The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1885-07-30

more gracious answer from me. With
such face-with such eyes, who could
resist her? Did she know how beauti-
ful she was? Pshaw! every woman
knows that.
Our paper was simply chit-chat on
the topics OF the day, and steered tol-
erably clear of scandal There were
science papers, and book papers. and
the only amusing column was the one
that was devoted to miscellaneous gos-
sip. and was signed The Man About
Town" The style was clever and
easy. and | nourished a secret but pro-
found admiration for my unknown
contributor. Looking over his latest
articles. it suddenly struck me l had
never been told his name, and pat my
new secretary TO her first use by asking
it of Miss Charity Landor.
Hope said the girl. He never
calls. Mr.. Blake used to write to
him.
Il should like to see him." | answer
ed. '.Do you not admire his writings,
Miss Landor?'
Not particularly, she replied. 1T
reads to me as if he put in good deal
of rubbish by way of padding"
For the first week or so | found the
girls presence was irksome, but, as
the strangeness wore off, it seemed to
make my work doubly attractive. She
was an immense help to me; butt try
as | would, | could not persuade N.Y.
self that it was simply her assistance
that was so valuable to me. | began
to listen for the soft voice, and laid
many a deep plot to win laugh or a
smile.
One spring morning. when ! was
working alone, an open envelope was
brought me, which | knew to contain
the weekly eifusion of The Man
About Town" The address was writ
ten in his customary style, but when
the Ms tumbled out, to my intense
amazement, it was written in the we'll
known, rather peculiar hand of my own
secretary. Was it possible that Chari-
ity should be the author OF these clever
papers?
lmpulsive for once in my life. went
into the inner room, laid the paper on
the girls desk, and asked her what it
meant. Her answer was so eloquent
that words of mine are powerless to
describe it; she simply looked up at me
and flushed hotly,
Il am very penitent," she said,
though she did not look it in the very
least, ''but it was so easy. Father used
to write them first, and then. when he
couldn't, | took it as we'll as his other
work. Mr.. Blake did not mind, but |
know
man, SO my brother always copied it
for me. He copied it this time, and
must have posted the original by a
stupid mistake. Are you angry? All,
don't be angry-please don'tn'
Angry? Why, | am proud of you!"
| answered her. $50 happy, too, that
want to tell you something else; may
|, Charlty?"
Yes, Mr.. Blake
l saw the sweet face as she half turn
ed from me, and seeing, | gained cour-
age to continue.
Charity means love-" | said, softly.
Darling, am 1 too vain or mad if [
hope" The words failed me, and
l held out my arms. Charity, will
you not come to me?'
And then, with new, bright light
IN her glorious eye, Charity came.
But, after all, dear, what terrible
come-down it was for yout" she is apt
to protest, when | repeat the popular
opinion that | am not good enough for
my wife; for you only married The
Man About Town."
And, for my part, | answer that he
may laugh who wins, for, writer or
not, L certainly married a particularly
nice girl.