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

absence was not unusual. She undressed
and went TO sleep.
That night Mrs Vinton suddenly fell
i'll, and Max went for doctor, who
| lived some distance oat of the village.
1t was a clear, moonlight night. As
they approached the Averell house, from
the opposite direction came carriage to
the gate.
"Faster, for Gods sakew said Max,
hoarsely, and applied the whip to the
doctors nag.
| The moonlight shone full on falling,
dark lock of hair, frightened eyes and a
yellow "cloud;" ON Maxwells white face,
| The still night air echoed to stihed cry,
and the girl vanished into the house.
"Was that HildaT' began Max.
II decline to answer any questions
returned Davenport, and shot by like a
flash. One. rang out from the church
| tower.
"Bear it like a man, Max" cried the
doctor.
Hilda, HiIdaw cried Haidee shaking
her sleeping image, who slowly Enclosed
her eyes; I'm ruined! It's one o'clock,
and I've been driving with Eugene, and
Max saw me just now" Hilda sprang
up to see her sister throw herself on the
floor, with her arms twisted over her
head, murmuring, I" If it had been any
body but Max"
The next morning Max came to see
his betrothed She met him with pale
face that did not escape his notice.
He broke out: "How could you. who
had an honest mans love, play that man
false as you have done? Last night was
too much. I've done with you"
She looked him full in the face and
said:
"You are mistaken. Ihave been true
to you always"
"Do you deny that you were driving
with Davenport last night?
81 do"
"Wherc were you at eleven last
night"
"Down by the riverside"
$50 l believed" he answered bitterly
The Hilda Averell that ] knew never
would have descended to equivocation
| have been utterly mistaken in you"
"There can be nothing more between
US, Mr.. Vinton," said Hilda, with cold
dignity. 81 have told you Gods truth
You have not believed me. Here is your
ring" And Max was left alone, uncon
1 WINGED. Eugene Davenport had left by
the early train.
"What is to become of us? What
will Haidee do?" was Hilda's thought
repeated over and over. Her father
called for his letters. She had forgotten
her daily visit to the postoffice. Haidee
was i'll with crying in her own room, and
she must go alone. She fastened on the
dainty hat with the soft yellow plume
kissed her sister and set out. 1t seemed
as if the whole village was in the street
Ten steps from her door she met Alice
Evans, who crossed over to avoid her
A little farther on she saw Max and
Grace, both of whom cut her dead. Mrs
Swain passed her with a curious and
impertinent stare, and near the door OF
the postoffice she heard one of a group
of men say to the other:
That's the one. Their Eliza told me
that at eleven Miss Haidee came in and
gave an order, and the other came in
about one o'clock. Mr.. Vinton seen
her"
How Hilda got home she never knew.
She gave her father his letters. There
was note from Alice Evans, saying
that she regretted that circumstances
compelled her to give up the drawing
lessons, and would she be good enough
/ to inform her sister Hilda had told
Haidee nothing more than that the
engagement was broken off between her
and Max.
"Are you sure he recognized you.
/ Haidee?"
eyes, know he did. | had ON your
cloud, and he saw ME right at the gate
/ Oh, if he hadn't, Hilda, 1 do love him
/ sop And she threw herself, face down
ward, on the pillow. A hunted look
came into Hilda's eyes, but not word
did she say, save: "He shall be yours,
! then"
That night, when Haidee was asleep,
she dressed herself carefully in black,
collected her money and jewels, and kiss
ing her sister and father, but not waking
them, Hilda Averell left her home for
ever.
That night the old man died in his
sleep. During the weeks of intense Attic
ton which followed for Haidee, Max
made an excellent consider. She thought
him very kind to forgive and forget SO
completely her escapade. One day she
asked him why he broke his engagement
with her sister, of whom no traces could
be found, and whose flight to her was in
applicable, although the village had
quite settled that she had eloped with
Mr.. Davenport. Max's face was dark
ened.
Because l could not marry woman
whose name was not spotless. That
moonlight drive could not be forgiven"
You are utterly mistaken, Max"
Haidee," he cried, the whole world
might swear she was innocent, and !
would not believe it."
"Not," gasped Haidee, no.-oh Max
If | should say that it was l that
night who"
Max caught her in his arms. "Such
devotion / would not hear of Blast
your life for hers! My darling, let me
shield you henceforth from all harm.
This is what thought, Hilda. Forgive
me my mistake"
The next year saw Haidee Averell the
wife Of Maxwell Vinton.
Mrs. Lafourcade was widow with two
children. After her husbands death
she had taken up her abode with her
elder brother, Hugh Forsythe, a bachelor
of about fifty-fve, who had made a large
fortune in China, and had come back to
New York to take care of his only sister.
He was extravagantly fond of his nieces,
and spent a good deal of his spare time
in playing with them in their nursery,
over which presided a strikingly hand
some woman of perhaps thirty years,
who played in the house the part of
lady's maid, child's nurse, governess and
sometimes waitress, when the brother
and sister chose to have tea in the even
/ ing.
"How long did you say Marie has been
in the house, Delia?" said Hugh For
sythe, as she vanished from the room
with orders to bring the tea-things one
evening.
About year. now. | wish | liked
/ her. Hugh but she is so still am ALWAYS