The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1880-04-22
CLOUDED CRYSTALS.

this careless young person with admiring
eyes, and who could give her diamonds
| galore, if she would take them It Is al
most impossible to put to death the
match making demon who lives in every
woman's brain. Down in my heart of
hearts l knew that Sylvia was happier
in her independent poverty than she
would be the wife of stolid Mr. Berwick,
and yet my imagination took fire when /
| thought of her as the mistress of Mr..
/ Berwick's handsome house. But Sylvia
WAS far from falling in love with Mr.. Ber-
wick, and a marriage a la nl0de was not
in her category of marriages. flushed
guiltily when 1 awoke from my foolish
day dream and found her staring at me.
''You know that you are thinking sour
grapes!" she said abruptly, but only
wait till [ am rich, and see. I'll build a
hospital for horses and dogs. I'll start
free libraries in these little God-forsaken
towns, where the people only die of
ennui or-whiskc.. I'll"
"a set of diamonds won't do all that, :"
! interrupted Remus; and chimed in with
"What will your husband say to all
this?"
"My WHAT" and Sylvia's jaw fell,
and her eyeballs rolled in the most hope
/ less manner
was provoked, and yet could not
help laughing
"Your husband"
Il haven't any," stammered Sylvia.
"a husband-who is he2"
"Mr. Berwick"
James stood AZ the door with his SOL
emn announcement, and the owner of the
name directly behind him.
l looked at Sylvia to see how she would
| receive such an apropos answer to her
question, and was gratifed to find her
blushing like any school girl; but she le-
gained her self possession in a moment,
and went forward to meet her guest with
a trifie more hauteur than usual. She
flashed and sparkled, and he mumbled
along 'like a bee in bottle" Sylvia
said.
thought the man never would 60, I
yawned, and Remus muttered an excuse
and stumbled off to bed. Mr.. Berwick
held her hand long as he said "good-
night" and the mink only looked down
and begged him to ue careful Ur MS
throat, as the nights were foggy.
She held my face III both her hands,
kissed me good night, and slipped into
her room, where l heard her humming:
An ye shall walk in silk attire,
An siier ha to spare,
Gin yen consent to be his bride,
Nor think o Donald mair."
Luckily there was no Donald in the
case, unless honest, ugly George Sever
ence might take the role.
She had known him "a thousand and
one years, " she used to say-she couldn't
do without George.
George was clever-there was no de-
nying that but he was Il graceless Bo-
hemian. He was always agreeable, al
ways entertaining. He had tried all ways
of making living. 1t ended there.
La the weeks that followed | felt a
special Providence working out the ends
/ aimed at.
Mr.. Berwick came often: he took Syl-
via ont to ride in the Park, behind his
lovely chestnuts, and she was as demure
as a kitten.
George staid away, for which was
devoutly thankful.
Sylvia snubbed Mr.. Severance, too, so
I didn't wonder he commenced to STAY
away. But 1 know she missed him-we
all did.
'Sylviais going to marry Mr.. Berwick"
cried Johnny, one day at dinner, in the
artless manner peculiar to the eHtant ter
rible.
George who had happened in to din
ner that day, looked straight at Sylvia,
and said:
''ls it time for congratulations"
She took no notice of him, but lifted
her eyebrows at Johnny.
"Who told you sol"
Jane did"
Jane is a Sibyl," said Sylvia without q
blush. 'She has told us something We
all want to know"
"What is Sibn, whispered Johnny.
:" We all know about it, said Sylvia,
land you can give Johnny the benefit OF
your wisdom after we are gone, for Mr..
I Severance is going to take us to the min
strels."
"And you have just time TO put on
your bonnets, said George, as coldly as
if he had been prepared for the an
nouncement.
1 refused at first, but Sylvia consent.
ed.
Just as we closed the door behind us,
we met Mr.. Berwick coming up the steps
TOO bad, ;" said Sylvia; I'VE were just
going out"
He mumbled aomething to the effect
that he would take a walk with us. Wher
we arrived at the theatre entrance
George very gracefully invited Mr.. Ber
wick to come in with us. The stupid
old thing never took any notice of the
invitation, but went on buzzing some
idiotio pleasantly into Sylvia's ear, and
George stepped over and got four tickets
You would scarcely believe anybody
I could be so rude and live; but thea much
social rudeness is forgiven to such gen.
tlemen in consideration of their bushes:
tact.
I'm afraid George was gentleman II
spite of his empty pockets.