The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1878-03-14
From the San Francisco Post.
THE FATAL CLOUD.
BY HELEN NJ. LANE.

The town of Ascham is very small, and
consequently very gossiping. Not an
event, however unexpected, takes place
but has already been discussed in all its
bearings by every one in the principal
street, from Mr.. Stump, who keeps the
hotel, so called, up town, down to Mrs.
Swain, dressmaker modes des Paris, whose
house is the last in the line. She, in her
turn, is ready to carry the news to the
principal dweller in the side street, Miss
Evans, daughter of the village school
master. The announcement that Mrs.
Swain now makes to Miss Evans in the
intervals of fitting a spring suit, is that
the mills across the river have just passed
into new hands.
az don't know whether he will be an
acquisition or not, " says Mrs Swain, who,
in virtue of her position, feels herself
intimately connected with Ascham
aristocracy. He is said to DC very fast
quite dangerously fast-and he amt
thirty yet"
Now, this item concerning the young
man was strictly true, but it must have
Aoated in the air, for until his arrival
that morning to take possession of his
property, no one had ever heard of him
before; and he certainly had given no
such information about himself. 1t was
Ascham intuition. Miss Evans put on
her hat with the firm intention of spread
ing the news and doing her duty.
Miss Grace Ninton was Miss Evans
dearest friend. Her faithful bosom was
the repository of all Miss Evans conf
dences. The Vinton House stood half
way down the street, next door to the
clergyman's. The grounds were separ-
ated by low fence, over which were
always swarming the McMasters chill
dren, as ill-governed as minister's chill
turned in at the Ninton gate she saw her
friend Grace lifting into his own domain
the sixth young McMasters, and gently
but firmly detaching from his grasp a
screaming chicken. Regardless that he
sat down on number eight to cry, Grace
turned to welcome her visitor.
" What do you think, Grace? The
mills are sold."
Yes" said Grace. His name is
Davenport. Will you stay to tea,
Alice? Max came home this morning,
and is going to bring him up here to-
night He met him in New York"
Duty and the desire of seeing the
stranger struggled in Alice Evans
breast. The Vintons had tea at half
past FIVE, and she gave drawing lessons
to the two Miss Averells on Tuesdays
and Thursdays from > to 6 o'clock. and
she was conscientious girl. So, with a
sigh, she declined Grace's tempting in
vitation. She walked briskly down the
street until she came to an iron gate,
which she opened, and went up the wind
ing paths to the house. This building
was situated in the midst of large
grounds, half lawn, half garden, and was
terraced down at the back to one of the
rivers which partially surrounded the
peninsula on which Ascham stood. Mr.
Averell was the richest man in the town,
and had given his daughters, his only
children, the advantage of two years al
New York boarding school. If the
truth must be told, they took drawing
lessons more from the desire to help the
schoolmaster's daughter than from any
hope of improvement. Alice's eyes
were resting rather enviously on the
various knicknacks with which the room
was adorned, when girls voice near her
said, "Well, Alice"
Good afternoon" she returned.
(Which one is it? "
.Haidee. Hilda will be down in
minute. | lost my bow, and she is
searching for IL"
And the girl, glowing brunette of
about eighteen, pushed back refractory
lock that would tumble over her fore
head, and seated herself at the table.
spreading out her materials A rush
and tlutter was heard on the stairs,
and a newcomer, Haidee's image, said in
Haidee's very tone:
Sorry to keep you waiting, Alice,
but was searching for Haidee's bow
50 saying, she tossed red bow To her
twin, and pinned a yellow one ut her own
throat Each one had her own color,
and it was only by this that they were
distinguished, even by their father 1t
was mystery to every one how they
managed not To mistake each other
There was silence for some time while
the sisters bent over their work. Then
Haidee looked up and said:
Max Ninton got home this morning. "
les, and brought some one with him,
believe" said Hilda, indiherently.
"Who is the man,
His name is Davenport" said Alice,
delighted at this opportunity He has
bought the mills"
Going TO live across the riyer%' said
Haidee, in disappointed tone.
(" suppose So" said Alice, rising to
depart.
Il haven't been out to-day" said
Hsidee, listlessly; "rH walk up with
you. The two girls went out together.
As they ssuntered down the street, pass
ing the Nintons', they saw Grace on the
veranda with two gentlemen, one tall
and fine looking, the other shorter and
much handsomer.
ooh, Maxi cried Haidee to the taller
of the two, " am so glad to see YOU at
home again. With your visit to New
York every month or two, you are quite
stranger. shall begin to call you Mr.
Ninton soon"
Don't" Max said, with a smile, as
he came down 70 the fence over which
she and Alice were leaning. :" BY the
by, Haidee, may | call tomorrow even
ing and bring Mr.. Davenport with me -