The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1898-08-04
THE STORY OF A LOVE.

out anything or this being spOKel
they went away-she to a celebrates
Ladies' Finishing Schoor'-he t.
college and the studies necessary TO
the profession he had already chosen
Lillian left school first; and a yea
after, she married. Nobody wa
pleased with this marriage-her par
ents, as most nearly concerned of all
They knew little of Mr.. Solway be
sides the fact that his family wa
good and that he was an officer in th'
navy; and the little thew did know O.
had seen of him, did not preposses'
them in his favor. He was superficial
they soon saw, and false at heart they
more than suspected and there wer'
whispers of an evil and tyrannica
temper which had vented itself il
cruelty toward the men under hi
command, on more than one occasion
But their inquiries elected nothing
in his disfavor. Lillian loved him
and grew pale and thin with sorrow
at the thought of parting from hin
forever and they were fain to consent
So somewhat hurriedly they were
married and in less than a month
Lieutenant Solway sailed away on 6
three years cruise, while Lillian re
mained like widow in her fathers
house.
Lillian lived in great seclusion dur
ing Solway's absence. After the
birth of her little son she devoted her
self entirely to him. He was less like
Ralph Solway than herself, out she
seemed to worship in him fancied
resemblance to her husband, whom il
his absence, she had almost defed
And she clung to him the more fondly
when, one after another her parents
died, and left her quite alone but fol
the infant and the servants in the
home they had always tried to make
so bright and cheerful for her.
In little more than three years
Solwav returned to find his wife inis
tress where he had left her guest, and
entered into her patrimony. He had
a long leave OF absence, and before
its close contrived to get himself ap
pointed to shore service. Now that
he was rich, he had no taste for the
dangers of the sea, but preferred air
ing his uniform and spending his
money on land.
Lillian saw him now in his true
character-a selfish egotist, a de
bauchee, household tyrant, without
faith or honor. His absence, when
briefly from home, was no longer 6
matter of regret, his return no longer
watched or longed for.
1t was hapless life that Lillian led
for many year, helpless to save hei
children from the brutal tyranny OF
their father. In his fits of rage he
was demoniac; in his calmer moments
sullen, naughty, savagely regardless
of any feelings or wishes but his own
And thus years passed before death
came to release her from the tyrant-
his death, hastened by debauchery
and the result of those demoniac fits
of rage which had become so common
In afew more days they bore him way
to his last resting place, and Lillian
was free.
There was still competency, not
squandered, for Lillian and her three
little ones, and the great burden lifted
from her life, she regained, with al
added charm, all her lost beauty. The
suffering and the discipline of the
past years had refined and chastened
her, and her oultenance bore traces
of the processes that had wrought the
mental change. You have perhaps
seen the same look in these later years
upon the faces of those whom we once
knew as gay and care free girls.
Ii she looked more ethereally lovely
to those who knew her but slightly, tc
Clarence May, then meeting her fol
the first time in all those years of he,
marriage, she seemed transcendantly
beautiful. The pensive charm which
sadness had given her, in his eyes ia,
outshone the gay brightness Of hel
youth. He had loved her all his life
now he might we'll have been said tc
worship her. 1t was but little time
before he made known his sentiments
to the object of his idolatry.
Lillian's experience had not been o.
kind to tempt her to a second ven
ture. She had been accustomed te
look pityingly upon Clarence May
and the old habit of friendship coulc
not be replaced readily by that of love
And this was what she told him, anC
he was content to abide his time. HI
staid the utterance of his hopes, ane
waited their fultilment, for he believ
ed his love would yet be justified an:
rewarded. And Lillian accepted hin
as her friend. never dreaming that b,
would again seek to be aught more.
1t was singular relation, and ye
to both an exceedingly pleasant one
l think neither quite realized the dan
ger of it. Several years passed away
Clarence was q patient man. Lon,
suffering and waiting made him sc
and now he bad hope to aid him. Bu
he was mistaken. Again and again
at long intervals, he tested his fate
and always with the same result
Lillian's answer always was, Il shal
never marry" and yet she had COM
to be so dependent upon his friend
ship. that the thought of losing hin
rent her heart with great pang. Ant
yet her refusal was always spokel
with that tender sadness of expression
that made it half consent, and prove,
new fuel to his hopes.
At last one day Clarence Mays saw
ing patience deserted him. Some
thing had irritated him in the QUITE
life he led, and he carried that irrita
ton into the sanctuary Of his friend
ship. Il will be trifed with no long
err he said to himself, as the gat
swug behind him when he went to pa
his usual evening visit to Lilliar fol
getting that she had been steadil
true, giving him all that she had eve
promised
And that night he said to her ths
he would wait no longer; he had do
termined to marry. and if she still RI
refused him why he had his remed,
He said it savagely, coarsely, as me