The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1888-03-01

JlduS, lSh II, OlNl IcilON! eSIcIudy
you said you would remain until Octo-
ber."
Yesterday so intended"
Then something has occurred to
make you hasten your departure?"
Yes; / think I'll tell you, Alec.
Have a cigar? We won't walk on;
I'll tell you here. My story will 90
well with this hour of cleaning"
Guy Randolph had seen a Slight,
dark-robed figure in the shadows be-
hind them; Alec Thornton had not;
and the girl sitting quietly among the
grasses, sketching a mass of foliage
that ran out between the trees and sky,
was for a moment unconscious that
she was not alone.
Then a voice that made her every
pulse tremble with a sudden, glad sur
prise, rolled out on the soft calm eve-
ming air:
IL had cousin" commenced Guy,
after a short pause, "who grew up in
my fathers house, because his parents
died when he was but an infant. He
was a very lovable boy, fanciful,
dreamy, poetical, with face as sweet
and fair as a girls, and something de-
pendent and half womanly in him. L
had no brother, no sister, and Lionel
was everything to me that brother or
sister could be.
when | drifted out into the world,
drawn by my burning ambition to
leave some mark of my existence on
the earth-to do some work-to win
some corner all my own in this vast
world of ours, Lionel remained with
my parents-a better son to them
than /.
six years ago his letters to me told
of beautiful girl, whose grey eyes
and silken hair made her seem as a
hallowed saint to Lionel He loved
her with a great and single love, and
| felt that such love must win a wom-
an, and never feared for him.
''SiX months later, | received from
my cousin such a wild, despairing
scrawl-such Il heart-sick, soul-wound-
ed letter-that fierce and deadly ter
ror stole across me, and | hurried
back to my home, wondering that love
could have such power over a dream
er's soul-wondering that the girl
Lionel had wooed had laughed at his
affection, and flung back his heart to
him with mockery that made him
frenized.
Il travelled night and day for
fortnight. | was in time to see my
cousins dead face. as he lay ready for
buriai-in time to hear that his slender
right hand had severed the thread of
his life, aud sent his soul in haste to
its judgment-in time to know that
from the girl he loved, my cousin had
received his DEATH"
The full tones faltered, the fine face
of Guy Randolph was very pale; but
behind him, in the shadows, 8 beauti-
full girl arose to her feet, and stood,
with startled grey eyes on his ashen
face. her own as CHASTITY.
Poor felloW! murmured Alec.
''Wnat dreadful way to die!-and
what a worthless thing to die fora
woman like that!'
Yes" said Guy through his shut
teeth,-"a worthless woman, as beau
tiful as a dream; and yesterday |
would have been willing to give my
life for her-for yesterday | did not
know that it was Lena Gascoigne who
slew my cousin, and yesterday-I
loved her.
Lena Gascoigne?"
Yes. Mrs. Alden spoke to me to-
day of Lionel, and sad that it was so
long since his death; of course, Miss
Gascoigne had quite forgotten; and
then it struck me for the first time that
had never asked the name of the girl
Lionel loved. 1t turned me giddy to
learn that it was she-the one woman
to whom my own heart had gone; but
now you know why leave this place
in the morning-why l will never
willingly look on Lena Gascoigne's
face again. Would that l had never
seen her; that could forget-not my
cousins fate, but the grey eyes that
shortened his life and will haunt my
own"
The girl in the shadows was trem-
bling, but over the whiteness of her
face went sudden breath of pride
that froze it into calm. She turned
unsteadily away, and glided beyond
hearing; and some instinct told Guy
that she was no longer near.
Her bosom was uplifted passionate
" still, by the struggle between pride
and softer, gentler feeling, which was
very strong there, when the day was
fully dead, and full moon rose over
the tree tops, she stood at her WIN
dow, robed for the ball.
shall l let him go?' she asked her.
self for the fortieth time-"Shall eX-
plain it all. or let him go in silence?"
Then she turned from the window
and crossed to the door, her grey eyes
bright and beautiful, but as with tears
that yet must fall.
Il will let fate decide for me-" she
murmured.
And tapping at her mothers door,
she went down to the lights, music,
and laughter that We're below. And
no fairer face was there than that
dainty, colorouS one of Lena Gas
coigne.
The ball was nearly over Lena
had danced and laughed, and chatted
merrily for the long hours-let hearts
ache as they may, women laugh sill
very.
Guy Randolph had never approached
her. Calm and grave as usual, he had
mingled with the jewellers, watching
eoyertly that one girl face, seeing