The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1890-11-27
A STRANGE MARRIAGE.

John Collins was out of work. In
common with many others, for reasons
not necessary to enter upon. he had
been idle for some time. He was al
most out of monev-50 cents is not
much. But he was not out of hope.
He was so determind to put his shoulder
to the wheel that he could not believe
that there would not soon be wheel
to shoulder.
Now, on this Saturday afternoon,
with everything at standStill. he knew
that there would be no use in standing
before closed doors or of lettering in
empty yards; so he made up his mind
TO have Il holiday. and all that sweet,
sunny afternoon to pretend to him.
self that he had nothing to worry
about.
There was music in the park; there
were seats to sit upon.
man could eat cents worth of soda
crackers us well there as elsewhere. In
fact, they made quite neat lunch.
On Sunday he would buy paper,
and get every item in the columns
headed. Help Wanted-Maies" by
heart. but this afternoon his pro-
gramme was the park.
Accordingly, he went home, climbed
to the top floor of n tenement-house,
where he had hired hall-bedroom of
a washerwoman, who did not need all
the rooms at her end of the fiat, and
dressed himself in his Sunday suit.
The suit was not fine one at best,
and 1t was by no means new, but John
was handsome man, and there is a
COED deal in that.
He blacked his boots, turned his
cuffs, thanked fortune he still had n
clean collar, and sat off parkward-he
was just in time for the music.
The sky was blue. the grass was
green, the park was just as much his
as it was anybody's, and after the
crowd had dispersed and the musicians
descended from their pavilion. he be-
thought him to walk about awhile. and
took his way toward the reservoir.
There was not n soul there, and he
began to saunter about the brink, eat
ing his crackers, when his attention
was attracted to the singular conduct
of a young girl. who was creeping
along toward toward the reservoir,
looking over her shoulder, as though
SiiC pNAACt " OS Ctt
Now and then she lifted to her eyes
q handkerchief that she had crushed up
IN one hand, and it was evident that
she was crying.
What can she be doing?n John
asked himself In minute more it
flashed upon him that she intended to
drown herself.
He was about to spring forward to
seize her. when he reflected that until
he was sure that she was actually a
would-be suicide it would hardly do
to lay hands upon her, and SO, con-
cealing himself as best he could, he
waited.
And now he observed the girl more
closely. She was young. she was
small, and her features were pretty.
She had that peculiar attenuated look
that comes TO most women with worry
and poverty. but her clothes were not
ragged, and she had Il very respecta-
BILE air. She wore one kid glove. he
noticed. At first she stood behind a
stone parapet that guards the edge of
the reservoir, crying aud looking over.
Then she folded her hands, and put
her face upon them. and John fancied
that she prayed. After this, by dint of
scrambling she perched upon the
stones and sat there. John drew
nearer.
At last she arose to her feet, and
John was there below her, though she
did not dream of it.
"Good-by. you dear. pretty world. ?"
he heard her say. Il wonder where
am going to-" and she made prepara-
tious to jump into the water.
Instead of accomplishing this, she
was lifted landward by two big hands,
and as she touched ground she began to
sob.
''Oh, why couldn't you let me?" she
said And now you'll put me in
prison, | suppose, for being too unhappy
to live"
I'm not policeman" said John.
''Oh. thank goodness" said the girl.
You'll let me 20. then?"
Not vet said John. You see,
although I'm not policeman, I'm a
man, and that makes it my duty to
take care of women folk when they
need it, You seem to-"
You mean to be very kind" said
the girl; but You are not | suppose
you have no idea what it is to be all
alone in a big city, without money and
without work?"
Oh said John. but | have.
haven't had any work for three weeks,
aud that is my cash in hand"
And he exhibited his half-dollar
'Oh." she said, with an air of great.
er confidence. We'll. yes. YOU do
know something about it, only You are
| not woman"
No" said John. "Of course that