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

InOugnI lnat Sne WOuIO not Do aDle TO
keep it. As gentleman, you will of
course release her now, since she wishes
it,
''With what right do you take it up
on yourself to interpose between Miss
St. Ledger and myself, sir?" asked the
disappointed bridegroom, scarcely able
to command his voice to the point of
speaking distinctly.
with the right of a friend of Miss
st. Ledger's family" and before the
other could stop him he had led Flo
renee into the street.
The girl. however, was all but I'M
able to keep on her feet.
81 shall take you into my friend,
Mrs. Battings," said Stockton quickly.
Il will see that glass of wine is given
you. In few moments you will have
recovered yourself sufficiently to 90
home | will tell Mrs. Batting that l
met you near here and that you felt
faint.
Docilely Florence suffered herself to
be led up the steps.
There was no more resistance left in
her. She was as in dream or trance.
The wine having revived her, her
first impulse was to get home as fast as
her feet would carry her.
At the bottom of the stairs in the
hall, Stockton was waiting.
Without asking any questions he left
the house with her, and drew her arm
through his.
They walked some distance in 81
lence. Florence's semi-comatose con-
dition, succeeding the excitement and
the revulsion of feeling that had put
an end to her mad escapade, had given
place to an unbearable sensation of
shame and embarrassment.
After glancing once, desperately, at
her companions impassive face she
could not endure the torment of si-
lence longer.
"What must you think of me!'' she
moaned, but humbly, like a stricken
child.
Percy Stockton looked down at the
pretty crimsoning face with a half
smile that suddenly softened all his
features.
Nothing at all dreadful" he said.
II understand the whole thing. Herr
Heinrich is a handsome, charming
man. whose fine music worked upon
your sensiblities, while, as you thought,
the player had won your heart. Such
occurrences are not unusual with very
young, enthusiastic, and impression
able girls. He persuaded you to mar
ry him" CHE thought, with your
money, he would have good thing of
it" Stockton added to himselD, s'and
you consented but at the last moment
you realized what it was to take such
step without the consent of your par
ents and friends, also, no doubt, that
charming as Herr Heinrich is as man,
his national characteristics, his way of
life, and all that, was too diametrically
opposite to yours for happiness to be
possible. Perhaps, too, you discover
ed that you did not love him at all.
That, too, has been known to happen
and that is ALL"
Florence looked up quickly with
brimming eyes.
''How good you are to mew she
whispered tremulously.
Percy Stockton was man who un-
derstood women very we'll
''Of course | am," he said calmly
Il expect to marry you some day my
self -
The proprietary tone did not alarm
her pride. He knew that it would not
just then. On the contrary it was
soothing. 1t made her feel as though
she had sure shelter. And she was
SO sore at her own just-committed folly
that this was very grateful.
meanwhile, we have a little secret
between us" he continued in the same
tone. Il hope You will allow me to
share it with you without telling your
parents or anyone else?"
She only looked at him in reply.
But as he suddenly lifted her hand and
kissed it, the look must have promised
a great deal.