The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1899-12-21
HER SHATTERED IDOL
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n EN- MEREDITH was looking into
n the young, upturned face with an
expression half of pity, half of amuse-
ment. In all his ife-his reckless, hap
Ply. daredevil life-he had seen nothing
like this creature beside him; nothing
half so fresh, SO innocent and beautiful.
She was a rose, with the morning dew
yet bathing its waXen petals; a cluster
of ripe fruit with the soft color yet
lying, a dusty tint, upon it; tender,
beautiful, living thing, almost a diyin-
ity in innocence and purity.
Her dress was brown stuff, with
never :. ruffle to relieve il, She wore
white, turned-over collar and gold
cross to fasten it; her hair, with all
it's thousand crinkling, shining waves,
was combed back from her face and
tied with blue ribbon, after the fash
ion of the Scotch snood, and left to
wander at Will over the gracefully
sloped shoulders, and look where you
would there was no sign Of art or fash
ion, only her beauty, freshness and
youth to designate her from the two
grandmothers who were her guardians.
$50 YOU were never in love" queried
worldly-minded Rex Meredith, looking
down at her with those cruelty beautiful
eyes of his and scanning every line
of her sunny face.
in love? Yes, all my life, with my
two grandmas. Grandma Nentnor, she
is my fathers mother, and has planned
to keep the farm in order ever since
l can remember-and all for me, mind
you. Grandma Thornton, my mothers
mother, has made the butter, and kept
the house, and taught me to work and
be content. If ever any girl was
blessed, who had no parents to love
and care for her, it is myself; and l
love my two grandmas better than any
thing else in the world"
Better than you will ever love any
thing else?" he queried, in his per-
suasiye voice and with his large, soft
eyes fixed pleadingiy on hers.
She was not rut1led yet, even with
all these powers which in his life had
so seldom failed him, but with steady
gaze looked up into his face, with the
calm, passionlcss eyes Of little child.
Il hope so, for if | loved anyone else
better, l think my grandmas would
turn away and grieve themselves to
DEATH
But you might like somebody lit
tie," pleaded this worldly tempter IN
willing to 60 away and leave this HUI
man flower to waste its rare fragrance
in the narrow garden of these old wom-
ems hearts. You might like me n
little-just very little-for, like your
self, / am alone; aye, more alone than
yourself, for l have no grandmas to
love me-"
She laughed, and then grew full of
pity.
Il do like you-very, very much; but
l think you cannot need grandmas as
J DO"
He bent over her, and while the clear,
soft, trusting eyes were lifted to his
face, he drew nearer and nearer, I'M
til he left kiss upon the white fore
head.
y great flood Of crimson shot over
her face-a blush that coloreG the
round checks, the dimpled chin, the
soft, round throat, and hid itself be-
meath the high brown dress; but she
could not hide the gladness in her eyes.
A kiss like this meant tenderness and
love 10 her, and who would not be
loved by a man like Rex Meredith, the
harGsomest fellow she, in all her simple
life. Lad ever seen?
"You ought not" she began, but
he checked her.
Don't say that, Ellie. I mean no
harm to you. No, rather, I mean"
He did rot end the sentence, for some
ore called Ellie just then from TIE
farnECuse-a soft, sweet voice, whose
bidding Ellie never disobeyed; and she
turned and gave him u good-by from
her eyes, and was gone.
II had better go, and never come
back here" said Rex, leaning for a
moment over the gate, and looking
~istfUl,y at the farmhouse and its lit
tie paradise of trees, shrubs and bios
soming vines. She would make her
way into my heart, and, once there
wei, the world is too old a story to me-
] could never find anything to remove
her, and | should lose my place and
degenerate. The wisest thing I can do
is to go away ard forget"
So it would have been, but he did
not go away. Through all the soft.
hazy summer he fingered in the VII
lage, near the cottage Of the simple