The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1886-07-01

which eyes less keen than mine must
have seen approaching.
Soon I heard the sound of voices
nearing the summer-house, and | un-
consciously crouched down still lower,
so as not to be seen; for the voices be-
longed to Stella and to Reginald, and
they illed me with keen pain; for his
tones were low. and held a passionate
Iover-iike cadence which had but
short while before been wont to thrill
through my own heart
They entered the summer-house, and
| heard Stella's light laugh in reply TO
what Reginald had said, followed BY a
burst of eager eloquence from him.
"Stella, do not speak SO 6ippantlym
he said entreatingly. You can see how
Hove you! Julia is, as you say, too good
to be trihed with, but il would be injustice
to her for me to marry her when | fud
that l worship another. If she were al
ready my wife, should have TO shut
my ewes TO your attractions; but she
will give me freedom, and then
A hasty step crunched upon the
gravel-walk, and before Reginald could
conclude his sentence tail dark strang-
er stood within the doorway, regarding
him with surprised and angry eyes,
which turned in q moment towards
Stella, full of reproachful questioning.
She was equal to the occasion
practised little coquette as she was.
Without showing the least embarrass-
ment, she put out her hand towards the
stranger with a welcoming smile.
''Mr. Wylie was contiding to me his
feelings towards my friend Julia, to
whom he is engaged, Charlie. Let me
make you acquainted. This is my be-
trothed husband, Mr.. Charles Wells,
she said, smiling with childish sweet
ness up at Reginald. Il hope you viii
like each other very much"
Then the pretty but false-hearted, un-
scrupulous girl laid her tiny hand upon
Nh. Wells arm.
Come, Charlie, and we will look up
Julia. She will be delighted to learn
of my engagement to you, though |
fear she will accuse me of lack of
confidence in not having told her of il
before"
Statue-like, Reginald stood and
watched them, with glum looks and a
scowling brow, as they walked towards
the house.
waited until they were out of sight,
then made my appearance before him.
Il have come TO give you your de-
sired freedom, Reginald" | said, sue
ceeding in keeping all traces OF agita-
ton from my voice or face. cit is, as
you say, fortunate for us both that we
have learned to know our real opinions
of each other before the tie between US
became an indissoluble one"
Then | also left him to his own
thoughts.
My succeeding battle with my own
heart was one that almost wrenched the
life out of my body.
Reginald was unworthy, it is true,
but | had loved him so dearly
a long sickness followed my discov-
cry of how false man could be; but,
when | rose from my sick bed, l was
disenchanted of the charms of my false
idol.
saw only the feet of clay" instead
of the imposing nobility of the kingly-
looking, but now unCrOwned head!
1t was not until l was fully restored
to strength that | learned the sad
sequel to Stella's heartless coquetry.
Reginald had gone to an hotel and
taken room for the purpose of destroy
ing his own life.
Beside his dead body was found a
pistol and a letter, the contents of
which were made public on the inquest.
1t read as follows:
Il viii mention no names, as the guilty con-
science of the woman to whom | owe the
wreck of my hopes will be her own accuser,
no hn hdr md fhn
glamor OF the charms she so well knew how
to use to faSCindte me. | proved untrue to
noble gentle being who would have been the
angel of my life had | not run athwart the one
who has ruined me. | die by my own hand,
and I hope a blow will thereby reach the
false treacherous beauty whose punishment
Reginald wylie."
Before | knew of Reginald's death
Stella's punishment had indeed come.
Her lover at once suspected her identi-
ty with the beautiful woman mentioned
by the poor suicide in his letter and
accused Stella of having flirted with
Reginald during his absence.
She could not deny it in the light way
usual to her, for her nerves had been
too much shaken by the shock of read
ing the account of his death and the
published letter.
SO, after few bitter words, the en-
gagged lovers parted forever, although
Stella really loved the man to whom she
had engaged rself-although she had
fiirted with Reginald to while away the
passing moments.
Her retribution was bitter one-one
lover dead by his own hand, the other
disenchanted,
After all, faithful love is sure to meet
with a return, as | can prove by a
homely eXample-that of Dave, for we
are to be married alter ALT
Upon the grave Of my wild passion
for the unworthy Reginald have bios
somed the pure flowers Of n true affection
for the firm and faithful friend, both of
my childhood and of my mature years.
Dave and are to be married at the