The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1915-08-05
A SHY MANS WO0ING
BY GEORGE MUNSON.
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Copyright, 1915, by W. G. Chapman

Nobody had believed in William
Merritt. He had been a dreamy, I'M
aginative boy and had lost half
An orphan, brought up by a distant
relative who used him badly, he had
shaken the dust off his feet and gone
to the metropolis to earn livelihood,
Ten years later, a man OF thirty
two, he was national character. His
bridge across the Potomac was consid-
cred triumph of American engineer
ing. The tunnel which he had driven
across the Kill van Kull had been
made the model for all such undertake
ings in America and Europe.
With all his success and wealth he
was still desperately lonely. His sue
cess had been the result Of native
genius and application. To his per-
| sonality the shy man owed nothing.
And there had come to him a long
ing to show himself before those who
| had jeered him and win their esteem.
He did not long for any personal
| triumph over them.
He thought of Nettie Haines the lit
tie girl who had lived across the
street from him. They had been child
hood sweethearts, and he had told her
that one day he would marry her.
| Doubtless she was married now and
had long ago forgotten him. He
| thought of Saunders, who had dis
| missed him from the grocery store;
| Boyce, the undertaken, for whom he
had worked during one long week. And
he went back.
He registered at the only hotel the
village boosted and made himself
| known to FlaXman, the proprietor. The
man shook hands with him coldly
enough.
Glad to see you back again, Mr..
Merritt" he said "Mr. Boyce? 0 yes,
he's hourishing Saunders does the
same old business"
Merritt had been too shy to ask for
Nettie. He made his way up the street
! to Boyce's place. The man did not
recognize him at first.
"Well, I'm glad to see YOU" he said,
when his visitor had explained his
purpose in calling.
Saunders greeting was still more
frosty. He recollected Merritt and
was glad he was doing so well. AS
Merritt turned to leave, with a sense
of disillusionment in his heart, he saw
young woman bending Industrious
ly over a heap of bills in Saunders
shop. 1t was Nettie, his old sweet
heart.
Impulsively he strobe up to her,
why, Nettie-Miss Haines!" he eX-
claimed.
She recognized him and her face
grew red. How do you do, Mr.. Mer-
ritz" she said demurely.
Shy as he was, Merritt managed to
get into conversation with her. I'm
der the watchful glances of Saunders
he succeeded in stammering out re-
quest to visit her that evening.
ct used to be WILL" he said, when
she greeted that night as Mr.. Merritt.
well, VIII, then" she returned,
laughing. Il do hope you have had
good luck"
He looked at her in amazement
Had she not heard of him? He was
not vain man, but it seemed incredi-
Bile, when all the newspapers and
magazines had been full of his sue
cess.
Eyes, l have done pretty WE'LL" he
answered slowly.
81 am so glad to hear it," answered
the girl. you have no idea how hor
rid people are. but l suppose |
shouldn't be saying it,"
He pressed her to tell him. "You
remember how we used to tell each
other everything" he pleaded.
Nettie colorca slightly. WELL" she
continued, MIR. Boyce said he sup
posed you had come back to try to get
job in town, and were dressed up to
make bluff. And he said you'd never
get anything in his place, and Mr.
Saunders agreed that it was the same
as far as he was concerned. l felt so
that it isn't so at all
Merritt was thunderstruck. So these
people had never heard of him at all
He had ascribed their GOODNESS to the
natural reserve Of a little community,
instead of which he was, in their eyes,
the same ne'er-do-well, the same in
capable. And Nettie did not know.
"Nettie," he said, taking her hand
do you remember that time we found
dime in the road and split it in two
and we divided it?"
Perfectly, Mr.. Merritt" she replied
smiling.
and do you remember what l said
10 you then?'
mo, William. That part has escaped
my memory altogether"
Would you like me to remind your"
The girls eyes, which had been
downcast, were suddenly raised to his
Il told you that that made us sweet
hearts, and that some day | should
marry you" said the man.
lie saw that she was trembling, and
In that moment he knew that he had
always loved her, and that it was
providence which had kept him aloof
and uncontaminated by the world, for
this end only And she did not know
anything Of him. Of his wealth.
"Will you marry me, dear?" he
asked 81 can support a wife in com
fort he continued whimsically.