The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1899-04-06
A MISUNDERSTANDING


thing you ought to know. because you
are vain enough already. No offence,
Of course. old man. We're being frank,
YOU know Hang tall, I'm vain, too J
! Bnt | tell you this Tor her sake
Her sake Whose2p l asked
All III good time" he replied. Il
wouldn't tell you at all, Phil. If did
Mt repOse so much contidence in your
gOo1 taste; for whatever else you may
be. Phil ycu are gentleman
A colorado imitation at least, !
hope" said /
You know my wife's cousin?' he
began
She has so many"
Awful crowd. But | mean the pref
ty one
Lutte girl with haxen hair? Rather
"a shade-too conscious for her pro
file"
Yes. Ha. ha! Miss Marsh" He sip
ped solemnly.
"WelI?'
1T is pity. My wife told me. |
should never have suspected IT myself.
Shes a little impressed 3y you,'
In love with me?'
Damn your complacency. l sup
pose SO"
Poor girl"' said |
She isn't fool, either
Not q bit OF it. cried
"Ehat makes it all the more extraor
dinary."
Il don't see that"
My object III telling you Is to warn
you against playing off that Internal
trick of yours on her IoG know
what / mean? That way you have of
talking 20 a woman as If she were the
only one Of her sex In the world"
A reprehensible habit. So danger
ous,' said l. II Will be careful"
Yes, do be careful, old man"
We were silent awhile | got up,
murmuring again, Poor girln' bade
farewell to Cheedlp, aud went home,
| had not intended tob be at the Massies
party on the following evening, but
nnowiug that Miss Marsh would be
there, ana feeling anxious to begin the
cruel business of disIslluslonment at
Once-that it might be the sooner oveI
i dressed and went.
The drawing room was very crowd
pd. I looked about for Miss. Marsh
and presently espied her in a far cor
uer. BY slow stages | made my way
toward her. She marked my ap-
proach with a wistfui face. and when
was close enough made room for NE
beside her. POOR thing! We ebooL
hands and | noted a tender hight IL
her eyes My heart ached with pity
How hot it 1t IN herew said she
Oh, these hollow commonplaces ut
tered calmly III gale OF passion,
Yes saidJ. | wonder If We could
get ont into the conservatory %
We managed it by dint of many po
lite bustliugs, strewing our path with
apologies as we went. OaE eud attain
ed' We sat down side by side under a
tub palm. and looked at one another.
How pleasant it is out here" she
murmured.
so cOOlw said l.
Conversation was certainly difficult.
The usual rumor concerning you i
out" said she.
.Indeedn | cried. 1t was no time
TO be witty.
They have married you again, Mr..
Nroughtnight.
who is the unlucky lady this time?"
1T would not be fair to tell.-And
two are mentioned ~
Poor girl.
You know that rumor Is a lying
Jade Miss Marsh ?"
by nature yes But sometimes
by accidelt-she speaks the truth"
How yahantly women cover up their
scars.
'Ofcourse." said l, there is no foun-
dation for the rumor."
Il had hoped there was, said she,
softly.
Brave heart 1t was dire business,
There may be some day l mur-
mured. Il mean that expect | shall
marry sooner or later"
oh, hope So" said she. When
Won are a little older, Some strong,
helpful woman with ideals. Not q
poor little society butterfiy-iike me"
If she were like you" said |, and
stopped.
She won't be" said Miss Marsh,
quickly.
My heart was torn with pity for her.
One SO seldom marries the person
pue wants to- said |, breaking the
truth to her gently.
And how much better for Us that
-. isn't It?"
Tne rejoinder hardly pleased me,
How 90 you mean, Miss Marsu p
u mean that the o. ject OF orr first
tove is so rarely the person TO make rs
really happy
l remembered that this was her
bird season.
First love is The only love" said /.
"Oh, no. said she.
"Ob, yes repeated nrmly. 1t was
40 time for mawkish faltering, My
duty was plain.
MIR. Nroughtnight.' said she. -'be
iieve what an about to say. You are
too young yet to know what is best foI
your own welfare
1t seemed an odd way to talk, as |
was at least two years her senior; but
reflected that she was distraught-I
that she was fighting against her own
happiness.
Il think said I, Il know what is
best for noe, young Is / may be. When
my fate comes along -
That tine Is not yet, Of course?"
said she.
Oh, sgx.ous derpairng heart
No / crle', aud 7hudlered u dread
ex. ectaticn of come tragic sign from
/ her. But she was strangely calm 1t
/ almost seemed 10 me that a light of re
| lief leaped into her eyes. The relief
Of the tortured soul d. hearing : n
rence of death.
A great silence fell on Us. She mus
ed. loo Sing at me with strange intent
ness