The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1890-04-17

| her battle brayely. But. after all, the
world looked pretty dark to her that
| chill November day ;ls she hurried
down the long wind-swept street to-
ward the publishers office. Such an
accumulation of debts. and Eddie sick,
| and-she could not shut her eyes to the
fact - her own health was failing.
| What wouid become of her child if she
were taken away?
Arrived at the Office she was shown
at once into the presence of Mr.. Law
renee, whose business it was to read
the manuscript and judge their merits.
| She WAS accustomed to his brisk, good
natured ways, and he had frequently
read her articles while she waited pa
tiently for bis verdict, trembling with
! apprehension lest he refused the hard
work of her brain and pen. She laid
| the roll of closely written paper in his
hand now, with Il wistful glance into
| his face.
If you will-if you can read it now,"
| she faItered, i will wait.
Sorry to disappoint you Mrs. Rob
erts." returned the gentleman, bland
| ly, But the fact is,we are overstocked
+. at present, and
You do not wish it!' she gasped,
sinking upon chair which stood near.
! .Oh. what shall do?1
Mr. Lawrence gazed into her face
| with critical eyes.
DO not distress yourself" he said,
kindly.
Il will see what can be done for you
| tomorrow. in the meantime, Mrs.
| Roberts, | will glance over your story
myself, and report as soon as possi-
| blcl''
Very we'll"
She arose pale and trembling; for
the short. dark day was drawing to
close, and she must hasten home to her
dying child. How could Mr.. Law
renee know that she was starving; and
that perhaps her child would be dead
before tomorrow? But she could not
tell her sad story-she could not beg;
so, with faltering ''good-evening" she
left the office.
Out on the crowded street, not a
block away, her foot struck some
small object lying upon the pavement.
and, STOPPING, she picked it up.
Heavens! Il well-tilled pocket-book!
She stepped inside n sheltered door
way near and paused to collect her
thoughts. Visions danced before her
eyes of the comforts that she would be-
stow upon her child. Poor little fell
low! his illness was partially owing to
the lack of proper nourishment. The
mothers heart leaped at the thought
of how the pale face would light up
with pleasure; and then all at once she
remembered, with sharp, keen pang
that the money was not hers; and if
she kept it she would be thief.
She opened the pocket-book; it was
full of crisp greenbacks; and tn ere on
the inside was the name in gilt letters
Stephen Lancaster.
She flew like the wind down the
street, and was ere long at the hand
some house which had once been her
own home, and standing in its masters
presence, a tine-looking man with blue
eyes and wavy brown hair. He gazed
at her in surprise.
where" he said, calmly II have ad-
vertised for you for weeks, but all in
vain. Had we not now met, Annie. l
should have given up in despair. l
am glad to tell you that my uncle did
not disinherit you. He made will
leaving all to YOU and | have found it,
where he had securely hidden it. The
fortune is yours, Annie; this is your
house; even the money in that purse is
your own property. Heavens! l have
killed her!''
For pale and death-like, Annie had
sunk down at his feet. 1t was only ex
citement and weakness, however. and
she soon recovered, for JOY seldom kills.
Restored to consciousness she sat down
to talk the matter over.
Il will accept the fortune gladly"
she said, softly, after a Thoughtful ST.
lence, "only on condition that you
share it with me. l would not enjoy
it at your expense.
Yet he had not scrupled to possess
the fortune, though he knew that she,
weak woman, needed it. Her noble
conduct shamed him, and from that
hour he was a changed man.
He left the city shortly after and
they did not meet again for months.
In the meantime Eddie was removed
to his new home and it was not long
before he was well and strong once
more.
People say that Annie Roberts is GO
ing to change her name to Lancaster
when Stephen returns to the city. and
the future looks very bright to both.
And all this comes from The simple
finding of a pocket-book.- Y. Week
y.