The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1886-06-03
LEAFS MISTAKE.


''He will never marry your' A pair
of startled eyes, brown and beautiful,
and pair Of gray ones. hard anG cold,
met, and Lea Caxton and her stepmother
were mutually silent. The latter saw
that her blow had told-told indeed
upon the heart of the girl, but only a
flaming red upon the oval cheek betray-
ed the cruelty of the sword thrust "If
you think" continued Mrs. Caxton,
that you are going to escape from my
control by marrying DR.. Danton, you
are very much mistaken. He will never
marry you. Men like him look higher
for wife.
Where Dr. Danton could have searched
to find a purer, sweeter, or prettier girl
it would be hard to say. Her step
mother knew that the pale perfection of
the giri's 5 face had won her favor in the
eyes of the summer boarder; more than
that she would not admit. DR.. DantOn
was a rich city gentleman. If he chose
to spend a few quiet weeks in Roseville
and meanwhile pay few compliments
to Lea, it was nonsense that the girl s
head should be turned. More, she was
not willing that her step-daughter, whom
she had rebuked and thwarted from her
infancy should meet with any such
windfall of fortune Us rich husband,
thus making her independent of her.
You needn't hurry to finish your
Dress said Mrs. CaXton, with sarcasm.
1T won't make any difference whether
you wear blue or white for the picnic. "
Then pretty Lea rose, shook out the
fieecy folds of the azure skirt she was at
work on, and went up stairs In her
chamber she was at least free from in
suit; but she could not sew. She hung
up the beautiful dress she had been
hurrying to complete, and. throwing
herself upon the lounge, covered her face
with her hands, and few hot tears
trickled between her fingers.
Meanwhile, 4 gentleman with fail
beard and a very direct pair of blue eyes
was walking in the garden and casting
sharp glances at the south piazza, where
Lea generally sat with her sewing in the
pleasant autumn days, Her dog lay
there-her canary sang there; but she
was not to be seen.
He threw himself upon a rustic seat
at last, and. uncovering his shapely
head in the shadow of the leafy locust
ice, sat crushing his soft felt hat in his
HANDS. evidently lost in thought-not
unpleasant thought.
Now Mrs. Caxton, in spite of her as
sured words. was not altogether secure
in her own mind regarding DIR. Dan
toms intentions 4 desire to be so made
her walk that way, with black lace
scarf about her head.
Good afternoon, DIR. Oanton. Are
you going to the picnic?"
IF Lea goes" was the composed re-
sponse.
In fact, the gentleman had so much
the air of a man who knows his own
mind that Mrs. Caxton was at a loss
how to proceed. The former, however,
cut the interview short by saying:
''If Lea is at leisure, Mrs. CaXton, l
wish you would ask her to come into
the garden for a little while"
Now Lea, when summoned, was very
10th to obey, and when she came down
the box-lined path and DR.. Danton rose
to receive her there was a strange re-
straint in her manner.
you wish to see me?" she asked in a
| constrained voice.
Certainly did. | always want to
see as much of you as possible; and as
your stepmother said you were at leisure,
l thought you had better come out in
the sunshine
There was no responsive smile and
| blush. Lea's fine black brows contract
ed, and The young man was surprised.
lie considers me n plaything for his
leisure, thought Lea, and was silent.
But at 10 this girl was not stoical
| enough to resist a man like DR.. Danton
when he chose TO be winning, and now
he chose to be very winning, indeed.
Lea's coldness melted beneath the air of
| chivalrous tenderness with which he de-
voted himself to her entertainment; and
| soon the old pleasant light was in her
eyes and a smile on her lips
What are we to do at this picnic,
Lea?-p0 wandering about in the damp
woods? WY do they never choose a
sunny place?"
Possibly on account of our complex
ions said Lea, demurely.
That's the trouble with your picnics,
Lea-not sunshine enough. For my
part | love the sun. Let rs walk down
the lane under the trees.
Lea laid her hand on his arm and
down the lane they strolled, breathing
the balmy air and gathering asters and
golden rod; and when DR.. Danton
brought her back as the dew began 70
fall, and kissed her slender hands ut the
porch door she stole up TO her chamber
with her flowers and her dreams.
No, it did not matter what she wore
| at the picnic.
When she was almost ready she ran
down in the garden for a few flowers.
As she gathered knot of gold and blue
pansies bit of crushed paper attracted
her attention. She picked it up. There
was writing upon it and she read it:
g. is very pretty, with rarely
fair complexion and silky-b,ack hair.
| You have no idea how charming in pale
| blue-that color so trying to raven
| haired women. OF course. | intend
nothing serious; she is only 4 country
| girl. but she is charming
The chirography was DR.. Danton's,
For moment Lea stood bewildered.
The CAV beds of pansies and petunias