The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1885-06-04

into slde-street, as a nelghboring |
clock struck the half hour, and the |
blood flew in tell-tale fashion to her
cheeks as she saw coming towards her
tall, fair-haired man, undesirably |
and indeed conspicuously handsome, |
and with something foreign in his
looks.
The next moment he had met and
joined her; and as he spoke, bending q
little towards her, the foreign element
located itself His half-whispered
words of tender greeting had a strong
German accent.
My darling. we must make haste,
or we shall be late" he said when they
had walked little distance side by
side. The truth was that Florence's
pace had abated somewhat since she
had met her clandestine lover.
She was beginning family to realize,
perhaps for the first time, the full eX-
tent of what she was about to do, and
her heart beat with q sudden tumultu-
business which was more allied to fear
than rapture.
My love- the enamored German
murmured once or twice, $50 soon
in one little half-hour moro"
'Oh, hush, Curt, hush! If anyone
should heart Florence glanced appre-
hensiyely up the street and then half
| way over her shoulder.
There was no one in sight. Never
theless her lovers ebullitions were not
quite pleasant to her.
Florence was feeling very strangely
all at once, and was distinctly nerv-
Gus.
Now, it so happened that Percy
Stockton had come to town earlier than
usual on this particular day, to pay his
respects to lady, an old friend of his
mother 5.
The house was four or five doors re-
moved from a small quiet church, and
as Percy passed the latter he noticed
casually that its side door was open.
4 man and woman were vanishing
within the same. There was some
thing about the lady's figure and dress
and the poise of the head, that struck
Mr.. Stockton rs curiously familiar.
He glanced back over his shoulder,
and caught fleeting but convincing
glimpse of Florence st. Ledger's side
face. At the same time he took in the
personality of the man.
If his lightning-like recognition of
the latter had shaped itself into words,
they would have been somewhat of
this description:
That cursed piano-playing fop, by
all that's goodr'
Mr.. Percy Stockton hesitated one
moment, and only one He was man
whose mind had long since been train
ed to work quickly.
The open church on this unusual
day-those two going into it together
-Florence's suspicious and strange
conduct of late-one or two Incidents
| connected with this German music
teacher of hers which now shaped them
selves in Percy's brain into evidences
of more than common interest in him
displayed by her-all these thoughts
and facts, though not consciously ap-
preciated singly and individually, in
that one moment fused themselves into
one swift strong conviction.
He retraced his steps and softly en-
tered the church.
The light in the interior was dim.
Percy slipped into back seat, be-
hind a pillar, and under the shadow of
the organ-loft, and waited
He could not believe even yet that
marriage was about to take place.
But his doubts quickly vanished.
A man and womau-witnesse evil
dently-emerged from the dim recesses
and the prospective bridegroom
who had hustled to the vestry-
door, held some confabuation there
and hustled back.
Florence, meanwhile, had sunk into
a seat near the chancel There was
more light where she sat, broad sub
dued bar coming in through a high
stained-glass window, and Percy could
see that her face had lost all its fresh
color and wore very strange express
ion; not by any means a look OF ex-
pectant happiness, but rather of start
led dismay, Of shrinking and fear
The clergyman came out of the YES
try in his robes. The tall, fair Ger
man approached the bride and held out
his hand. The witnesses stood up.
But the bride did not stand up; and in
stead of taking the groom's hand, she
shrank away with sudden recoil.
Stockton saw the man bend down as
though with words of entreaty and en-
coura cement. The girl only drew her
self farther back into the pew.
Then the groom laid his hand forci-
bly, on her arm and attempted to raise
her to her feet.
Florence st. Ledger's nerves gave
way.
With one sharp, low cry she pulled |
herself free; and running by the groom
and the witnesses, rushed, like one
possessed, down the aisle
Stockton, at her cry and swift action,
had risen mechanically to his feet He
had known from the first that he would
prevent this rash and insane step be- |
fore it could be consummated
But when he realized that the girl |
had turned from it i'll q revulsion of
feeling herself, it was his next impulse
to throw himself into the shade again
before she could detect him.
But his action was not rapid enough. |
As she reached the door she saw his |
face.
His presence there, the fact rushing |
over her that he had been a witness of
what she had contemplated doing,
were too much for the poor girl. She |
staggered and leaned against the wall.
Stockton was at her side in an in |
stant. The German as soon as he. |
The clergyman and witnesses had not |
yet stirred from their places. Aston |
ishment had petrilied them.
"Allow me to see you home, Miss |
st. Ledger" said Stockton, drawing |
her arm within his and speaking with |
calm authority.
'Sir.' said the German, you speak |
to my promised bride. | do not under
stand this conduct. Florence, come! |
What is this childish folly, pray?" He |
stretched his hands towards her.
''Oh. don t-don't let him make me |
marry him." cried the girl incoherent- |
ly, clinging to Stockton. Il can't
no, no! please take me home; oh, |
have made such mistakem
The German was growing very |
white
Am l to understand that you have
made me dupe-'' he began with a
trembling voice.