The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1878-03-14

window, for her charges shared the room
with her. She wondered drearily if Hill
da AverelI would ever emerge from
Marie, the maid, as she had done once
before during the long thirteen years
She shuddered at the recollection of that
time, only year ago, when, after hav-
ing remained goyerness in one family
for five years, one dark day Eugene Day-
export had recognized her in the pres
ence of her employer, and she found that
her sad story had preceded. Eugene
did not stay to see the mischief he had
done. Then knowing that without a
reference she could not get a similar sit
uation, she went TO Mrs. Lafourcade as a
French maid, in virture of her mothers
birth. That other wild pain in her heart
she stifed remorselessly. Why had
Hugh Forsythe's gray eyes always rested
on her so kindly?
The next afternoon, while Mrs. La
fourcade was having her hair brushed,
luxury of which was particularly fond, she
sent for her brother. He came with
alacrity to escape from himself. He was
furious, and ashamed to discover that
he, Hugh Forsythe, for the first time in
twenty years had fallen seriously in love
and with his sisters maid.
Hugh" began Mrs Lafourcade, ado
you remember my telling you some time
ago that distant cousin of my hus
bands was coming to consult me about
some property connected with the will?"
Hugh nodded, watching Marie's white
hands wandering through Mrs. Lafour-
cade's hair.
"He telegraphed to-day" she contin-
ued," that he will be here tomorrow
afternoon, and brings his wife, whom l
invited on visit to the city. l have
never seen them, so / want you to be AS
good as you can, and help me to enter
tain them"
Hugh pulled his grizzled mustache
and promised to be good.
Marie had dressed her mistress and the
children, and was left alone while they
received their visitors. She shook back
the hair from her forehead, weary ges-
ture now, and began to think-a process
which she INDUCED in often of late, and
which had brought gray threads into her
beautiful hair.
Marie" said Mrs. Lafourcade, sud
denly entering, az told Mrs. Vinton
would send you to dress her. She is in
the room at the end of the hall"
Hilda's heart stood still. She went on
repeating "They were not the only Vim
TONS" She raped. A faint voice babe
her enter. She opened the door and saw
lying on the bed woman, dark, young,
and alas! in the last stages of consump-
! ton.
"The journey was very exhausting,"
she said, in an interval of coughing. 81
shall be better presently. You will find
my things in the bag there" She
dragged herself off the bed, and as the
maid turned toward her shrieked, GILL
dal"
"Not Haidee!" cried the other, hor-
rifed at the wreck of her brilliant sister.
go, my darling, it can't be true."
at is, it is" whispered Haidee, as
she fell back on the pillow. "Call Max,
quick" But at the sound of her scream
the terrified household was pouring into
her room. 81 think this is the end,
Max" she said family, looking at him
with agony in her large eyes. "The
end of all my wickedness. Pve found
/ Hilda. l was the one, and she suffered
for me. But l loved you, Max, always
and 1 was only giddy. You must be
father and mother both to my children"
with a frantic effort to make her voice
distinct. ooh God! / want to live"
A red stream choked her. She sank into
the arms of her wronged sister and never
spoke again.
/ A year afterward Max Vinton was
pleading his suit to Hilda a second time
/ in vain.
J ~ never loved you as a woman ought
to love her husband" she said, calmly.
and all my affections died out for you
long ago. You were too ready to sus-
pect and cast me adrift. You told my
story to Mr.. Forsythe. No, you can
be no more to me than my sisters hug
band"
AS Max went out he met Hugh For
sythe going up the steps. In the parlor
he found his hostess absorbed in contem-
plation of a scrap OF paper. He was
obliged to pass her, as her back was
| toward the door, and could not help
glancing at it. 1t was hasty sketch of
his own face, done some time during that
hard year. She turned, her color rose,
and for the first time she was embar-
raised.
81 met Mr.. Vinton just now, and I
saw that he had not been able to make it
up with you, as he told me he intended
to do, year ago. could not stand the
sight of his happiness, and went off on
my travels" Mr.. Forsythe said, looking
down on her with his searching gray eyes,
But l heard that his house was still
without a mistress, and was likely to re-
main 50, and 1 came back Immediately.
May l have the reward of my impa-
tience?"
at is not worth having" she answer
ed, mournfully. cold and worn and
gray"
But Hugh Forsythe got the reward he
wanted