The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1889-05-02

= w
readily assembled at Riene's invita-
ton, well knowing her powers of en-
tertaining.
Among the number was one young
| lady who seemed to direct her smiles
| particularly towards Carl Gresham's
handsome friend.
She was lively, and belle; and Stan
ley. nothing 10th, suffered himself to
be monopolised.
| The fete was a success-so every one
declared; but when Maud. po excited
| by the days pleasure to sleep sought
Riene in her room. she found the mis-
tress of the house in tears.
| .'Riene! what is the matter? Can !
do anything for you?"
Then. as Riene still sobbed on, Maud
| drew her into her arms.
| My darling friend, tell me what
trouhIes you? Can you not trust me?'
Thus appealed 10, Riene, with heI
face hidden from her friends anxious
eyes. opened her heart.
"Oh, Maud" she said; II am so un.
happy! l have tried to be gay, and tc
hide my feeling; but canuot do it any
longer"
''Riene," softly interrupted Maud, sis
it anything about Mr.. Devon?"
Then, at last, as Riene spoke, Maud
understood all that had seemed mys-
terious to her.
at all happened five years ago."
said Rene, "when l was here as Lady
Harrington's companion, just after
your father had taken you abroad, and
we parted for the first time. You
know | was mere child-only six
teen-and after you had gone, and l
was left with no one to whom to turn
for comfort when Lady Harrington's S
irritability became too unbearable, it
seemed to me as if | no longer wanted
to live. Just at that time young
artist came into the neighborhood. He
was introduced to Lady Harrington,
and she allowed him the privilege of
sketching in the park whenever he
chose. We met, and he appeared to
enjoy my society. while-oh, Maud!-
soon grew to think him everything
good and noble.
AFTER a while, Lady Harrington
noticed his attentions to me, and
sternly forbade our further intercourse,
telling me that for my own peace of
mind | must cease to think of him, as
he was only flirting with me; for, be-
ing the heir of an arlstocratic family, he
would never dare offend his people by
wedding with one SO beneath him in
station.
''She did it out of kindness. l see it
now, though l did not then. My lover
for that he had grown to be) set his
influence against her commands, and
persuaded me at last to write to him.
Zone day, after three weeks had
passed, and we had not seen each other,
in the old elm tree, which we made
our post-of1ice, ] found a letter, longer
than usual, containing an offer of mar
riage, and telling me that he had Just
passed his twenty-first birthday, and
therefore was his own master. He
begged me not to keep him in sus-
pense, but if l truly loved him to reply
at once, and he would come for my
answer in the morning.
"Oh, Maud, l was but young, and l
believed in him so earnestly that hate
myself now when l think of it
dropped tiny note in the old elm
tree. and in it | answered. Yes That
was the last l ever heard from my
false lover. The following week I
learned that he had gone abroad He
left no word for me; and too late /
realized that Lady Harrington was
right. He had only been Willing away
his idle hours with flirtation.n
Riene broke off with sob.
at is five years ago, Maud and l
thought that my love was dead, and
only desire for revenge left in it's
place; but l was mistaken. Every tone
of his voice thrills me just as of old.
But it is too late now to go back. He
must never know that | still care for
him.
1t was plainly evident to Maud, as
the days went by, that if Riene still
wanted her revenge she had only to
take it, rs it was easy to see that STAN
ley Devon was desperately in love with
his beautiful hostess.
Riene herself could not out read the
deep admiration with which his eyes
followed her every motion; but she had
been deceived once, and she did not
now believe in the sincerity of the man
she had once deemed everything noble.
At length the day previous to the
one on which Mr.. Gresham and his
friend were to take their departure
arrived.
"What shall we do this last morn
ing?" gaily enquired Riene.
Stanley Devon looked up quickly.
LET us have a luncheon-party in
the park beneath the great elm," he
said.
If he expected to see Rene change
color or look embarrassed, he was dis
appointed; for, with merry, THAT
will be just the thingr she seized up
on the idea at once.
When their rustic repast was ended,
Carl Gresham sauntered over to the
great elm tree, beneath whose spread
ing branches their improvised table
had been laid, with this enquiry:
Miss Harrington, isn't this tree hol-
low? / remember story of knight
who once was accused of treason, and
when officers were sent to arrest him,
concealed himself here until the pur-
suit was over. Afterwards he sue
ceeded in making his escape from the
country. But what is this?"
As he spoke, he held up to their view
yellow, weather-stained envelope
which he had drawn forth from the
| hollow.
Il verify believe Sir Knight must
have dropped his last letter from his
'lady-love' in his haste. It's a lady's
writing. Hello! it belongs to you,
Devon. How did one of your letters
| get here?"
Then Devon took it and looked at
the superscription, then, with a swift
| glance towards Riene, he opened it.
| Riene well knew whose hand had
| penned the lines be was reading; and
| as she stood. flushing and paling by
turns, great JOY thrilled her heart.
Her lover had been worthy, after all!
He had never received the letter, and
while she had thought him false, he
had only been seeking forgetfulness.
Stanley read through the short note.
| dated five years back; then, with a glad
| light irradiating his handsome face,
regardless of the lookers-on. he rushed
forward and held out his arms, and
J a.,