The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1890-05-15


Lydia. cried she, I'm surprised at
you! A great girl like you scuffiing
and romping around the country! Go
back to Shady Plains by the very next
train, and try to behave more like a
lady. Why, you must be fourteen at
least!n
Seventeen, mamma" confessed the
culprit. But aren't you going to give
me the hundred dollars?"
Il have not got a hundred cents!"
impatiently cried Mrs. Blythe ..And
if | had, | wouldn't give it to you, YOU
naughty, ill-behaved. romping-Yes,
Matilda tell Mrs. Dappleton Ames that
/ shall be down directly, and bring
some tea and buns for-for Miss Blythe
before the next train goes"
But when Mrs. Dappleton Ames had
finished her call, and Mrs. Blythe came
back, the bird had flown. Lydia, deep
ly wounded and rcsentful. had prompt
ly returned to Shady Plains
That old gypsy must have been Il
humbug.afte all, )" thought the despair
ing girl. "Oh, what shall | say to
Uncle Joshua? Why was mamma so
cold and cruel to me? Oh, dear, | am
very unhappy"
Shady Plains.' shouted the conduc-
tor.
And as Lydia crept sorrowfully out
of the train, something bright, like a
fallen drop of dew. scintillated on the
floor at her feet. She stopped to pick
it up. 1t was diamond scarf-pin in
the shape of a horseshoe.
Squire Carhart's company must
have dropped it." said Lydia to herself.
'Oh, how it sparkles! 1t it were only
mine! For I'm sure it must be worth
more than a hundred dollars"
She glanced furtively at tall, broad
shouldered young fellow who had been
seated in the train few seats beyond
her.
He never looked around" thought
Lydia. 'Tm glad of it, for he must
have known that l had been crying.
But must give this back to him.
With light. swift step. she hastened
to overtake Squire Carhart's city guest.
please, is this yours?" said she, hold
ing up the glittering half-circle. Il
found it on the car floor close to where
you were sitting"
He started and raised his hat.
1T is Mr.. Wotton's niece, isn't itP"
said he-"Miss Lydia9 Yes it is mine,
and I'm thousand times obliged to
you. must have fastened it in very
carelessly. And l value it very highly,
too; it was gift from my father"
is it worth great deal of money!"
asked Lydia, timidly lifting her sea- blue
eyes to his face.
About a hundred dollars,I suppose"
Il wish it was mine," said Lydia,
with long sigh, as if she were think
ing aloud.
yours? Why, it isn't lady's orna-
ment."
''Oh, not the pin" Lydia fastened to
explain, "but the money-the hundred
dollars. Good-by! Here is the carriage
waiting from Carhart Court"
''Will you let me drive you as far as
Wotton farm?" asked the stranger,
courteously.
Aud tired Lydia willingly accended.
The upShot vas that when she enter
ed her uncle's presence, she gave him
bank bill representing the price of the
''prize colt
''Where did thee get this money,
child?" solemnly asked Uncle Joshua.
IL borrowed it," confessed Lydia.
Don't ask me any more questions,
uncle. I'll pay it back if l have to pick
blackberries at four cents a quart all
summer"
Il hope thee will give up this hoy
denish business of scampering about on
horseback, Lydia, after this" severely
spoke Aunt Rebecca.
''But, aunt, the old fortune-teller told
me that my fortune would one day be
made by a"
Lydia stopped abruptly as she re-
membered how the diamond horseshoe
had glittered on the floor at her feet
that day. Her color rose, her heart
beat.
Thee must remember. LYDIA ad-
monished Aunt Rebecca. THAT all div
liners and fortune-tellers are snares of
Satan"
Yes, Aunt Rebecca," murmured the
girl.
But from that day an inscrutable
change came over the character of her
life
The pleasant summer sunshine had
faded out of the land. The Saratoga
hotels were closed; gay Newport was
deserted
And Mrs. Blythe, sitting in the yell
low light of her jonquil silk curtains,
was smiling over card which Matilda
had just brought in.
Dear Algyr' she murmured. 81
knew he would comem
She glided into the white-and-gold
drawingroom, all gracious cordiaIity.
''4ou recreant cav alier!" she smiled.
1--WE half mind to scold you, and
yet"
do l deserve that title?" Mr. Vane
asked. For you are the first person
to whom l have told the great happi-
ness of my life. Oh, | see you don't
understand me. Come from behind the
draperies, Lydia, and help me to ex-
plain"
And Lydia, blue-eyed and fair
tressed, came.
''We are married, mamma" said
Lydia, "Algy and l. And we sail for
Europe in the 'Comandra,' at noon.
Won't you kiss me, mamma, and wish
me joy?"
Mrs. Blythe kissed Lydia-and Algy,
too-and wished them joy.
But this was the severest ordeal to
which she ever had been put. A
mother-in-law instead of bride! This
was hardly what she had looked for
ward to.
But even in that trying moment she
noticed the glittering pin which fasten-
ed Lydia's lace bonnet-strings a
quaint device of tiny diamonds-and
remembers what the girl had once
said about fortune-teller and a horse
shoe.
Mamma didn't look quite pleased.
Algy," said the bride, when they were
back in the carriage, driving to the
steamers wharf. DO you suppose she
is vexed because we didn't take her
into our confidence?n
Il dare say" remarked Mr.. Vane,
''that no mother likes to lose her child
so suddenly. Least of all, darling, so
sweet a treasure as you."
And neither of the two suspected