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

lIltI6 Iftr GOlilC.
''Oh, John, You must not 90! l can
not let you; | cannot bear it," sobbed
Pansy, with heart breaking violence,
and clinging to him in an agony of
grief ''Oh, do not go-do not gor'
Why. Pansy, my darling, my brave
little wife, what has come over youp'
he exclaimed, much touched and i'm
pressed with the violence of her grief.
'.lt is so short a time-only six months.
And think-''
''But do not care for the money!"
she interrupted, lifting her face, that
each moment grew more drawn and pal
lid IN its misery. My soul is filled with
some horrible foreboding. Oh, John, do
not leave me. We are happy, and have
more than enough to live on; leave this
old uncle to dispose of his money else
where. Oh. john
'Pansy." he exclaimed almost sternlv,
you do wrong to talk so. | 90 to win
the money for you and baby 1t is nv
love for YOU that takes me on this
dreary voyage, and makes me willing
to spend six drearier months with a
sick whimsical old man. Ny darling, I
will suffer more than you; but when I
come back | place you in the luxury
you left TO become my wife. Be brave
and cheerful, darling; kiss me goodbye
with your own sweet smile, and do not
let me see tears at the last"
She said no more. A dumb despair
seemed to have taken possession OF her,
and i'a thn;r parfinn. is,- t>,.-1,
clung to him for brief moment as if
soul and body would be rent asunder
the next moment. Then someone-she
did not know who-guidcd her over the
gang-plank and placed her baby in her
arms.
Quickly her eyes. dry now, and strain
ed in their misery, sought out one dear
face among the many thronging the
deck. She saw his eyes glistening with
tears and his lips moving; but in the
shouts and ringing OF bells, the groans
of the huge ship. splashing great waves
in its efforts to start, she could hear
nothing.
Slowly it moved cut and away. A
wide seething gulf lay between them,
| and he could only see her start to her
feet and hold the baby out. Then, as
the distance increased, he saw man
step to her side, and apparently support
her
Lend me your glass just moment
for Gods sake!' he exclaimed to some
one near. Then, lifting it and drawing
that beloved face and form nearer, he
Saw that she was leaning back against
some boxes, with her sweet face color
less, and with closed eyes, supported by
a grey-haired gentleman OF familiar
aspect. Several were around her, and
some woman held little Lillian; and just
as he noticed this, the grey-haired man
lifted and turned his face toward the re-
treating steamer, 1t was Gordon Leslie.
his millionaire employer.
A few days later the Herald contained
this brief dispatch:
Ocean steamer Adelaide. bound for
Liverpool, five days ont, wrecked All
on board supposed lost. Particulars to-
morrow"
And tomorrow had confirmed the re-
port.
Pansy was widow-baby Lillian was
fatherless.
A month before. John Eldridge had
received, from wealthy eccentric old
uncle in England, the following letter:
"JOHN,-I am lonely-T am going to die. 1
have heir. Come and stay with me six
months-though / think viii die before that
time-and VIII leave nv money to you. You
by rights ought TO have Z. Your father was
my favorite brother, and was with me when
made much OF it. If you are married, leave
your wife at home. 1t would not be pleasant
for her here; besides. ! want all your time to
do my reading and writing, in payment for
which will give you two hundred month 10
send her, or TO keep yourself if you are still
single. Answer at once-Y our uncle
"RANDOLPH ELDRIDGE."
AuH for pancvfs colyo Tobn oI
ten back,
Il will come"
He was proud. and sensitive, and
poor, anG when Pansy became his wife
she renounced q home and life of lux
ury.
Now he could give it all back to her,
| could see her freed from the cares and
worries Of a poor mans wife, could see
her lovely, radiant, and happy. in the
joys and pleasures that once had been
hers. And would he not do it?
Night was coming slowly on. A bit
terly cold wind swept round every cor
| her and found thousand ways of
creeping into poor rickety tenement
| room where, on the floor beside straw
! pallet, frsil gir!ish figure crouched,
her arms eneireling something. and one
| pitiful moan after another crossing her
pallid lips.
''Oh, God, do not take her. Leave her
to me, or let me die with her Oh, l
am too weak to pray, the words choke
me- Oh, my baby, my baby; do not
die and leave me all alone!''
The pinched little face on her arm
| lighted with no response. The dear
baby's eyes did not open. and as her
own ha3 sunk with despairing cry. a
loud knock almost demolished the shat
terry door, which was speedily pushed
fopen, admitting man and woman.
This is Mrs. Eidridge, SIR" the lat