The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1886-09-09
CONQUERED FOR EVER.

u m sure peg your pardon, sald
Mr. Dalton.
There is no occasion for apology"
said Lima, looking like a queen-or,
rather. like beautiful young princess
as she stood there in the soft, daffodil
glow of the spring twilight, with little
curly-headed girl in either hand, while
a chubby boy of five played in the grass
at her feet.
ooh, but | BEG your pardon-there's
twice I've done it-thero is occasion for
apology" gently uttered Mr.. Dalton.
Just look at the awkwardness of the
whole affair. Here I've been abroad for
five years; and when | come back, l
learn that my poor dear cousin is dead.
leaving three children. | at once re
cognize that it is my duty to provide
for them. | come here and discover to
my surprise. that you, the sister of their
mother, have assumed the charge-that
you decline to give them up"
The girl drew up that queenly figure
of hers straighter than before.
''You have expressed yourself correct
ly," said she, II am the sister of their
dead mother. Do you think it likely
that | wanted thona to DO bound out t0
respectable farmers or apprenticed to
trades?"
A panied expression stole over Mr..
Dalton's face.
Il shall be more than glad" said he,
"to assume the care of one or all, if"
Il want no help" interrupted the
high-spirited girl. 1--WE have learned
to love each other, these little ones and
l. HenGeforward our lot must be cast
in together VIII you walk over the
garden? We have some beautiful roses
in bloom, and | have been unusually
successful with my carnations this sea-
SON.
The young fellow eyed Miss Westfeld
as if she were riddle that he could not
read.
You have a lovely place here" said
he, tentatively.
"1cs, - said Lima.
but is it not lonely?"
Not at all.
Wouldn't it be a deal more amusing g
in town?"
''Not for me-" decidedly.
''But you are forgetting plays-operas
-theaters the delights of an even
ing in the city," argued Mr.. Dalton.
'These little cousins of mine, now
won't you let me take them in to sec a
real play? just for once?n
The children's eyes sparklcd-they
nestled close to the fascinating stranger
whose proposals were so entrancing,
and cast pleading glances in the direc
tion of the princeSs-like Lima. She
shook her head gravely.
Il do not approve of the theater for
children" said she.
Mir Dalton lifted his hands in comic
amazement
but, Miss Westfield." said he. chow
exceedingly narrow-minded all this is!
Our theater, for example, is the educa-
tional level of our age. The superb les
sons which it impresses on the"
Il beg your pardon, Mr.. Dalton"
said Miss WestfeId. ''but there is not
one of your arguments which l have not
listened to before. | am excellently
well posted upon the subject. But it is
getting late-my engagements"
IA thousand pardonsr cried the
young man. If | mast say good-even-
| ing"
"Good-evening"
There was no temptation to further
lingering in the crisp, curt tones of her
voice MIR Dalton turned away not
without disappointment
i don't understand these girls" said
he. There isn't trace of the Jolly
Girf element about this one! Well
one can always console ones self by
| going to see the divine young actress
! that Hillsdame raves about-the cold,
the calm, the unapproachable beauty
of the tragic stage"
And so Mr. Dalton bought himself a
white silk tie, a pair of primrose-color-
ed kid gloves, and bouquet, and went
TO the thcater
But while he sat there, waiting for
| the gold-fringcd curtain to rise his
thoughts wandered back to the cottage
Or73ee he had left
MY unknown cousinsn' he mused.
Pretty little sprites they were, too Yes,
| it would have been pity for them to
| be sent to the workhouse. She is .
| spirited girl, that Miss Lima Westfeld.
! But woman is nothing more than a
woman after all. and | don't see for the
| life of me how she does it. A house like
that costs money TO keep it up! How
does she get it? Embroidered frocks,-
| blue velvet bIOuseS, S,-roses and cabinet
| pictures! Edwin Dalton certainly mar
ried poor girl. and neither Of them
left any estates but debts By Jove; |
mean to be at the foundation of this
family enigma! The girl will find that
she can't bluff me- ~
But when the curtain rose and the
beautiful actress glided on the stage,
| MIR Dalton had neither ewes nor thouphts
- snvthing else,