The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1884-03-20
"IT is YES"

Handsome Melton Mayne tramped
sayagely along the river bank, indiffer-
ent TO its sunset beauty, unconscious of
the perfume he crushed from the vio-
lets under his feet, half wild with dis
appointment and the pain OF rejected
love.
1t did not matter to him that the
shining water was mirror of the sky's
brilliant dyes, that the May wind
touched his face with a fragrant ca
ress, that he had that night youth,
wealth, health, and beauty-everything
went as nothing since Avis Earle had
shaken her gentle brown head and so
decidedly said, No"
He had not expected rejection-why
should he? Avs was only factory op-
erator-he the only son of the rich
owner of Tendon Mills.
He had met her at picnic before he
knew her station, and been charmed
with her. The style Of her beauty
suited him-the warm brown eyes and
crisp waves of gold-bright hair-and
the little air of reserve with which she
received his attentions piqued him from
the first.
During the whole six weeks of their
acquaintance it could never be said that
Avis, like other girls, had thrown her.
self at his head.
From the day he had met her first,
with her hands full of arbu1us, to that
memorable evening when he had pro-
posed marriage to her and been refus-
ed, she had been the same sweet, re-
Isar,, oh, sna
at the beginning-the one who had won
and kept his heart.
To be sure, he was full of bitterness
and displeasure, goaGed to some little
meanness of spirit and injustice; but
Melton Mayne was too noble fellow to
long harbor dark thoughts.
He suddenly threw himself upon the
grass, and pulled off his hat in the soft
wind.
1T is my first disappointment, and l
suppose l am taking II very badly"
Yes, it was mean to mentally up
braid himself for falling in love with
"a factory girl" When had Avis pro-
fessed to be aught else? With all her
exquisite daintiness and appropriate
ness of dress, her fastidiousness of
speech and refinement, she had never
in the least concealed her habit of daily
toll in the noisy, oil-smelling, confined
mills. She came and went with the
other operatives.
The only difference was. that she res
olutely repelled all that could soil per-
son, mind. or manners.
In the Sunday-school she led class
of little ones who loved her dearly, and
during the week the mill had stopped
for repairs, he had met her frequently
ut the house of mutual friend, Miss
Lucy Lord, the best of good little old
maids.
Miss Lucy expressed love and pity
for Avis. .'She was once far better off,
poor child; but she bears up bravely
under her Affections. So much she
said. but seemed disinclined to say
more. and Melton disdained to urge
further revelations.
But sympathy for her unknown
trouble strengthened his love for sweet
Avis. She must marry him, and let
him guard and serve her.
And so, like the headlong young fell
low he was, he had proposed that love
" sunset hour by the river, and-been
refused.
1t can't be helped" said poor Mel
ton, crushing his soft grey hat nervous
Il between his hands, '.any more than
could help falling in love with her.
She is the prettiest, sweetest girl in
town; not another, high or low, so beau
tiful, ! swear! On, why should sne re-
fuse me? thought she liked me! she
knew l loved the ground she trod on;
then why need she have planted that
dreadful No.! in my memory? never
shall forget it as long rs | live-or the
look of her face. SRe was quite pale
she seemed panied. She is not a CO.
ouette. Oh, what can the matter be? |
am not stupid. or ugly, or brute. l
have money! could make her life
beautiful But she said mol" con-
cluded poor Melton, with a groan as he
rose to his feet again.
Painfully at loss what TO do with
himself in this crisis of his young life,
he continued aimlessly walking, but in
another direction.
He paused at last at the top of the
hill and looked back. Beyond the road
the sky was family tinted with dying
gold, and there was no one in sight.
les, woman walking wearily, and
man staggering at her side
Once or twice, as be watched the
couple, he saw thewoman. or girl rath-
er, stretch ont her hand to her compan-
ion-to be repulsed. The latter was
an old man and evidently intoxicated.
He stepped behind tree as they APP
preached. He pitied the girl. who
could hardly enjoy being stared at by
stranger. The man was evidently so
inebTiated as to be past shame.
Soon they came opposite him, and the
man stopped and looked back. The
girl caught his arm.
'Leb m bel'' he growled.
''naar father. come home with me
now,' syllabled the girls sweet voice
pleadingly; and in one breathless mo-