The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1889-02-07

dening that no one was to blame fos
her sorrow but herself. The old place.
had lost their charm. Everything and
everybody was insipid, fiat and monot-
onous. Ah! if he would only return,
how gladly would she acknowledge her
love, and how gladly would she marry
him at the earliest date he might men
ton. Had she known his address at
that time she would have written to
tell him of her love and penitence.
| Four years after Jack was gone Ruby
was at fashionable watering place.
She was still the belle of every assem-
blage. Her Indifference and utter
carelessness. combined with her rare
beauty, brought her scores of admir-
ers, whom she drove almost mad with
her coldness. She was still as lovely
as ever, but in her big, brown eyes
there was shade of sadness, and a
| slight absent look which gave touch
of soul to face that had heretofore
| sparkled with wit. and glowed with
| gayety and high spirits, but had feel
ing. Now it was perfect. If Jack
could only see her now.
One day she was taking her morn
ing stroll, and feeling an unaccount-
able depression of spirits. Her great
eyes were wearing their most absent
| look, and as they wandered over the
| crowd that was ever coming and going,
| she started violently and her delicate,
| high-bred face turned as white as the
| tilmy lace at her throat. She fixed an
absorbed gaze On vehicle that was
| slowly passing. The occupant was a
broad-shouldered, grand-looking man
dressed in grey. His shapely head
| was crowned with white straw hat,
pair of large, disfiguring spectacles
| of colored glass completely hid his
eyes; his firm mouth was shaded with
| a long brown mustache. and between
| his lips was the inevitable cigar. No
| whiskers hid his firm chin and fine
rounded throat A footman at his
side was driving a span of spirited
| blacks. In an instant the eqCipage was
| hidden by the crowd, but Ruby's eyes
would have known that face, that
| form, if it had been a far more f1eeting
glimpse. She drew long breath, and
by the time she reached her hotel and
looked at herself in her room, she was
startled at the joyous brightness that
sparkled in her eyes and beamed from
every feature. All day her face wore
an eager, expectant look, her eyes
were ever searching for something.
At the hop that night it was stin the
same. She withdrew early and sought
her room, weary and heartsick.
''Oh," she said aloud, in troubled
voice, L" does he know | am here, and
still remain aloof?"
She sat there alone, white and sad:
her face wet with tears; her heart torn
with conflicting emotions, and ter
rlble fear that he had forgotten her.
The next morning, after a sleepless
night, she started out alone, her cheeks
pale, her spirits dropping. She shaped
her course for hidden retreat behind
the rocks, where she had often dream
ed away hours uninterrupted. As she
neared the place Ruby saw that her
favorite rocky seat was already occu-
pied by an intruder. He sat in deS-
ponding attitude, with his head resting
on his hand and his gaze directed to-
ward the sea. Occupied with her own
thoughts, Ruby was about to turn
away without taking any notice Of
him, when he changed his position, re-
moved cigar from his mouth, blew
forth a cloud of smoke and Ruby saw
who it was.
Her footsteps had given no sound on
the soft sand. He had not heard her.
She stood perfectly still, trembling so
that she could scarcely stand. Here
was the man for whose presence she
had longed for all these sad years, and
now she dared not speak to him. He
iprht rapai ha, wit n
and he might be married. Terrible,
cruel thought! While this was passing
through her mind she was startled by
hearing some one coming that wNy
whistling. Not wishing to be seen she
sprang behind convenient boulder.
just in time to escape the eyes of the
| new conner, who was the same man
she had seen with Jack the day before.
The man came up and stopped beside
Jack, who said, impatlently, "Why
did you come for me so soon?"
.'Why, sir, you said come in an
hour and it is up sure?"
Il don't believe its up,n Jack cried
| violently, "but because | am poor,
blind stick you think you can fool me.
| But you can't. Go away and let me be
in peace if you can, and don't dare to
come near me again under an hour
from now. Do you understand? an
| hour from now, whole hour"
"Yes. sir, l understand" replied
poor Peter deprecatingly, preparing to
move off, after casting u glance at the
watch he wore to make sure of the
| time.
Stay" called Jack, irritably. "First
| tell me if any one isanywhere in sight.
l don't want to sit here as show for
any one if | can help it.''
Not IA soul, sir, to be seen," re-
sponded Peter, cheerily.
Then clear out" was the gentle re-
| ply.
After Johns retreating form was
lost to view Ruby stole forth pale and
| trembling = her cheeks moist with
tears of pity. How wretched he looked
how sad-how she pitied him. She
forgot everything except her love for
him and wished to comfort him. On
| the impulse of the moment, she went
to him and put both soft, round arms
around his neck, and laid her cheek
| against his. Her sudden embrace
aroused him effectually from the
gloomy thought he was indulging in,
| and gave him little shock. But as
| soon as he could collect his scattered
senses he became aware that it was a
woman! Yes, woman! A mad
woman, no doubt! Did she intend to
| strangle him, or what? The novelty
of it pleased him. He remained per-
fectly still and awaited developments
like Il philosopher.
Jack = Jack Hunter, don't you
know me?" said fearful voice, in his
| ear.
Heavens! That voice! Rubyr' he
cried. doubling, but nevertheless
throwing both arms around her and
| drawing her to him while he rained
kisses on her face. At last he drew
| her gently down on the rock beside
him and said: My darling. words are
not needed to tell me it is Ruby, or
| that you love me. But tell me-you
are as free as | am.