The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1914-03-26
WAS 50 LIKE 4 MAN"
BY CLIFTON BINGHAM.

1T was SO like a mani" That was
what the girl said. The girls name
was Cloudie Martyr, sSld she had just
become disengaged to the man In
question. That sounds SO mucL nicer
than saying she had Tilted him; which,
In fact, was not quite the truth, be-
cause it was Cloudie's mother who had
| persuaded her to see the attractions,
personal and real, of Somebody Else
in brighter and more vivid light than
those possessed by the Man.
She had been engaged to the Man
two months, and disengaged to him ex-
actly two hours. She had been very
fond of him at the outset.
His position was excellent, and his
morals unimpeachable, barring the
said fact that he had been known to
| attend morning service at st. Johns
| in boating flannels. But Mrs. Martyr
had discovered Somebody Else whose
| position was even more excellent still,
and whose moral character possessed
no flaw whatever. An imperceptible
change occurred in Cloudies manner
towards the Man. The Man, though
a mere Man, noticed It. He spoke;
she resented 1t; they quarreled; 1t
was all over.
"How would he take it?" thought
Cloudie. OF course, obviously. like a
Man-fghting.
III you do not write me-" he told her,
"by six O'Clock today, recalling all
you have said | will shoot myself. |
don't care. 1t sounds bombast, but to-
morrow you will know that 1t is not.
mean it. l will not give you up; and
If you throw me over, | will do as
have said"
1T was so like Mani" said Cloudie.
But though she laughed when the Man
had gone away, she did feel tiny bit
uneasy at heart about him. He had
been very fond of her, very true to
her, and was really man, not love-
sick boy.
The Man strobe away with set
face. His pride had been touched to
the quick; and he cared for her. Lit
tie light flirtations he had had by the
score. But nothing had ever gone SO
deeply with him as this.
He had believed in her thoroughly,
though she had been cold to him some
times, at others coquettish, and at no
time at all demonstrative. Still, she
was woman. He could not expect
her to show him such devotion as was
in his heart for her, and which he, be-
ing a man, was afforded many oppor-
tunities of displaying. And now, she
had thrown him over. 1T was so like
woman!" said the Man, bitterly.
He strobe home, shut himself into
his room, and sat downAto wait until
six o'clock.
1t was a pleasant afternoon for
cycling. The Rivercourt roads were
fairly level and seldom very muddy.
Cloudie cycled we'll, and, being
hearty, healthy English girl, enjoyed
her spin immensely. Now and then
she bethought herself of her lover and
smiled. She met Somebody Else a
mile out of Rivercourt, and returned
his bow with pretty blush.
Rivercourt church chimes rang out
the half-hour past six. Cloudie's heart
gave a great spring within her. Sup
uppose-suppose he should
have meant what he said! She was
riding past the river now, and the light
was beginning to fade. The running
stream looked suggestive of horror.
Oh! why had she not written? She
could have written and temporzed,
that would have been easy. But it was
too late.
A shot rang out on the darkening
air. 1t struck pang Of fear to
Cloudies heart. Her knees trembled
SO that she could not ride. She dis
mounted and wheeled her machine be-
side her until she reached a seat be-
side the river. She sat down and
tried to think what to do.
Some one sitting upon the next seat
struck a match and lit cigarette.
Something in the action seemed IA
miliar. Cloudie rose to her feet and
the smoker. At the same moment he
rose and went towards the river. AS
he stood looking at the turbid stream,
rapidly darkening in the twilight,
something silvery, shining, suggestive,
CLEANED in his hand.
Cloude gave wild rush forward
and almost fell at his feet.
Frank, Frank, mol" she cried, and
burst into incoherent tears.
Picking her up, and putting his arms
about her, the Man kissed her ten
derby.
MY darling, what is the matter?"
1t was some moments botore Cloudie
could speak.
Say you did not mean it-say you
did not mean i'll" she cried, clinging
to her old lover.
Mean what?" said the Man.
What you told me-"
For answer the Man kissed her
mouth, now uplifted to his.
But that-that in your hand?"
''The silver cigarette case you gave
me on my birthday, Cloudie dear"
"Oh!"
What did you think 1t was?" de-
manded the Man. Then light broke
In upon him; to his credit be 1t said
that though tempted to laugh, he gath
cred the woman he loved into his arms,