The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1918-01-17
| MYSTERIOUS MAID
BY JACK WALTON.

| Copyright, 1917. Western Newspaper union.)
1t was seldom that anything ap-
preaching mystery visited the sleepy
village of Summerville, and Miss Isa-
bel Ormond in refusing all offers of
hospitality had become a subject of
comment.
Summerville did not always ex-
tend attentions to strangers, but
Miss Ormond, having been introduced
by Elder Benson's daughter, was an ex-
ceptiOn. 1t was, therefore, not to be
understood when the beautiful strang-
er perslstently excused herself to call
ers. The unclaimed men of the town
ship were emboldened to the offer of
their automobiles and society-to no
purpose. Miss Ormond was, she an
nounced, engaged in the study of
French, and wished not to be interrupt
ed. Mr.. Billy Cavendish, spending a
boresome time at bis sisters country
place, promptly decided to call.
II want to see that girl" he said;
"she sure is mystery" And when he
had located her in the garden-Bllly
wanted to call again.
81 don't wish to be entertained" she
remarked.
what prejudice have your" de-
manded Billy, against spending a So
cial hour with a lone man? Do you
think I'm bound to make love to your"
Gould you promise that you would
notT" the unusual girl asked.
Billy gasped. 81 could promise" he
evaded, "but who can foretell the fu-
ture2"
"Then," she answered decidedly I'VE
will dispose of the possibility. There
shall be no excuse for Irritation"
But why" Billy calmly questioned,
as Irritation such terrible thing"
The face of the mysterious maid
grew grave. Because" she replied,
Filtration may lead to love, to mar
riage, and I-can never marry" With
finality she arose. "Good-by," she said.
Billy, arising, also to claim a fare
well hand-clasp, exclaimed: you new
er can marry"
The girl nodded her head. ut is
true" she said. Then Billy had his
inspiration.
'Well," he confided, neither can l.
Last wish Of a grabbed old uncle. Lose
all his property If l form any serious
attachment. So you and l are destined
to be the original platonic friends.
About that French" he added as she
regarded him wonderingly. "I'll help
you out tomorrow" Then Billy strobe
along.
Flercely each day he resented the
task Of restraint he himself had i'm
posed. AS he came across the lawn
one day, something In the girls atti-
tude brought sense of forebodlng.
"Mr. Cavendlsh," she said, you have
been kind, and l am sorry, but you
must not come here any more. The
villagers are limiting an attachment be-
tween us. / should have foreseen this
DEMONSTRATION"
Then Billy's carefully built defenses
crumbled; fiercely he crushed her in
his arms. "Do you think" he NUT
tered, that anything in this world can
keep me from you but your own word
that you do not love me? / have been
studying you, and not the copy-books,
Isabel, and you cannot give me that
word"
The girl met his victorious gaze
steadily. Eyes," she said at last, 81
do love you. My fear has come true;
we must say-goodby."
"Your reason?" he demanded.
II am-married," she said. at was
long ago." she added, startled at his
stricken face. "We were forbidden to
marry until we had graduated from
college. He was insistent. The cere-
mony was performed one vacation af-
ternoon, each hurrying back to our
distant schools. No one need know,
my lover assured me, until our second
public marriage. Then-all at once
our love vanished. Answering his let
tiers became burden; each time he
promised to come to me his promise
was broken. At last we met, looking
into each others faces.
we udTe uOl speHu our lives lO-
gether without love- told him. Will
lngly he agreed.
"'But If find you care, will come
back he said. Occasionally comes a
line of his changing address, but he
knows / will never send for him."
"What," asked Billy, is the name of
this coward?"
John Hamilton" she answered
wearily-"of New York"
Billy fancied that evening that his
brain Knocked him when he read that
haunting name beneath pictured face
In the paper. Then the words steadied
themselves. John Hamilton of New
York;" he read, "aviator, killed In bat
tie"
In the moonlit garden he found the
girl. ISABEL" he asked gently-"you
know" And though she did not an
swer him, she held out her hands.
"There shall be no more mystery be-
tween u.s." murmured Billy. "No more
forever" said Isabel.