The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1884-05-22

sure. But just as sure as one person
/ goes up in the world another goes
down. There's my niece, now, Helen
Dudley, the lame girl-you've heard
me speak of her haven't youP"
"Oh, yes, Often" said Isabel. II
hope she is well?"
'.As well as ordinary" said the
dressmaker, with sigh. Lame folks
can't expect to 60 dancing around the
world, you know. 1t isn't her health,
Miss Dale, it's her living. She has lost
her place."
Lost her place, Mrs. Lovel?" re-
peated Isabel.
''Got notice last week that her SER
vices were not required any longer, :"
said Mrs. Lovel, lugubriously.
deep breath of pity, ''she was careless
about her work or unpunctual or some
thing"
'.She gave every satisfaction" said
Mrs. Lovel. "and there wasn't day
but she was at her desk as regular as
the clock at five minutes before nine"
'1t's very strange" said Miss Dale.
..Not so very said Mrs. Lovel; sit s
| political influence does it all, Miss
Dale. we are very sorry to lose you,
Miss Dudley says the chief CLERK, says
he. And it amt no doings of mine, ;
he says, says he; but there's a young
lady, he says, that must be made
room for. She's got grand friends,
and when they ask for place, place
must be had"
Isabel had grown first little flush
ed, and then pale.
do you know exactly where her
desk was, Mrs. Lovel?" she said.
'It was room r, section IT," said
the dressmaker. Poor Helen, don't
know what on earth is to become of
her. And she supported two little Sis
ters, too"
Miss Dale left her black serge gown.
Make it as you like, Mrs. Lovel, :"
she said recklessly, and then went out
with an absent, far-away look in her
eyes.
Yes" she whispered to herself,
'there is a deal of injustice in the world.
But it can be set right sometimes,
thank Heaven"
II was almost dark when she came
into the little back parlor, where Mrs.
Dale was doing her best to entertain
Major Eccleson, and a cheerful coal
fire glowed through the dusk.
Il thought you were never coming
back" said the widow, petulantly.
"And now [ can 60 down stairs and
see about my new hat from the milli-
ner's. Major Eccleson is waiting to
see you, Isabel"
about the office" said the Major,
politely. Il promised to give you
some few hints about the routine there,
But Isabel had glided up in front of
the fire, as her mother closed the op-
posite door.
ut will not be necessary, Major Ec-
cleson,n she said. Il have-resigned
the office"
Resigned, it?" exclaimed the Major
''In favor of the young lady who was
removed to make room for me-" said
| Isabel. II have learned that she is an
invalid, and lame. She cannot make
| her living in any other way. And she
has two little sisters dependent upon
her. Oh, Major Eccleson, should not
have been heartless and cruel in the
extreme to allow such q sacrifice to be
made?"
''And what are you to do?n asked
Eccleson.
Anything" Isabel made answer.
81 am young and strong. | have the
world before mel AT all events,
should despise myself if l insured my
own ease and comfort at the expense
of this poor GIRL
Eccleson looked at her with darkly
glittering eyes.
Isabel" said he, 'you have done
right"
''You call me Isabel" she uttered
| piteously. II am so friendless and
alone. The name sounds so sweetly in
my ears! l thank you for using it, Ma
| jor Eccleson.
He smiled gently.
Isabel, then," he said. 81 did not
think it was in you to sacrifice yourself
| thusr'
You must have misjudged me sad
| ly,' she retorted with sort of proud
mournfulness.
Isabel he said suddenly, after a
moments silence.
Yes. Major Eccleson."
would you accept another office if
l were to lay it at your feet?'
If L could be quite sure that | would
not be crowdlng out another woman"
said Isabel with faint smile.
You may be quite sure" he pro-
tested: mo other woman has ever
reigned there before. No other woman
shall ever reign there again. 1t is the
office of queen of my heart and home
the office of my darling wife! Oh, Is
abel, do not look upon me so strangely.
| Have you not suspected all along how
dearly l loved you-how / was only re-
straining the expression of my affection
for fear that you were mere fashion
able belle?'
No." said Isabel frankly. How
could | suspect? l was only certain
| that
THAT what, Isabel"
THAT | loved your'
And this was the beginning and the
end of the love story. Isabel Dale never
went into public Office, but she married
Major Eccleson, much to the gratifca-
ton of her mother, who was thereby
| pensioned for life as the genteelest of
mothers-in-law. And Helen Dudley
kept her place.
'Of course" said young Mrs. Eccle-
son philosophically, lone can't expect
things to happen exactly as one pleases.
But as far as my life is concerned,
couldn't wish a single event to be diff
ferent."
Not even to have a younger and
more romantic husbandP" laughingly
queried the major.
Isabel looked at him with n tender
light in her eyes.
Shall tell you secret" said she.
''Most assuredly, yes"
"Well, them she uttered softly.
here it is. You were always my beau
ideal.
An electrician has been explaining in
detail how a storekeeper, having an
electric light in his store, and being
very fully insured, might easily ar