The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1878-06-27
TEN YEARS OF HER LIFE.
BY JENNIE DAVIS BURTON.

BY JENNIE DAVIS BURTON.
= would give ten years of my life TO
he that man S wife,
Honora Alchester turned away from
the picture which held the post of honor
III that well pictured parl0r. 1t was IA
sea-shore sketch, in which the blue
waves seemed fairly to leap up and
dance III the sunshine, with rugged
point rising from stony beach, and a
girl figure poised at the top with eager
eyes fixed upon sail outlined dimly
against the horizon. You knew at a
glance that the fresh breeze which blew
back her bright hair, and made WreathS
of foam at the base of the rocks, was
driving brave ship homeward freight
ed with her dearest hopes.
And yet doubt if IIonora Alchester,
with all her appreciation of art, under
stood the full story woven i'll with the
scene.
She certainly did not know that Lion
Stain, its author, had turned back for
one last look at the work which had
Just passed out Of his hands, and over
heard the words that betrayed the heart
which very lew suspected her of pos
sessing.
lie stood still. shadowed by the door
way, and looked at Miss Alchester in
stead. No beauty; indeed, the plaineSt
woman he had ever observed; angular
and sallow, thin-lipped and cold-eyed,
naughty and reserved. If Lion Stain
had not been i'll a bitter and desperate
frame Of mind, he would have thought
twice before sacrificing himself at such
a shrine even for the sake of Mammon
AS it was, Mamma Alchester listened
to his proposals made shortly after
ward, with a queer mingling OF pity
and disgust and hopeless resignation.
''Oh, dear me. If Honora has said
yes. it's settled, and there's no help for
it. She has been great disappolnt-
ment to me, so different from the other
dear girls, both married before they
were twenty to the best pdTtl OF the sea-
son. | give you my word, Nlr. Stain. |
them. IIonora has always been wild
about genius. | wonder that she isn't
one herself. and I've always been thank
/ ful that she don't go with inky fingers,
or with wax sticking about her clothes,
or take to sculpturing or something,
and really, it ism SO bad for her only to
marry an artist instead of taking the
notion to be one herself.'
The wedding was over, the bridal pair
| at Long Branch, and Nh. Stain in his
reading chair WAS turning the leaves of
his magazine, While his wife watched
the color which had crept into his usu-
ally pale checks, the eager spark III his
deep eyes.
"PaulS interview with Lucia she
said, laying her hand on his shoulder
and glancing down. What perfect,
yet thoroughly natural description Of
two such noble naturesl Oh, Lion;
what a grand world this is, and what
j opportunities it gives us for ennobIing
work! Think of the power which can
stir the heart through such simple
/ sketch as that"
i Mr.. Stain whirled over the remaining
/ leaves impatiently and started up.
Il can't say admire that style of
/ literature, all froth and frippery," said
/ he, and went strolling out upon the es-
! planade, showing nothing of the inward
uneasiuess which possessed him to the
casual eye.
But some powerful feelings were asst
within him, awakened 10y the very artl
Gle he had affected to condemn. Such
lot as that pictured might have been
possible to him. such II rounding and
perfecting Of life by the gift of one wo-
mans love; that one, alas. never the
plain. cold bsing whom he called wife
He was coming back from a long
tramp by n row of cottages facing the
sea. The gate belonging to one OF
these opened, and a little maid darted
out TO intercept him.
ii you please, Mr.. Stain, will you
please TO walk in, sir? There lady
wants to speak to YOU
Wondering, Mr.. Stain complied
There was a gleam of light silk ant
pearls and sunshiny hair, and then The
man S possession fairly left him.
"Erla! You here!'
Then you did not know 1t, Lion?
was better prepared. | saw Mrs. stain
on the drive yesterday. Oh, Lion
Lion, how soon you forgot me!''
"uow soon | learned the lesson youl
example set for me-" he amended, bit
terly.
Il called you in that | might tell yol
+ why it was so, Lion; that you might no
think harder of me than | deserve.
told them | would, mamma and-ant
Col. Thorne. l don't forget that ! an
his wife, but | became such as mucl
for your sake as my own; because
: learned to understand your needs bet
ter than you did, Lion: because | woul'
have been a dead weight instead of ;
help to you; l would have kept yol
9 back, and in time you would have hate;
me for it. But | could not bear tha
you should think married Col Thorn
for lis money alone. Now that yo
. know, say that you forgive me, an
good-by.'
' He caught the fair hand she held ou
) TO him,
Your mothers work. l might hay