The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1919-08-21
The Heart Member
a.
BY RAY KILBOURNE

Vivian Moore spoke with feryor and
her eyes glowed with the sincerest
| gratitude and devotion. She sat on a
hands resting In her lap, looking up
into face that bore a winning, pa
| tient smile of gentleness.
"Why do you say that. VivianY In
CURED Ora Travis.
Because they all say 1t. There isn't
girl in our set who hasn't you to
thank for good advice and kindly
deeds. And oh, to think of 1t Just
from what you said l got over my
wicked tiff at BARLEY Peyton. l was
proud and unreasonable and should
have died of a broken heart If Bart
ley had gone away. And now I've
| had my lesson, and we've made 1t all
up, and we're engaged, and l am so
Viyian's eyes, and she kissed Ora's
hands, and then snuggled closer to
her. Miss Travis softly stroked the
golden hair. A far-away look came
into her calm, thoughtful eyes.
"My dear" she said, II count 1t a
blessing If have been helpful to you.
1t is pride or jealousy that sever
many souls that otherwise would have
been happy and united. Many head
less girl wrecks her life by allowing
some petty trifle to change her whole
career. am going to make you my
| first confidant. Five years ago, like
you, was capricious and exacting.
I was engaged to Ransome Drury.
locket and showed to Vivian a hand
some engaging face. "All this hap
| pened far away from here. His par
ents wished him to marry another
| girl and that made me cherish hard
feelings towards them. One evening
Ransome told me that he would have
| to spend the following one at home to
| meet some family friends. Out Of I'M
| just prejudice against them f1ared
up and told him that II he preferred
their company to my own, he need not
come back again. He was a proud,
sensitive man and we drifted apart.
| Then l heard that he had arranged to
go abroad, and then that my cruelty
had driven him to dissipation. His
parents died and he was lost to the
| knowledge of his former friend. /
have not heard of him for two years
and I shall carry to my grave the
memory of how I wronged him."
That pathetic interview Vivian
Moore, who had become Vivian Pey-
ton, often recalled. She did not tell
her husband of the debt of gratitude
she owed Miss Travis, nor of her
mournful experience.
BARLEY would sometimes take an
afternoon to make his collections
and Vivian would accompany him in
the automobile. The machine broke
down In front of the Gresham flats
one afternoon, and the repairer from
a near garage whittier 1t was towed,
advised BARLEY that 1t would take
three hours to mend the break. Bart
ley ordered the man to return the auto
to the flats when ready, and suggested
that Vivian stay there with a lady
who was hired to look after the ten
ants while he went to the office and
came back later to drive her home.
The lady in question welcomed
Vivian to her apartment and soon In
terested the young wife telling Of the
people who lived In the house. She
had some cruel on the kitchen stove
and finally. after a glance at the clock,
arose and said II was time to visit a
young man on the next floor who was
very Ill.
81 feel very pitiful towards Mr..
Drury," she explained to Vivian, "for
he seems to have no friends or rela-
tlves In the city,"
At once Vivian was struck by the
mention OF the same name Miss TRAY
Is had pronounced. won't you let
me accompany your" she asked. II
will be interested In seeing how these
poor people live"
IT was three weeks after that when
BARLEY by mere accident overheard
some gossip between the chauffeur
end the housemald. The former
was telling of the strange interest OF
his mistress in a Mr.. Drury who lived
In the Gresham apartments.
you'd think he was an own broth
err" said the chauffeur. every day
she has taken fruits and delicacies to
him, and for two days I've driven him
and her around the parks"
A sensation of being disturbed, OF
dawnlng mystery afflicted BARLEY as
he went in search of Vivian. He found
her In the library. She greeted him
with unusual warmth and tenderness.
"Oh Bartley" she spoke, I'm go
Ing to ask @ great favor Of you.
want you to find position for a
young man."
"Named Drury" dryly observed
BARLEY.
"Why, how did you knowf Yes
that is the person. He has just re-
covered from a fit of sickness and
don't frown, dear, until you have
heard my story. Yes-two stories"
And then for the first time Vivian
told of her visit to Miss Travis and
of her discovery of the man she loved
And great glow of tenderness came
into the soul of BARLEY Peyton, as he
| listened to her confession.
~ don't know which TO most admire