The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1885-03-12

tlOn. Ills daughter. lua, Ill toiu. supports
them both by teaching, her father being a
good deal broken in body and mind since
his misfortune. She teaches in school a
few miles out, but was in town yesterday,
and getting on my car IN leaving the boat l
chauced to see her. She was dressed very
plainly, and so altered that l should not
have known her but for her beautiful hair
and ewes. 1t seems to be the general i'm
preston that you broke your engagement
on account of her fathers loss OF fortune;
and knowing how far from the truth this
is and believing that you Were entirely
ignorant of the fact at the time you left
town, | thought l would write and tell you
of it.-YOur friend truly.
JOHN AINsLIE"
Arthur was not long in reaching town
after reading this. He went directly TO
his rooms, finding on his desk a small
package and letter.
The letter came the day you left. )"
said the landlady, land the package a
few days after; but as you left no direc-
tions about sending anything, kept
them for you"
The package contained some letters
and a ring, whose costly diamond
sparkled like a dew-drop as it fell upon
the desk.
How well he remembered placing it
uDOu lllt Slltiii iIItC anu dII lHO
glowing hopes that made his heart beat
so high
By the date of the letter Arthur saw
that it was written the morning after
his attempt to see the writer. 1t ran as
follows:
MIR. .CARRoLL,-OWing to an unf0rtun-
ate biunder, the servant did not give me
the right name when you called last even
inc.
Il have been thinking that perhaps was
too nasty III the conclusions L drew from
Wnat you said at our last interview, and
Which occurred at a time when | was feel
ing wounded and humiliated by my altered
circumstances, and 50 more prone to take
offence.
Il infer that you have also met with
reverseS, but il you think any change in
your outward surroundings could make
any change in me you do me great wrong.
If there is anything 10 explain | shall be
glad to see or hear from YOU. Failing to do
so, Will return your letters and the ring
you gave me, glad 10 know. ere it was too
late, how worthless is the love YOU nrofeSSed
to feel Tor IDA HAMILTON"
The writer of the above letter sat
alone in the rustic school-house to
which she had been confined many
weary months, with but brief seasons
for rest and relaxation.
There had been dull throbbing pain
in her temples all day, making the
shuttle of little feet on the bare floor,
uncomfortable.
But they had all vanished now, and
she sat alone in the gathering twilight.
alone with her troubled thoughts and
mournful recollections. Never had life
seemed so wearisome to her, so void
of all Joy and brightness.
The hardest thing to bear was the
consciousness that, in spite of his un-
worthiness, her thoughts would turn
with regretful tenderness to him who
had obtained too strong hold on her
heart and life to be easily dislodged.
Il would never have forsaken him
thus she murmured through her fast
falling tears. when misfortune came,
Iwould have clung all the more closely
to him.
Hearing step upon the threshold
Ida raised her head, and the object of
her thoughts stood before her.
NAY, do not turn away from me,n
he cried, as the bewildered girl shrank
from that eagerly-eXtended hand. Il
have only just received the letter you
wrote me so many weeks ago. Nor did
l know until recently of your fathers
failure, and the consequent change in
your circumstances.
1T was all occasioned by my own
stupid blunder." said Arthur, after the
mutual explanations that followed, and
the two were sitting together in loving
and happy converse.
''Oh, no, smiled Ida; Il cannot let
You take the blame. We were both in
error"