The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1901-03-14

another exactly like the first. This
she kept for some three minutes be-
fore burning in the taper flame. Then
came friend with much news of vast
import-gown details, stories of ball
and receptions; what the pudgy De
Mintham girl had worn, and how FL
sic Ogden had looked when she heard
that So for two whole hours the
affair was forgotten.
1t was a sight of Ted's best friend
that recalled the broken bubble. She
led up to the questions in her mind
with great sllill-so skillfully she
knew that h, would never suspicion
that Ted's doirgs were of moment to
her.
Did he know where Ted was going?
She asked it with marvellous inditfer-
eHce-so she thought. He did not.
Would he find out? He would try.
Who could say no to those appealing
eyes? But would he tell her? If he
might with honor.
So he went away on her mission,
and while he was gone it was mostly
of Ted that she thought. WHY
wouldn't he go? And it was of Ted
that she was thinking when he re-
turned to her with his information.
"Why, it's no secret" said Ted's
best friend. CAS- near as | can make
out he's to go up to Woodlawn in the
morning and spend the afternoon at
the club. What's he going up there
for? Oh, | forgo to ask"
stupid" This was the thanks
given Ted's best friend.
But why should Ted prefer to go
OF to Il dreary old cemetery instead
of sitting on the box of a coach with
her? Was there some former love of
whom she knew nothing. some lost
dear one sleeping up there, who had
carried beyond the grave a part of the
love which he had said was all for her
alone?
But she didn't care a bit. There
was not even curiosity. Oh, no! Yet
whose was the picture he carried in
the heavy locket that served as
watch-fob? 1t nugt be tha- of a lost
love.
Having arrived at this conclusion
by process Of such profound reason
ing as you have noted she stepped one
side to coudole with herself. She had
been deceived. She was miserable,
wretchcd. lie could not forget? Then
why had he asked her? If she had
not found him out he would have mar
ried her stilI loving this other. Then
he would have compared her. lin I'M
favorable moods, to that other one.
What an escape But how noble of
him NJ to forget and how cruel to
her!
The proper pitch having been
reached, she 'ote Ted a note If he
went where he had planned to go to-
morrow. thus ran the mssiye, she
would know that he did not love her.
and she never. never wanted to see
him again. Then she wrote other
notes, canceling the beloved coaching
party. Expected indisposition was
the plausible excuse.
After this she spent some hours in
wonder. What would Ted say when
he saw the note she had written?
Would he go? If he didn't go, would
he still be noble? But would he 90?
And how should she know if he did?
This last question she took into
drcamlsnd. All night long she whis-
percd it to strange people, who tried
to answer. but their voices were
drowned by Ted blowing on coach
horn. 1t was with her when she
awoke, very early.
That questiou.-it gave her no
peace. And what was her name, and
what had she been like--this other
woman? She could see Ted at her
grave this very minute. He was on
his ,nCes, and there were tears in his
eyes.
OF course he would go. But if he
went? She ought to know for GER
tain; that was her right after-after
the note she had written him.
SO she was on the first morning
rain that halted at the cemetery sta
ion. Why had she come? She did
not know. She did not even know
now S., felt when she saw Ted
longer Ted to her. but Theodore
swing from the smoking car. She
knew that he was either very cruel
or very noble, or both
She saw him start away. lie was
going now to the place where the
love he had lost was lying. She
ooked about quickly. There was a
vehicle of no kind ut the station save
ridiculousl shabby public carriage
She hurried 10 this. spoke to its driver
md stepped within. Through the
window of the carriage she watched
him stalk toward the big gates.
There were others going the same
way; old veterans in blue. with flags
and wrcaths and muiIlcd drums, for it
was the day of remembrance which
the old soldiers keep. She told her
driver to follow at a distance the tall
young man carrying "A parcel.
In a remote corner Of the silent
place she stepped out and picked her
way softly over the new Grass to a
point near him. He stood beside a
neatly sodd"d mound that was marked
by simple headstone. The name She
could not read. On the mound was a
l. I,