Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-10-02

pencil. He had hoped to do great
things, and others had prophesied them
OF him, for he had no little talent, and
before he enlisted his clever sketches
had attracted wide attention. Original
and spirited as they were, he and his
brother artists had regarded them as
only the earnest of what was to come.
Nothing will come now" he said to
himself, bitterly. All is ended. At 80
j have practically lived my life. l shall
drag out miserable existence on a
lbeggarly pension. Yet were it not for
shat pension 1 should starve. Perhaps
ii would be better not to have it,
though l had rather die than live a
dogs life, with no work TO do-nothing
10 look forward to-"
Tom eyed the passers-by as though in
4 dream. He saw weary-lOoking moth
ers carrying babies, or trundling baby
carts, with other tots, hardly more than
infants, cllnging to their skirts.
Bronzed young men and sunburned
girls sped by on their bicycles; lovers
strolled along, obliviOus of everything
but their own happiness; and innumer-
able other people, in quest of fresh air
and GOODNESS, sauntered idly past.
Presently a young woman, quite diff
Terent from all the rest, came into
view. She was tall, NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
inc. and faultlessly dressed. She start
ed SIS she caught sight of the dropping
figure on the bench and turned quickly,
coming impulsively toward him.
.sWhy. Toni she cried, holding out
her hand. Il am so glad to see you.
You have made all your friends proud
of YOU. How long have you been
home? Why haven't you been to see
ms? You know mother never leaves
rown in August It's one of her hob
bies that home is the beat place in sum-
mer"
Tom had risen awkwardly and taken
her extended hand. He had not yet
learned to use his left arm gracefully.
yIe could not speak, although he felt
that she was talking to cover his con
fusion.
Miss Hunt sat down on the bench, as
naturally as though she had come there
for that purpose, and Tom resumed his
seat,
II must congratulate you Miss Hunt.
on your good fortune" he said at last.
81 know of no one who deserves wealth
more than YOU
The girl blushed. THANK you. Tom.
nut You didn't answer my question,
why haven't you been to see us?"
20. I'm back number. had better
learn TO keep in the background"
You. a heror exclaimed Elizabeth
with shy glance at the empty sleeve
Il a useless man. Miss Hunt; without
a profession and almost beggar"
There was long silence. Tom looked
on the ground. ashamed of the words
almost wrung from him. Elizabeth
stared dxedly before her, keeping back
tears.
Tom. she said. with great effort
DO you remember what you asked me
before you went away?"
Elizabeth"
DO voa remember. Tom. aud 10 yor
SIN love mey"
Good God, Elizabeth. Don't you set
the difference between us now?'
do you love me, Tomy'
ElizabetA. you torture me-"
you must answer, Tom"
Tom looked at her. his soul ID his
eyes.
Il love you better than life, he said
Tnen he added bitterly: Il forget: my
lie is worth too little for me to put il
that way"
,Do-do you--will you-won't you
marry me, Tom."
You love me. then2 Is il poSSible'
Ii can't be. You are sacrificing your
self because you pity me. Elizabeth
no not tempt me. am stiIl a man"
Tom. you make II hard l could .ot
talk to you this way unless I loved
YOU and the girl covered her face with
her hands.
You are sn angel. dear, but cannot
take advantage of your goodness. You
young, happy, wealthy, mutilated,
with only my pension. my future blight.
cd. I should be coward 10 listen 10
you"
4 am not happy. l am wretched.
o, why didn't marry you when was
poor? But ] thought q wife would