The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1917-04-05

She paused here as though positive.
~ unable to contemplate the awful
possibility Of anything like familiarity
with such person.
"But just Think" cried the girl.
'They have given him the position of
first assistant among all the engineers
In building the big bridge! Just i'm
agine what they think of him in New
York when they do that"
"Yes, that's fine. l want to see him
get along. But don't want to see you
get to caring enough for him TOTO
spoil your life."
"Spoll my iifeT echoed the girl
blankly.
\ "Yes. You can never tell when q
man that's been a drunkard once will
take to it again. You can't trust him.
I'd rather die than see anyone I cared
for marry that sort of a man."
Etheps affection for he aunt, and
her. love for this man-for she knew
now it was love-were so nearly
crushing her IN the warfare that she
could say no more, and she brought
the interview to d. end by making an
excuse to go to her room.
Irwin Banks lived with his sister,
who had been one of the principal fac
tors in helping him to rise to the po-
sition he now held. 1t was with his
sister that Ethel had first met him.
She was attracted by the goodlooking
young man with the high, firm car
riage Of the head, the straight gaze
and the wholesome smile, and she was
further held by his ability to say some
thing worth while, and saying it rath-
er well. She had met him in his own
home by invitation of his sister, and
had asked him to call. 1t was after
his second visit, at both of which Miss
Crane had pretended illness as an ex-
cuse for not appearing, that the lady
had given her emphatic reasons for
not wishing him to call again.
Ground between the millstones of
her "divided duty" Ethel sought the
counsel of Mary Banks.
"Aunt Melissa has been to me sec
ond mother. love her very dearly.
How can go deaM gainst her wishes.
II must ask him not to call again."
Ethel said.
"And do you think Irwin will let it
go at that?" cried his sister. maybe
you don't know what this means to
him."
EthePs heart gave big throb. She
knew what 1t meant to her. In the
meeting Of their eyes, the sister knew.
"Will you ask your aunt to come
and see me?' she said.
"Oh, she never would" asserted
Ethel.
"Not If she could help it, of course"
rejoined Mary. ''But you've got to put
your foot down, and be firm. Just say
you can't tell him not to call, and you'd
be likely to see him in other places
anyway. If she wants to shut off all
communication between you and Mr..
Irwin Banks, the only way is to come
and lay the case before his sister"
Ethel looked dubious, but promised
to be firm, and the two conspirators
parted.
Miss Crane stoutly protested she
would do nothing of the kind, but as
relations remained decidedly strained
she concluded it was the only way to
conclude peace.
The day she had appointed to call
On Miss Ranks was cold and bIuStpr-
ing, and snow began to fall heavily
while she was on the way. She had
to walk nearly a mile, and she ar
rived at the Banks cottage, chilled, wet
and bedraggled. Mary Banks met her
with such CHEEKY cordially, and took
off her wet wraps with such solicitude
for her health, making her sit very
near the fire to dry her feet, and talk
ing pleasantly all the time that her
caller found it difficult to make an
opening for her errand. At last she
got up courage to begin.
Miss Banks, I am"
"Just minute, Miss Crane! Let
me get you something warm!"
Miss Crane protested she did not
need anything, but suddenly Miss
Banks regarded her with deep alarm.
"Oh" she cried, show badly you look
Why, you are having a chill There
is so much pneumonia about! shall
get YOU something at once"
MISS Crane admitted she was still
cold, and allowed her to have her
way.
tits just little hot Lemonade" she
said, handing the tall tumbler to her
guest.
Miss Crane, already alarmed about
her condition, took a long draft of
the mixture. Suddenly she set it
down with frightened look at the
other woman. "There's liquor in it"
she cried.
fOh, only the least bit If you had
a doctor here he'd make you take it,
You'll have pneumonia if you don't"
Miss Crane now thoroughly fright
ened, swallowed the whole of it. II
was really a very liberal allowance of
"old rye" and not being used to intoxi-
cants, she was soon conversing gllhly,
and feeling very much at home with
her hostess. Mary showed her broth
er's picture, and RECALLED her with bis
wonderful achievements. Miss Crane
quite forgot what she had coTc for,
and invited, them both to call. Mary
telephoned for a conveyance, and sent
her guest home happy.
Ethel received the unexpected news
with establishment, but the next In.