The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1883-09-13
BENT ON THEIR RUIN.

| When George Kenneth first saw John
SERIES wife after his return from five
years sojourn on the Continent, he
knew that when he had left pretty
eighteen-year-old Cora Thorpe, after a
| careless Irritation, he had made a grand
mistake.
She had loved him with the first fresh
love of her pure young heart, while he
had felt merely passing thrill of veri-
fed vanity at his power over her.
1t was the old story of broken idol.
Until he went away with light adieu,
she had believed him tender and noble,
and herself the happiest of women.
Then came sense of bewilderment,
of loss, then anguish and shame that she
should have loved one SO unworthy.
But two years later came John Serle,
a very king among men; ten years her
senior, strong, manly, talented, and as
true as steel.
There followed happy courtship and
a quiet wedding. and now Cora Serle,
infinitely more winning and lovely at
Itwenty-three than she had been at
eighteen, was mistress of an elegant
home.
George Kenneth met her at Mrs.
Lolard's reception, and he caught his
breath at the sight of her. She had
been pretty fair-haired girl, but to-
night, in pale blue silk, white lace, and
pearls, she was vision of loveliness.
Her dainty head was crested with
conscious dignity; the fine silken gold
en-brown braids coiled simply and fast
ened with q pearl comb; the delicate
brows arched serenely over eyes of the
deepest pansy-blue; and the red lips
closed with a gracious sweetness which
told-plainer than words could have
told-of the deep joy and content in her
heart. The pale pure face, with it's
like star through the shifting mass of
simpering deceitful visages that drifted
about her, and the sight of it sent pain
to George Kenneth's heart.
''And she might have been mine, I"
be thought, as he made his way toward
her.
The faintest widening of the shining
eyes was all the sign of astonishment
that she gave when he bowed before her
and claimed acquaintance.
Kenneth was a vain man, though he
had the art to conceal it, and a rush of
angry modification surged through his
breast when she received him with per-
feet graceful calm. just so much and no
more as she accorded to each of the
black-coated, white-vested, and white
cravated masculines who fingered about
her.
But directly John Serle himself came
in search of his wife; then Kenneth,
watching jealously, saw the sudden
deep smile leap into her eyes and trem-
BILE upon her lips, while delicate flush
wavered in the fair cheek.
All the evil in him famed up.
If he had lost the love of this peerless
woman, at least she should not revel in
her happiness with another.
Among his acquaintances was an un-
scrupulous widow who had vainly en-
deavored to win the Hon. John Serle
herself
She hated Cora accordingly.
Kenneth was not long in gaining her
confidence, and together they laid a
heartless plan to estrange one of the
happiest couples that the gay world of
Gotham had ever looked upon.
| One evening at party Kenneth was
called upon 10 sing.
His heart was dark with his evil, but
Nature had gifted him with a most di-
vine voice, and as he sng, the gauests
drifted closer to the piano.
John Serle caught a strange look of
passionate reproach which Kenneth
flashed at Cora as he seated himself at
the piano, and he listened to the song
with growing uneasiness.
Then, as the singers voice quivered
into silence, John Serle heard these
words behind him:
.'It is very evident that Kenneth was
singing at Cora Serle."
"How soP'
"Why, don't you knowp There was
quite Irritation between the two several
years ago. Kenneth finally went of.
and Cora was nearly heart-broken, and
they say, looked like ghost of herself;
she thought he was going to marry her.
Then, after John Serle came upon the
lscene, l understand her parents were
determined to make match in that
direction. They do say that she mar
ried him for his money!
Possibly. They seem happy to-
gether."
appearances you know. But it
seems to me rather doubtful taste on
Kenneth's part-singing that song here.
He regrets his stupidity in leaving her,
and well he may, for she is magnifi-
lcent-looking woman"
The speakers moved on and John
Seris made his way to his wife's side,
with his first doubt of her ranking in
his heart
| But he would not be hasty; he would
wait for the proof positive before speak