The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1890-03-20

do vou?" said Paul. as the little
boat, propelled by Natty's skillful
strokes, vanished into the deep shadow
of the overilanging birches that fringed
the lovely tides. May | venture to ask
why?"
''Oh, yes" said Natty. Its no
secret, | want to go to the lecture to-
morrow night"
Paul Gessner smiled to himself in the
moonlight, as he sat there like a
Spanish gondolier.
do you suppose it will be very in
teresting?" said he.
Interestingly echoed Natty. ''Of
course it will be. Haven't you heard?
Mr.. Gessner is to deliver a lecture on
the literature of Queen Anne's time"
and who is Mr.. Gessner?" demand
ed the young man.
If you don't read the magazines, of
course you can't be expected to know"
said Natty Purple. with some natural
impatience. But | have read ever
thing he writes. He is stopping at our
place now, they tel me-
rs he?" said Paul You are the
landlady's daughter, presume?n
No, | am not, y acknowledged honest
Natty. Il help in the kitchen. Il am
Natalie Purple.
well, then. to be honest with you,
Miss Purple said Paul, feeling sting
of conscious Il am Paul Gessner,'
Matte gave such start that the boat
careened dangerously to one side.
Your she cried.
Yes, l! Now. if you will take me
safe to the Echo Cove | will give you a
complimentary ticket. So there!''
No" said Matte, with true woman
ly pride, Il accept no favors, even
though | am nothing but working
girl. If am to have ticket at all l
prefer to to earn it.
Paul was silent. In truth and in
fact, he felt a little ashamed in the
presence of this tiute-voiced, indcpend-
ent young beauty.
You must have read great deal
said he at last.
''Oh! | have said Nattv. I'VE are
not so busy in winter. you see. and be.
sides, all the girls lent me their news
papers and magazines. But / never
expected to see d gentleman who wrote
books
Il hope he comes up to your expec-
tation," said Paul
Il must have time to make up my
mind about that" said Natty, with all
good faith.
And once again our hero found him.
self at loss for something to say.
Aut when he came out into the moon
bathed glories of the Echo Cove, where
oil thn pn,.11 ctao,,oI -,
ness and the matted masses of water
lilies were swinging to and fro on the
tides like emerald carpets, his tongue
was loosened once again. and before
they came back, he and Matte Purple
were on terms OF the pieasantest ac-
quaintanceship.
But he had not sketched half so much
as he had expected.
The light was so uncertain he
said, she could reproduce it better by
the next days memory"
Matte went to the lecture with her
50-cent piece and listened with grave
and critical intentness which spurred
Paul Gessner on to his highest elocu-
tionary effects.
1T was very good" she said the next
W -oo', ih'tCp. IL HIS StN cIl
me something to think about And,
oh, dear! have so much time for
thinking!n
'.Natty," said Mr. Gessner (everv-
body called the girl ''Natty" here), Il
have been wondering why you stay
here at all.
Where else should l stay?" she
questioned him, with simple direct
ness.
why do you not 60 to Boston and
teach school?" he questioned
''Oh." cried Natty, clasping her hands
ea%erl y, ''do YOU think there would be
any possibility of my obtaining a situa-
ton there?'
I'VE must see what can be DONE"
said Paul, retlectively.
SO Grandfather Purple was left in
charge of a thrifty neighbor and staid
by himself that winter, while Nattv
went to Boston to try her luck in one of
the grammer schools. In the spring
she came back. apparently transformed
into new creature.
Il didn't want YOU" growled the old
man. The Widow Malley takes good
enough care of me. To tell you the
truth, we was married last week, and
Mrs. Purple she don't want no step
granddarters around"
''Oh. grandfather, | am so glad!'
cried Natalie, turning pink and white
in one breath. Because l am not
coming back to stay, Mr.. Gessner--"
''Oh, understand" said Grandfather
Purple chuckled hoarsely. You're
going to be married, too"
Yes" said Natty, 'I'm going to be
married"
Thus ended the little Brookbridge
idyl. Natalie was happy. SO was Paul
Gessner. As for Grandfather Purple
and his elderly bride, let us hope that
they were not very unhappy. For the
roses and nightingales of life can not
be enjoyed by every one and the spring.
tide of the world comes bat once-4ny
Raatdolph IN n. Y. Letger.