the noble,
generous-hearted man, and as she con-
versed with him she could but admire
the lofty aspiration of his gifted intellect,
and then sink in establishment at the
remembrance of the sarcastic letter.
Time passed swiftly by, and the re-
membrance of that ill-fated anonymous
epistle was vanishing from the public
mind. Edsall had, il his daily inter
! course with Caroline, seen more and
more to admire and love; the sweet
communings of her gentle nature seemed
to draw her closer and closer to him,
and as they wandered forth one soft,
baimy twilight, he dreamed the tale of
his love into her willing ear, and as he
poured out the aspirations of his heart
upon the altar of his love, Caroline
could but tremble, for was she not the
one who had first cast the shadow of
shame upon his unspotted name. But
| the deep, ardent love which she so fer
vently reciprOcated-should she check
the ebbings Of that bright and sunny
sheen, which would be the light of her
existence? All, no; she had not the
| courage to do 50, and she allowed him to
still think her guileless and free from
deceit; and in the happiness of future
antlcipations almost forgot the saddened
past with its sombre shade
Ellen Jackson had been for some
months absent, and returned home about
three weeks after the engagement of her
| friend Caroline to Mr.. Edsall; her heart
had for long time paid homage at the
shrine of his intellect, and she had seen
with sorrow that the fervent admiration
she felt was not reciprocated by him.
Stung with jealous disappointment, she
resolved that Caroline should not at least
bear Oft the inestimaDle prize, and in a
| few evenings after her return she en-
| countered him at the mansion of Mr..
| Bowen, Intentionally upon her part.
Envy, chagrin and disappointment SEEM
ed to give energy to her determination,
and she purposel y introduced the subject
OF the almost forgotten anonymous let
/ ter, as they were gathered around the
| centre-table. Carolines check was
/ blanched In moment, and with an ap-
/ pealing look she glanced her ewes at
/ Ellen, but the beseeching look was I'M
answered. Mr.. Edsall spoke with more
than his usual energy and warmth, and
severely denounced the writer of such a
calumnious article
81 could never" said he, respect or
love person that could stoop to such an
act of duplicity or meanness; there was
no excuse; 1t was entirely unfounded."
Poor Caroline! The tear drops rushed
into her eyes; her punishment had but
Just began. As the evening wore away,
and Miss jackson rose to depart, Mr..
Edsall offered to escort her home; and.
as he parted from Caroline, he could not
fall to mark the air of detection which
stole over her features. Anxiously in
curing the cause, she tried to Danish the
cloud, and, under the plea of slight in
disposition, concealed the truth; a sad.
foreboding thought crossed her mind.
No, 1t cannot be-" she exclaimed.
" Ellen will not be so cruel or 50 base as
to betray me when she herself commenc-
ed it, and led me on"
But Ellen did, and in a heartless man.
ner, too; not even mentioning the part
she had herself in it. Sad and sleepless
passed that night with poor Caroline;
the morning sun found her languid,
with an aching head She descended
to the breakfast-room, where she soon
ANNNi'Nt At lALC ltOlli MI. ILlSjIl, cOucDpU
in perfectly polite but cold terms, re-
queSting a few moments interview.
Soon after she heard his well-known
ring at the door. Desponding, she met
him. Her heart told her too true that
he was changed. Leading her to a seat,
he instantly commenced the painful topic.
Ellen told me all, but | denied the
statement. She asserted it positively;
but still, from no lips but your own will !
| believe it. Is il so? Were YOU in /
deed the author of that cruel letter?
Can | have been deceived in you? so
sadly too?'
at is, indeed so, Mr.. Edsall; but, if I
tears of deep penitence and sincere re-
greet avail aught, the sin has been atoned .
long months since"
"But what motive, Miss Bowen, could /
have influenced you to iniure your
friends and acquaintance? You, so
kind, so gentle. Had it been Ellen Jack
son.
- ! Il.