The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1883-01-11


never love you. Oh, Mr.. Leslie, in
mercy's name take back what you hav,
saio."
He understood her. Knew how love
for her child was urging her to accept
a love she could never return.
For answer he held out his arms and
only repeated:
''For her sake"
''Go away" cried Pansy suddenly,
almost fiercely. Give me time-a
week; and. perhaps. Heaven willtell me
what to do. Don't come until SEMI
for you-promise me-"
II PROMISE be said, and, taking her
hands, kissed each, and said once
more:
'.Be merciful to us BOTH,
Then after he was gone, Pansy sank
down on her knees with her hands lifted
and agoDisingly prayed:
Help me, guide me, oh, Father in
heaven. i am as one blind; lead me,
have mercy on men' =
Even as she prayed her answer came.
Lillian pushed open the door, and, with
her pretty toddling tumbling walk.
reached her kneelipg mother, and over
her bowed head Tapped a paper.
Mamma, tut; mamma, tut" she
cooed
God help me, this must be my au-
swer." Pansy moaned, rising and taking
the child in her feeble arms.
Mamma, tut; mamma tut" persist
ed Lillian, Tapping the paper.
Yes, darling, yes" answered Pansy,
reaching for the scissors. Mamma
will cut pretty kitty for Lillian-see"
But what Lillian saw was something
startling indeed The scissors paused
in the first slash, and in a moment, fell
nerveless, then q scream thrillingly
clear echoed through the house, as
Pansy started to her feet, made one tot
tering step and fell. one name having
echoed across her lips: ''John! John!'
For in the very paper Lillian brought
was the following:
your eye. Where are you? My escape was
Miraculous. | have written, .seai iched, and
advertised, and am almost wild with despair.
| try this in frei,zy of failing hope. have
been in New York over two months. Am at
our old address. JOHN ELDRIDGE'
Before life returned to Pansy, her
husband did. She was in his arms
when she awakened, and. with a faint,
joyous cry, she swooned again.
But Joy seldom kills, nor can such
sacred JOY be described. SO we will
only listen to his story, told some hours
after. in the presence of Mr. Leslie.
The storm came in the night" he
said. sit was as brief as destructive. l
saw that everything was going to be
lost, and lashed myself to table. l was
nj of Nv
conscious for three days; then hunger
and exhaustion overcome me.
IAN outward bound vessel saw and
hauled me in, Us good as dead, when |
next knew anything l was helpless in
seaport town and strangers. They said
| had been there over a week.
Il telegraphed at once to you and
Uncle Randolph. receiving an immedi-
ate reply from him, but nothing from
You itred aSann az n,S and Il iaeffaai8 ana Ithsn
TT was III three months; then Uncle
Randolph sent on two physicians and
had me removed to his house. The
Journey gave me another relapse, and
another fever followed. l hung on the
very verge of death for two months,
then began to mend, and at the end of
two more started TO come home. faint
ed before reaching the steamer. and
was taken back.
"When at last l was strong enough
to come, | could find no trace or clue of
you. | went to Buffalo and saw your
parents. and, Pansy darling, they are
wild with grief, and have retracted all
their bitter words.
ssT smoke of UOinp of once to Mr. Les
lie, but our landIady at once said that
she knew nothing of you, and had call
ed repeatedly to know if she had learn
ed anything. | intended to go and see
him any way on his own account, but
kept putting it of, as heart and brain
were SO full of other things.
To-day | put in the personal, and
this afternoon went round to see him.
You may imagine our meeting. He has
told me everything, darling. and"
There he paused. choked with emotion,
and Mr.. Leslie, hurriedly rising, took a
hand OF each, and said agitatedly:
From the bottom of my heart / say,
God bless you BOTH Think of me
sometimes in your joy"
But there he also broke down, and
with hurried pressure to each hand,
went away; and John Eldridge, gather
ing his child and his wife, so frail and
feeble, into his arms, kissed them re-
peatedly, with the fervent exclamation:
Please God, you will never know
want again. ! have come back a rich
man, and al that love and money can
do to win roses ard health back will be
done, my darling"