The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1882-08-03
A BRAVE DEED.

Ada Carfit was decidedly the belle OF
Scarborough; and as that small but
bustling Midland town had reputation
among its neighbors for lovely lasses,
the distinction was a great one. In fig
ure, the girl was somewhat small and
slight; but in feature she had attained
almost to perfection, both of outline and
of tint. She had lofty, well-propor-
toned brow, around which rippled rich
waves OF auburn hair. She had eyes
of dreamy blue, cheeks just sufficiently
tinged with delicate carmine to throw
into relief the pearly whiteness of her
teeth. The worst of it was, she knew
that she was beautiful and the knowl-
edge spoiled her.
Ada was the only child of wealthy
Scarborough manufacturer, and added
to her other charms that of being a very
considerable heiress. Naturally she had
of suitors not few. But Ladies Clara
We're de We're can exist in much lower
circles than that of the poets faulty
heroine, and Ada Carft had caught the
vice of a proud coquetry. She relished
her power over susceptible hearts, and
did her best to extend it. The breath
of homage was a life to her. She led
her wooers gently on till the tolls were
all around them, and then, of a sudden,
they found an impalpable, impossible
barrier erected, and Ada's smiles were
for newer corners. 1t was an amuse-
ment, half the zest of being, to her; she
never wasted an anxious thought on
what it might mean to her victims.
Men were strong, and must protect
themselves.
The last to enter the charmed circle
had been youth from the North, who
in appearance and manners was certain
ly at a disadvantage with those whom
he quickly came to consider his rivals.
Roger Herlestone was astwo-and-twenty;
but his thick-set. burly figure, and his
abundance OF beard, made him look
years older. He was heavy in feature,
uncertain in movement, and awkward
in address. As the nephew of Mr..
Marston, of Marston & Marsh, cotton
mill owners, his prospects were very
good. But the knowledge of this fact
somehow failed to give him the needed
self-contidence.
Rogers many blunders made him to
large extent the butt of his male ac-
quaintance, and it was probably this
that caused Ada Carfit, out of sheer op-
position, to treat him with marked favor.
Philip Dare, the lawyer, had likened
Rogers to the proverbial "bull in q
china shop and Philip Dare should be
made to bite his lip with vexation at
her Difference to the despised one. But
once again she was kind only to be
cruel.
Il cannot tell whether she cares for
me, or whether she does not.' said
Roger Herlestone to his younger brother,
Martin. Sometimes / think one thing,
and sometimes another. But this /
am sure of, she is all the world to me-"
"Then I'd ask her, old fellow"
''But-but-she has always so many
round her. Ada Cartit is the queen of
large circle, and III
'Have been the best of sons, the best
of brothers, and have no doubt, would
make the best of husbands
.'And l." said Roger resuming slow
ly, and paying no heed to this enthus-
iastic praise, .am rough and homelv
dream of becoming Prime Minister as OF
winning such wife,
Nonsense. Roger! Don't be so un-
necessarily modest You are just as good
as she, and the girl must know it. ~
Then" and the elders tone changed
suddenly. 'Tll put it to the test and
see. If Ada refuses me, it will be just
another dream dispelled, and 1 shall
face the worst,
The opportunity soon came. The two
were thrown much together at a sum-
mer picnic party, and some malign
genius made Ada more than ever gra-
cious. 1t seemed to her that she had
succeeded in thawing the ice of her ad-
mirer's awkwardness, and the studied
compliments he paid her awoke the
gleam of sunny. satisfied smile. She
little suspected the commotion that was
working beneath the surface They had
wandered out of sight and hearing of
the rest, on pretence Of examining some
curiously shaped rocks,
"How still the air is. under the sum-
said Ada. stopping at low fence that
crossed the hillside. For moment her
companion did not answer, and she cast
casual glance upwards at his face.
What Ada saw there made her start and
HbIS sHlNcl.
Yes" he said, with a hoarse and
mighty effort. ''this is just the turn of
the seasons, and this hush is FREQUENT
and very suggestive then. You and
have come TO turning-point, too, Miss
Carfit. and rlrst break the stiffness by
very imporsant question. Can YOU
not guess what that is-the story have
TO tell, Miss Carft-Ada?'
mo, no. We had better return. /
think We shall be lost, Mr.. Herle-
stone.''
Ada was keeping her composure won
derfully. and she hoped that by this
coldly spoken hint the confession she
feared might be averted. She did not
know the speaker
await an instant, Ada. Roger cried,
abandoning the last shelter of reserve;
Il have this to tell, that you are more to
me than any one else in the wide world
can ever be. | love you. Ada-surely
you must have OWNED it! Can you love
me beck again, howeYer littlea Win YOU
sons day be nIy wifesn
his words were coming swiftly enough
now, and his beseeching eyes, emphas-
lzea lne!r truth. The man was trans
formed, and faint response of adnira-
ration was raised IN the girls heart.
But he was-could be-no more than
others she had rejected. This triumph
she was used to, and gloried in: though