The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1878-06-20

| under the shade OF the dTD0r and gianc-
ing across the grounds, just completed
tie picture. For she had been fairly
settled iii her cottage now wfor six weeks,
and it WAS with no little pride that she
looked about her. The eneglectcd apple
| trees had been trimmed into neat shape.
and ROW We're a gorgeous mass OF pink
! blossoms. The vines had been pruned
also, and trained up, where they were
growing finely, and giving great prom
ise Of fruit the present season. A large
! plat of neglected strawberries had been
carefully cleaned out, with plants left
at the proper distances, and the whole
top dressed with fine compost. The
! balance of the garden was most prom
! ising. Lettuce, peas, onions. goose
| berries, ,aSparaguS-and i'll fact every
thing in the line of garden fruit and
vegetables, were in thriving cOndi-
| ton.
John Marks had proved an inyalua-
ble assistant, and Edna time was fully
employed III overseeing the work, and
planning for future operations. Katy
was with her, and had the full care of
the indoor work.
Edna had not been permitted to
choose her mode Of life unmolested.
! People had advised, sneered and eX-
| claimed, according to their various
| ways of viewing the matter. But Edna
| had cOolly ignored them all, and kept
| resolutely on, seeing which many Of
her former friends quietly gave her the
cold shoulder. DR.. Gray ana Thorpe
Clifford were not among them. True
and steadfast, they stood by her, and
their friendship had smoothed many diff
iicultes from her path. She had writ
ten to Leslie Holmes in answer to one
OF his letters, and III it she had told him
Of the change in her worldly affairs,
and what she had concluded to do.
Since that time she had heard no word
from him. lie had always answered
her letters punctually before, and some
how she felt as though her ''strong
mindednesS, as Mrs. Horton persisted
in calling it, had something to do with
his silence.
With a last glance over the garden,
she turned to enter the sitting room,
where Chirp was singing his sweetest
songs among the flowers i'll the win
dow, when she was arrested by DIR.
Gray s rough. hearty tones.
"VieWing your work, eh?' he said,
stopping beside her, and casting
glance around. you came, you saw,
and you conquered, madame Edna.
Really, didn't think it was possible to
work such a transformation as you have
accomplished here"
Il am glad you like the looks of it,
Dr. Gray. Without your counsel and
help, am afraid | should have had
poor success. If men would accord
women more of such friendship as you
have me. we would nave Il per-~-- 'S-Es-
Ju;In we no.
DR.. Gray looked away off where the
hills and the horizon met. with Il still
farther away look in his eyes, and said:
'Inever was much of u lady's man,
Edna" slowly and deliberately, "but
have trotted you on my knee many
time, years and years ago, and it is no.
thing more than natural that | should
take an interest in younoW Have you
heard from Leslie yet?'
1t was the doctors way to jump from
one subject to another. and the abrupt
question did not surprise Edna.
''No: it has been seven weeks since l
heard from him. / wrote him when |
removed here, informing him of my in
tended project, but have not received
an answer yet"
The doctor meditated, but said no
more on the subject, and after stay of
half an hour he took his leave.
lit looks q little suspicious, and yet
| u'thardly believe it, ''he soliliquiZed,
as he went down the porch. Il don't
like to be mistaken when | form an
opinion Of any one, and If Leslie
Holmes throws Edna over because of
her goa head-a-tiyeness. shall lie, and
he will deserve to be kicked" and the
doctor stepped a little brisker, as If he
would find pleasure i'll administering
the punishment, should it be necessary.
''She's got the true grit" meditatvely,
.'and she's bound to go ahead and win.
She's sensible girl, a remarkably SEN
sible girl, and amt afraid to soil her
| fingers to gain al honest living. If
Leslie marries her, he will get a prize. "
| And with this the doctor climbed in
to his buggy and disappeared down the
road in cloud Of dust.