The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1877-05-10

! she could receive hun IN 50 much bet
ter style" And yet that night, of all
nights, the young lawyer had made up
his mind To put his fate TO the test, and
win or loose it all
Not q bad fellow was Bill, and he had
more than once reflected how charmingly
convenient was the location of the Haw-
kins' homestead, and what tremendous
/ lift the possession of that and the pro-
/ ductiye little farm belonging thereto
would give to Il struggling young lawyer
/ like himself. The fact that he was over
! head and ears in love with Barbara
made the whole affair absolutely beauti-
| full
Sad was the trial to his impatient
feelings, therefore, when all the elo-
quence of which he was master-and he
had long considered himself master of
the situation as well-only resulted in
obtaining for him 4 promise from Bar
bara that she would consult her step
mother.
'Such a change il would make for her
if should leave her ~ sighed Barbara
"Not at all, not at ALL eagerly ex-
claimed Bill. "She could live with Us,
YOU know. Everybody likes her. I'm
sure / do. She wouldn't be in the way
at all"
But vain was all he could say or do,
except that Barbara's vision of the Gro
yer farm and house may have receded
somewhat As she listened to the pleading
of her sutton. She almost hoped Dan
would not come that night, for not only
/ the present situation had its charm, but
il might have its perils aS well. Dan
4 Grover was not a man to be tritlcd with,
she knew, for all his quiet, self contain
ed ways.
And SO it was with Somethingof a feel
ing of relief that Barbara listened, at
last, to the bur of the big kitchen clock
striking nine.
1t was at the same instant that the
shadows of two who were walking side
by side in the moonlight fell on the gate
in singularly unified manner and then,
as the gate opened, Barbara sprang to
her feet with slight exclamation. She
had been sitting close to the low window
seat, and she had not seen fit, or had for
gotten, to light lamp.
There may or there may not have been
any cause for surprise, but the way OF it
had been this: No sooner We're the tea
things out of the way than Mrs. Hawkins
remembered an errand she had at the
village, and had slipped quietly out to
perform it. Nor would SO simply a
matter have taken two long hours, but
that, Just As the widow was stepping
across the little foot-bridge at the brook,
the form of tall, broad shouldered, Wig
orous man of, say, thirty-fve summers
stood before her, and a deep voice re-
marked:
Right about face, please l want a
bit of a talk with you, and there'd be no
chance for il at the house."
Not word said the widow, as Dan
Grover drew her arm in his, but she
thought, 9 If he wants to speak of Bar
bara, he's right for Bill Emmons must
he there by this time. What Il fool she
Is. He don't begin to compare with
Dan
1t must be confessed, however, that it
seemed wonderfully pleasant, even when
Dan turned up the shadowy lane toward
the grave, and when he seemed to put off
his express business and to talk of his
farm and his house, and at last of HIM
self
Il have everything around me fixed as
nicely As could ask for, he remarked at
length; but grow loneiier every ia V.
The fact Is I'm determined to have a
wife, if | can get the one | want; but
there's only one in all the vide world.
I'd be lonelier than | am now with any
other
Why don't You speak to her them
said the widow, with half-choked feel
ing in her throat. shes Il verv sensi-
BILE girl, but don't think it would be
right for me to influence her. | believe
a woman has no right to marry without
loving"
Quick as hghtning-very different
from Dams ordinary calm, slow style
was his responsive query; Have You
always been of that opinion? Have You
acted on it?''
The plump, soft hand on his arm was
leaked away in an instant, and Barbara'S
step-mother was almost S0hhing with an
CRY and wounded feelings, as She
stepped back from him. exclaiming:
How dare you! What have You to do
with that? Ask Barbara for her secrets,
if you will. Mine are my own.
;'Exactlv." responded the steady
iAiliu1N Ian hIil HIS VOICE " AZ SIldhlilS
now in spite Of lis self-control. :" lou
have told me part of your secret, Marian
Hawkins, whether You meant to or not
| knew You could never have loved him.
Now | will tell YOU mine You are the
ore woman without whom | must for
ever be lonely. You have been only too
faithful to Barbara, or you would have
seen it before
Rapid, earnest, passionate, grew the
strong mans words As he uttered them.