The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1905-12-28

business that turned out so badly for
us all l met Agnes Fielding. That was
long before Tom Borroughs had seen
her. She was even prettier then than
now, and she had more of the attrac-
tive enthusiasm and innocence and
freshness of young girlhood about her.
fancy most men would like the world
ly wise Miss Fielding of today much
better than the one | first knew, but |
don't. The way she shook hands with
me made me like her, and what came
to know Of her in the next few months
only strengthened my first impression.
Now-but that is not part of my sto-
ry. If Tom had turned up there then
and fallen In love with her we would
least not with her in the leading role.
You see. she was in love with another
man then, and, if l reckon the thing
right, our friend Tom would have been
turned away very promptly and would
probably have gone to Africa or some
other outlandsh place for solacc. Men
who fell in love with the Agnes Field
ing of those days did not forget it very
easily or very soon, and they We're apt
to 60 off at a tangent.
you remember Harry GoOdloe at
Princeton. don't you? or course you
do-that giant fellow from Pittsburg;
a senior in our first year. Well, he was
the lucky man in this case. He was a
fine sight in the way OF man to look
at. His father died about the time !
went to New York and left Harry Il
big pile. II had been a girl l don't
know any man it would have been
easier for me to fall in love with than
Goodloe. And he had, with his good
looks and money, a lot of brains, too
good stuff all through and fine pros
pect for making handsome name for
himself as an electrical expert. Harry
and Miss Fielding We're always to-
gether, and everybody said they were
engaged. l don't know whether it had
gone that far or not but l saw enough
Of them to know that they were des-
perately in it with each other.
Zone day Goodloe went out to look
over and report on new electrical
plant at Pain1ield. He got engrossed
in his investigations and into place
he had no business to be, among the
machinery and wires. Something went
wrong. and smashup occurred. An
electric current went astray, and Har-
ry got it badly. Well, they took him to
Il hospital and saved his life, but when
he came out the sight was gone from
one Of his eyes and his face was
shockingly SCARED, to say nothing Of
other injuries. He was terrible sight,
and even |, cold blOoded as am, felt
the repugnance of the thing, the desire
to turn away when l saw him. Miss
Fielding saw him once and only once
him as soon as the doctors would allow
him to see anybody. That was the end
Of it. When he came out of the hos
pital she had gone to Europe. When
she came back year ago the family
thought it best not to return to New
York, and, as you know, they came to
Philadelphia to live. l have only seen
Harry once since then. He went to the
far west and to the dogs. He got
down so low after he blew in all his
money that | understand he dealt faro
at a gambling house, when he wasn't
drunk, for a living 1t ruined hm-the
mishap-physically, financially mental
ly and morally. don't know that l
can blame the girl, but think Of him
think of his hell on EARTH"
There was pause ut the end Of the
story, and Maltby was the one to break
the silence as the carriage stopped
In front Of the church door with NUT
tered, "Well, that Is cork err" and then
he whispered while Belden was open
ing the door: "But we must forget this
thing now Remember there is t. be
nothing but smiles here tonight"
The three young men hurried up
light from the open church door. AS
they reached the vestibule Hopkins put
a hand on the shoulder of each of his
companions and drew them a step aside
into the shadow and said in low
voice:
'"Ihis fellow Goodloe has not been
seen In this part of the country since,
but | met him here on the street today.
He was worn to a shadow almost, rag
ged and drunk. Do you suppose his be
ing here has anything to do with this
business tonight" And then, with
out waiting for an answer he passed
rapidly into the church, followed by his
wondering companions.
People came to this wedding with the
rush that Is characteristic OF weddings,
and In the busy moments which fol
lowed the bridegroom's friends forgot
for the time being ln their duties US