The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1890-12-25

/ Stella watched him blauklv for a
moment rs he flung about the room.
| then she threw herself on the lounge
| and burst into hysterical tears. Nat
| urally this brought him to his senses at
| once, and he pdtted. and pettcd. and
soothed. and pacilicd until the storm
was over.
Thursday, the lst of October, dawn
ed. but it brought no prospect of the
| Ferrises dining in Kensingtou.
There came instead small note
| which read as follows:
| NO. u SALISBURY STREET Oct. my
| Dear Miss S;aahOic: My sister i 80 mucH
| worse to-day that il will be impossible for rs
! TO dine at your home this evening. Sic de
| srcs me To convey to you her regret and dis
1 appointment. Yours, very sincerely.
| PAUL FERRIS"
Margaret received it at luncheon
| time, and. after she had read it twice
| or thrice, she turned TO her huge mas
tiff, who was sitting bolt upright be-
side her. and thus addressed him:
christopher | am afraid your sex is
hopelesoly obtuSe. Now, what would
| you think Of Il letter like that, coming
! from an individual whom YOU had
| known in childhood, had PLAYED with
and squabbled with hundreds of
| times?n
Christopher gazed at her fixcdly and
solemnlv thumped his tail as a dirge-
| like accompaniment.
Never mind, Christie; you love me-
auyway-don't You, dear? There, old
man, don't lick my face. You think |
am crying, don't YOU? but it is not so,
l assure you. Why, Christopher, do
| you think | would shed tear for Paul
| Ferris? Come. we will get ready and
| 90 to Stella, since she can not come to
us. An errand of love. my son, with
roses and jasmine for our Offering"
There were many such crrands of
| love in the ensuing weeks, for Stella
| grew weaker day by day, and her re-
covery seemed far of and uncertain.
The poor child would fain have been
| we'll She would talk for hours, be-
| tween spasms of coughing, about the
| things she would 90 and see, the books
/ she would read. and places she would
| visit when she should he better again.
| 1t WAS on Christmas eve that the end
| came. There was Il sudden attack of
| hemOrrhage, Il message sent to Paul at
| Her MaieSty>s taeatcr. n few hours of
| husaed waiting. Il little struggle-and
| it was over. Margaret Stanhope was
| there and it was in her arms that
| Stella's life llickered and went out.
Toward the last she begged Paul to
| sing to her.
Something that will make me go to
| sleep soon, she said wearilv.
And Paul went to the piano in the
adjoining room and touched the keys
softly.
| sorrow and care may meet.
| The tempest cloud may low'r,
Tho surge OF sin Gldy beat
Upon lifc'S troubled shore:
| God doth his own il safety keep
! He giveth his beloved sleep.
an childhood's winsOme page,
In manhoOd's joyous bloom,
/ In fepbieneSs ard age,
In deaths dark gathering gloom,
God doth his own in safety keep
! He givcth his beloved slteP."
When he had finished ne felt Il light
touch on the shoulder. He turned and
| saw Margaret with the tears like rain
| on her face.
''Shc is asleep at last" she said
! brokenly.
When Margaret had done what she
| could she went away, and Paul did not
| see her for months.
| 1t WAS better so. he told himself.
Her way was not his Their paths lay
| far apart and he could not attempt to
| bridge the gulf between them. And SO
! life went on for him drearily, with
| never break in the monotony until
| spring came. Then one morning he
met her on Regent street. She was
| Just stepping into her carriage, but she
| stopped him and gave him her hand.
! and drew him aside for Il few moments
conversation.
Il am glad happened to meet you"
she said. Il wished to speak to YOU
on-on matter of business. 1t is
favor am going to ask of you. No
do not be 50 rash as to grant it before
hand, but promise to come to the
house tomorrow morning and we will
talk it over. | shall be Ill until II.
| Good-by for the present"
When Ferris was shown into Miss
Stanhope's drawing room next morn
ing he found it deserted. A cheerful
fire was burning in the crate, the sun
struggled in through the lace curtains,
and on the window seat boxes of snow
drops were lifting their delicate heads
to receive the warm rays.
Margaret appeared very shortly and
greeted him with her usual frank kind
illness. She asked him to be seated,
and after few commonplace remarks
evidently made IN effort to plunge in
to the subject weighing on her mind.
Il asked you to come here because
/ have something to say TO you that
concerns Us both-something | wish to
ask of you. she began.
ANYTHING that | can | will do for
you, Miss Stanhopc. You must know
| | am yours 10 command
1t is rather difficult for me TO tell
YOU. now that YOU are here" she went
on, neryously. The fact is, Mr.. Fer
ris think OF sailing for New York in
fortnight, and want you to go
with mel
Paul leaned forward and passed his
hand over his eyes.
But do not understand he said,
with a puzzled expression.
He could see that she WAS labocing
under some excitement that her
breath was coming uncertainty. 1t
seemed to him she was very near tears,
although she was smiling.
Monsieur" she said rapidly in
French, Il have the honor OF asking
your hand in marriage for Mile. Stan
hope"
1t struck him like blow. 1t blind
ed him-took his breath away. He
could not speak; was only conscious
that Margaret was kneeling beside his
chair with her hands on his arm; that
her face was upturned, grave and ten
der.
Paul" she whispered. Il love you.
VIII You marry me?
He understood at last. and at last he
held her in his arms and kissed her
| reverentlv.
Paul, Paulm she sobbcd. ''you must
not think badly Of me. | know you
love me. l knew You would not speak.
Oh, my darling, never leave Ee. will
you promise ii? Never for day-for
an hour. Paul. Paul.'-DraSe'S Mag