The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1877-01-18

ger; aLca, looking again, behold | saw
beaeat.: tie bronzc, and under the wrinkles
and behind The beard. face that twenty
years before was the dearest in the world
u nle--the lace CT Dune n Ashley We
parted enc Gay, expecting to meet on the
ne-t; tu. that ercning he was called away
and wrote instead of coming. In his letter
be said, what he had said before with his
eyes yes, those same beautiful eyes--that
| was the choice of his heart and the desire
Of his life. "Answe. me-" be said, "I
cannot walt Fill see you"
So answered long, foolish letter,
though there was 40 need Of writing, for he
had real all could say long before with
those eyes 0f his. Then | watched and
| waited forrhini; but never saw him or
heard one word more. II you are youog
you can imagine the slow dying out Of hope
and expectation, and if you are oil, you
know how such thirgs can be lived over,
aud hiddea in secret graves.
But 7ow, as though the graves had been
opened, and the Judgment set, came this
sudden reproachfal question up from the
buried past. l fairly caught my breath as
| turned back my eyes, ana looked him in
the face.
"FOrgiye me" said he, directly, IN gen.
tier tone; Il did net mean 10 speak. You
brought il out with ycur eyes; that CUES.
tion;ng turn as 50 familiar. o. G urse you
are quite night, and never meant you to
see me again: but the temptation 70 feel
myself beside you, only to lie IN tie sooth
iFg charm of your presence, was too great.
|; has been Il blessing shall carry with NE
al the rest Of my life
lie was rising to go away, Int l put ont
my hand. 81 did write, Duncan Ashley"
said /; ''the letter must bave gone wrong"
"Y0u did!-you wro:c?" be cried, sink
ing back III his chair again, ard looking at
me eagerly. "W nat did you say?'
There was only one thing that could
say, and / said that" answered, flushing
as Though ! had Just written the letter.
\ middle eyed woman in hood aud
wa:crprooi! But, dear ne! it was only my
face that was midd!e-aged, afer all; my
bear; was young aud silly as ever. An1
az for Dancau's face, Tie marks Of care,
and Thought, ana tire fell of, Isaving in il
only the elerua! youth Of love.
It was the old story Of a lost letter, and
the Old story OF q rroui man believing him
self jrctei AM Inundated, aud fleeing to
the end oi the earth with his rain.
Twenty precious years wasted" said mY
New A"aianGer. ''We Will not be separated
another day while We both live. There is
clergy man among our passengers, and we
viii be married this very houi"'
That was 90 Ike his head0ng decision.
Certainly he did need scber second
for thought Ike me ballast. "TLa; csnnot
bell cried. "The ceremony wouldn't be
legal without license - something. And /
wonid by no means Go ans thing sensational
and conspicuous"
But bless your heart! I Nigh; as well
ItaYe tried to wipe Up the Atlantic with
my pucket-hanlAereaieE. lie vas 80 gi;ey-
ed, and SC impatient (anl, indeed, when
one GENES to tiink o ir, tweGty years Is
long enough for any engagemenO, that
finally drorped eff my waterproof and my
scl-sickncss, and stood mp behind ,hc bin
Gcle, and WAS married before ei2hb bells
that very m0rnins-r.ng and all. Duncan
produced It from Il small casket, where he
had carried it in his waistcoat pocket fer
| the whole twenty years.
y never could bear to put the little thing
away" said he, looking at it tcnderly.
The next day we came to port, with the
sun shining and cur flags flying. There
was furry Of good bge. and hosting of
truaks, welcoming Of friends on the shore
and q glad hurrying to aud tro.
Among The rest was an instant's nesting
of Miss Armour lips on my cheek, ard a
| little cling Of her hand in mine, the vanish
ifg OF lutte flv, CIT Of my sight forever.
| But, wherever she Is. or however she fares,
she had the daily blessing OF two middle
aged hePrts, whose way to each other she
unconsciousiy lighted.