The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1878-09-26
GERALD WICK, TEA
RAIDER, CHINA.

A long stretch OF velvet lawn, bathed
in delicious golden sunshine. Eour
people finishing a game of laWn-tennlS,
and as many looking on with kind OF
lazy interest. On either hand shady
slrubberies, bordered with brilliant
noWer-beds: ut the end of the lawn a
little brook; in the distance the long
sweep Of the COtSWOldS.
Fifteen. counts Captain Hall, trl-
umphantly, as a vicious stroke OF Ger
aid S0rthwick's s racket drives the ball
beyond bounds. Gerald las played
badly throughout, almost III silence,
with a grave face and compressed lips.
1t does not matter, for his partner,
Maud Conway, has exchanged with
CAPTAIN Hall enough merry badinage
for dozen people. The young lady i
neitled now at an i.nominious defeat.
Il could wish you victor i'll bette
contested fight, Captain HALL"
1T is my highest ambition, Miss
Conway" There WAS nothing III the
words, but the meaning, tone, and Il
low bow gave them point. Maud bit
ter lips, and Gerald threw down the
racket. his face a little sterucr than
before. She turned to him, IN angry
glitter in the violet eyes:
Your play has been Wretched, Mr..
Sorthwick; it was never worse. For
the future we dissolve partnership.
Can we? Can we Maud?' He speaks
meamingly now, and it seems strange
her name can come with such tender
infection from 50 hard and firm Il
mouth.
"'Maud' to my friends, sir; Miss
Conway to you"
lie leaves her, ard SaHnters into tie
shrubbery, following little winding
path until it reaches the brook. Then
he throws himself at full length upon
the soft moss, and thinks bitter things
of the girl who has befooied him. Half
an hour later there is rustic among
tie boughs, and he sees her in the act
OF retreating.
Il am sorry d sturbed your slnm-
bers, Mr.. Sorthwick. l thought you
were gone
You disturb my life, Maud, waking
and sleeping. Come here"
lie spoke with such command, she
instinctiyely obeyed, but her whole
soul rose in rebellion. 1t was a novel
experience to the spoiled and petted
beauty.
He pointed to low, rustic seat, and
she took it. AS though to measure
strength, they look into each others
faces-his pale, determined; hers pas
sionate. resentlul. Then Gerald turns
his head away, lest resolution should
fail. His tone is low, but full of
fierce, suppressed energy:
You have not Played with my love
for months, Maud, without learning
what it is. 1t comes between me ana
all other chance of happiness"
lie pauses a few seconds, wherein
Size plucks n wild-tlower, and picks it
to pieces. Sweet and pensiye she looks
now, and unwontedly thoughtful; but
his eyes are on the distant hills.
Prom time TO time, when L would
haze spoken. you sileHced me, and |
thought it girlish coyness. You made
Jt telieye you cared, Maud"
II only lie would look now, and see
how the girls mobile features answer
The SoGtowfE! wall i'll his voice! But
ae does not.
- saw you flirting continually, but
il was your nature, and did not mind.
for L thought you gave me more. So
you fooled me as you fooled others"
"Fortune-hGnters, all Of them" she
orohe In.
Possibly" and lis proud head |as
thrown back 4 LITTLE. Il am iree from
lhat imptdatioH. Rich rs you are, Miss
Conway. Tie Sorthwicls Of Sorthwick
are richer"
1t WAS true as she knew well. cen
era! So.thwick, the eluer, had the rep
utation OF being The wea. ,hleSt land
owner in the country, and lie was the
only son.
1T is time tie farce were ended, lie
continued. Il have been too long the
willing slave of your caprice. 1t is not
lifting the woman l hoR0r above all tie
world should be on terms Of free and
easy intimacy with such man as
Captain Hail."
\ contemptuouS curl of the lip
emphasized the words.
Maud started as though they had
stung her; her hasty temper i'll arms
immediately.
by what right Go you venture TO
criticise my friendship, SIR"
You shall give me the right" he re-
joined, hotly. "or from this dag l will
never willingly touch your hand nor
see your face. Friendship. what is
that beside such love rs mine? Choose
between them. Maud: his friendship
or my love. l viii never ask yoi
ag%in.
This desperate earnestness almost
frightened her; nevertheless she made
a mocEiEg curtSey.