The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1894-07-12

/ spondence with him, but had ceased
/ to give it thought long before. The
/ idea that he could ever aspire to a
more intimate acquaintance with
their daughter had not occurred to
them. And yet. as uncOnsciously to
/ her as to them. it was his image that
prevented Mary from being able to
! appreciate the score or more OF uneX
! coptionable parts which had been Of
fered to her acceptance.
There was among these last, one
/ that won, above all. the approval OF her
parents. Still a young man, Arthur
Cleaveland had already discovered
talents Of d remarkable order. Though
+ scarcely thirty, he was already distin
guished as a tinancier, and as politi
cal leader. To have won eXtened no
tice in two such oppisite careers, was
indeed remarkable. and indicated a
mind as large as flexible, and rarely
endowed. Unfortunately his keen
ness Of intellect obscured his want Of
moral sense and true principles. be
won respect through his real power,
not through goodness
He had fixed his eyes upon Mary
while she was scarcely a child. But
he was not ready then for marriage,
and Was so sure Of himself, already, OF
his ability to carry his point in spite Of
all obstacles. that he was content TO
wait. Had he observed that Mary en-
couraged any one Of her lovers, he
would have interposed at once. But
as long as hebeheld her, as he thought,
moving on in maiden meditation,
fancy free" he saw 10 occasion for
speaking. Time and thought We're
fully occupied III his career could
hardly afford them the interruption Of
formal courtsihp, SO he bided his
time. utterly unconscious that there
world 50 insignificant and nnamblt-
iCus a person as Albert Durdnd.
But In the meantime he secured the
entree Of the Cranshaw's house, and
was a tolerably freqeunt visitor. TWAS
best that Mary should become accus
toned to him, he reasoned, and that
he should, in an uunoticed way, give
a bias TO her mind. She was a well ed
ucated girl, and she could appreciate
his abilities, while he hattered him
self that she could not object to his
person or manners.
And she did not: in fact, she seldom
thought Of him at all. save when he
presented himself before her. Then
she was pleased TO converse with him
as a brilliant talker. the impression he
made fading utterly as soon as he was
out OF heI sight His as5iduitie5 be
came more and more frequent, bTt
she scarcely gave them thought
Her parents were more obServant, and
Arthur Cleayeland received from them
quite sufficient encouragement.
And while this affair was progress
ing. much TO the satisfaction Of two at
least of the parties concerned. Albert
Durand was fast becoming known and
admired as a rising young artist of
unusual talent Orders and money
began to flow in upon him. He was
constantly we'll and protitabIy EN-
ployed. and his prospects We're excel
LENT. And it was very natural that he
should now turn his hopes whittier
his thoughts had led. His long silent
love might find expression now, and
he made the occasion Of hisreceiving
by the hands ofmutual acquaintance,
some hifling token Of Mary'5 regard,
and excuse for sending her a letter
containing the out-pouring Of all his
long pent-up feelings. He told her
how he had loved her all his life, even
before he was conscious Of the nature
OF his feelings, and ~hoald love her
while life and thought endured. And
in fitting but modest terms he laid his
young fame at her feet. and dedicated
to her all the future held in store for
( them.
Mary learned, by the quick pulses
Of her heart, and the happy glow Of
her feelings, as she read this letter,
that it offered her all that she could
most f0ndly desire; that it gave to her
acceptance that which. all unc0n-
sciOusly. she had longed to receive:
that the love it expressed was, and had
long been. fully reciprocated. OF
/ course size at once communicated the
contents Of this letter to her parents.
She had forgotten that they scarce
y knew Albert Durand; that, for years,
a shyness which she did not herself
comprehend, had prevented the men
ton of his name: and that her
parents, even if they knew aught of
his career, could have, with him, or it,
no sympathies whatever. Neither
Mr.. or Mrs Cranshaw admitted to
/ their own minds, for an instant, that
Mary could accept lover 50 poor,
Of course so obscure: for of the sort OF
fame he had acquired, they had the
most contemptuoas idea, They had
( pictures on their walls. it is true. but
they had no conception Of their mer-
its: and Of the artists who produced
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