Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 January 1885 — Undeceived. [ARTICLE]

Undeceived.

H nstine Powers had never felt the ■ .e caused by labor nor the hardm ,tnd suffering entailed by poverty; 81*06 -would be quite sure, to see her ■Sb sat listlessly before the piano in Sp'ch and tastefully furnished apartK> i, that the thoughts of woe and Hpf never found even a transient Hh in her breast. But although K| and beautiful, and possessed of R luxury which money could purH , or a refined taste could contribH he imposed upon herself the duty Imping bear the burdens of her sex H yereless fortunate than' she, by Haling each day for t*he wants of Miuiihappy creature. For this purBpier trusty servant Peter was sent wlvery evening to investigate the Hwtion of such as were receiving her Hl&nce, or to discover new objects H&r generosity. At the time she is Hpht to our notice, her attitude ■Sites that she has beenrindulging Bp of those harmless reveries called Bmreams.” Her thoughts seem to Bipr far away from her surroundHmand even the crumpled letter B ijishe holds in her hand has appar■Kfeeased to excite her emotion. The BKr may, however, glance at this letRHit was written in a plain, schoolm land, and ran thus: ■ Kind Friend: Tho trouble you have ■rar taken in ray behalf causes mo to BHfpehefore acquainting you with what HEglroduoed my greatest, anxiety; but ns Hpquested mo to notify you in case anyBlsoccurred, and as you are my only ■ 1 in whom 1 can confide, I feel it my Bfo comply. The man who has so greatly ■ '\d me, and at whose door I lay all my ■l# and degradation, passod the house, ||l am living this morning. He has B fity discovered my whereabouts, for bo ■ 9.very hard at the windows, and will, I H? Use every means to frustrate my intenK Had he never treated me so cruelly, ■then left me to die alone, I could still Bp hiin; for, notwithstanding all the <li--B Te has cau-ed, the vision of iiappy inoE a still haunts the vacant chambers of ■ art. What his object miy be in seokB a out I cannot say. He may fear I will Bfer his true name, for I am sure ho Bygaso of a fictitious one, and discloso his H jpnduct, but this I will never do. ■ gpould only go away from here, I think BjM be happy, but 1 am so weak that I m orcely move. B at shall I do? Cannot you, my good RB| advise me? I am to entirely alone, numble friend, Mary. Bgs Powers had read this letter an Hf)? do previous to our introduction H %_ but £oy she egeiped to have lost ■ |&rest in iis contents. I S Se - n s&' a servant entered bearing ■ I wbiich he handed to his mistress, ipfe.. Wafltser, ” -she muttered half i£ liim in, William.” A ■ filt.later Mr. Waltser was ushered Rle room. His appearance was K;ff a man aboiit Six and twenty, alkvfct handsome, but with a face Ifwith intelligence and a tall, wellIfffrrticmed frame. As his eyes met B» of Mias Powers his countenance BHj told the admiration with which Rigarded hgr, 1m inmost bou! Itled Sipressed m that one Took. “I RSbrought you,” he said, after a mo-ilfjß'-pauae, “some money your father Kps ted me to hand you. He also i |d me to ask, now that Peter is ill, »s>uld be 6f any assistance by acEmmying you on your visit to that ■Marl, of whom you spoke to him HEorning?” jßpr thoughtful papa is,” interruptBpeigirl; “and lam sure it is very jg> |ol, you, Mr. Waltser, to consent to 1 aar me such a service. lam quite H fptt you did not understand this was 1 H^ art your duty when you enHitthe banking house of Powers, & Oo.”

Byonng man was about to make lliama.k expressing his willingness I'"litertake the mission with so agree--1 Hpcompanion, when he was interMpd by the entrance of a servant Eng the card of Mr. Nathan Fargßptr. Powers’ partner in business, Rood afternoon, Miss Powers,” exiEed that gentleman a moment later, ■go* indeed happy to see you Pfng 60 much better than 11were yesterday. Ah! good afterm, Mr. Waltser,” for the first time gtolhK in the direction of his em--1%, “you have left the offioe rather Eihis afternoon.” Ip was to deliver a message from Mr. filers,” expi ined the clerk. | §£ea," added Mies Powers, “Mr. § Jtser has come to offer me his serv--fby accompanying me on a visit of [Vy this afternoon.” I IVh 1* and Nathan Farlow's face lost ijeasant expression. “I should like tier my assistance if I could hope to ||l‘tkat confidence which Mr. Waltser jpg t° have inspired.” IjyiiT. Nathan jr exclaimed Miss Pow- > Pi always imagined you would much Ipeg be at your club than wading filthy streets and tenements in llbh of worthy destitutes. But if you gpd really l.ke to accompany me, I §§dd be so happy to have yon go to KM/ ami her face lighted np with I ■

The other part of the question she seemed either not to desire to answer, perhaps, on account of its delicate nature, or else had forgotten it, at least it went unanswered. During this conversation Waltser had remained a quiet spectator. Several times he attempted to say that, since his services would not be required, he had better hasten back to the office, but on each occasion he was interrupted. Now, however, he embraced the opportunity, and was soon on his way down town. t When Augustine and Farlow were left alone, the conversation turned upon matters which more nearly concerned their personal affairs and prospects. For it must be known that Nathan was Miss Powers’ affianced, and their marriage was to take place at no distant day. That the only child of that proud aristocrat, Schuyler, Powers should marry a man of Nathan Far low’s wealth and social position seemed but natural. Mr. Farlow was what would be termed “a man of the world;” handsome in appearance and fascinating in manner, he had gained the purest affeotions of this lovely girl, and as they conversed together on this bright autumn afternoon, no one could doubt the depth of her feeling. Once during the conversation, when Miss Powers reverted to the sad case of the young girl they were about to visit, and pictured the crudl treatment and misery she had endured, a keen observer might have noticed a flush pass over the handsome face of Farlow, which deepened perceptibly when she expressed her sympathy for the poor creature, and her contempt for the man who had sa*basely deceived her.

Just previous to their intended departure, Farlow gazed anxiously at his watch, and then, as if a sudden thought Btruck him, said; “I am sorry, Augustine, that it will be impossible for meHo accompany you to-night. I have an important engagement, which I had entirely forgotten; you must defer your visit until to-mor-row, when I shall be glad to assist you in doing so good a work.” With reluctance the young girl promised to comply with his request, and neglect what she knew to be, her present duty. After some further conversation upon general topics, Farlow bade her an affectionate adieu. He had scarcely left the room when a servant entered with a note addressed to Miss Powers. The handwriting was the same as that received a few honrs previous, although it was written by a weaker and far more unsteady hand. It contained the following: My Very Kind Friend: If you can conveniently, pleaso do como and sec me. I have grown so much worse since morning, and I fear a sad and miserable life will 6oon bo endod. You are the only friend I have in the world. Do not deny my last request. Mary. Miss Powers had no sooner finished reading this note than her course was decided upon. Wurely, thought she, Nathan will not object to my responding to so earnest an appeal as this. I will send immediately for Waltser and get him to accompany me. A few lines were hastily sent to tho lodgings of Mr. Powers’ employer, and were as hastily answered by the clerk in person. After explaining her object Miss Powers excused herself for a moment, and soon reappeared attirod' for the street.

It was almost dark when they reached the lower part of the city. Men, women, and children were hurrying along, shopkeepers were commencing to “light up, and all the confusion and din of a great thoroughfare sounded in their ears. Presently they turned into a side street, and then into another, the filthy condition of which plainly indicated the poverty of the neighborhood. At last they halted in front of a large tenement, around which a dozen or more half-clad and dirty children were at play. Into this house they entered and ascended its gloomy staircase. At the fourth floor they paused a moment, and Miss Powers scrutinized the passageway, as if in doubt which door to enter, when they heard angry sounds come from one of the rooms near at hand. Anxious to shield the delicate ear of Miss Powers from such harsh language, Waltser hastened along the passage, but when he reached the door of the room from which the sounds came, he hesitated a moment, as though he recognized the voice within, then, casting a hurried glance 1 , iu the direction of his companion, passed on as if unwilling to have her understand the cause of his hesitancy. The sounds from the room became louder and more distinct as Miss Powers approached the door. She stopped, looked steadfastly at the door an instant, then stood as if riveted to the spot.

“Ah 1” said the person inside, whose voice was that of a man speaking in great passion, “so after offering you money, a comfortable home, and everything, you still refuse, do you ? I should like to take yon by the hair of your head and pull you out of that bundle of rags. ” And he seemed to move toward the object of his fury as if abont to execute his wish. “Oh, William, don’t, please, don’t,” E leaded a female voice. “I shall leave ere soon enough, and will want neither your money nor your home. Homo!” she repeated, half sarcastically, “you took me from the only home I ever had.” “Well,” said he, “that is immaterial now. I tell you, you must leave here to-night, and the sooner the better, and be sure no traces of your intended whereabouts are discovered. I don’t want that fool of a girl hunting you up again. ” “Oh, William," returned the other, “don’t say that! She has been so kind to mel” “Kind! She’s a little fool, ” retorted the man; “but I did not come here to talk about her. You mus,t be got out of here before to-,morrow, dead or alive. I will go now and call a carriage.” “Oh, please, spare me!” pleaded the other, in a weak voice. “Before to-mor-row my spirit will be far away ; then you can do what you choose with my body.” , , ‘ ypn can’t deceive me,” replied the wan. “Do you think I want my uff irs repeated to such silly fool aa.tlm MUi Po«era must b •?’’ Saving thu be moved hastily toward the door, ***** flashed amh

i f the cold, scornful glance of Augustine Powers. He staggered back a moment, then stepped forward, and would have hurried past her, but she stood in the doorway and prevented his passage. Then summoning all her courage, and with a look of infinite disdain, she took him hy the coat sleeve and led him to the bedside of the dying girl. AH throngh this scene the oecupant of the room, who was none other than the unfortunate Mary, gazed vacantly around as if bewildered by what had transpired. Then, as if suddenly recalling her senses, she seemed to compre bend the question Miss Powers was about to ask. “No, no! my dear Miss Powers, this is not the qipn I spoke of. He never treated me tfikindly. Did you, William? You would never desert your little Mary. You said so, William?” She was evidently fast failing. “William,” she murmured, holding out her thin white hand toward him, “they shall never say that you deceived me. He would never deceive me.” She grasped his hand tightly, and added, in half broken whispers: “I hope God will forgive me for all the wrong I have done. Heaven bless yon, William.” These were the last words she uttered. In a few seconds she was a corpse. For a moment all remained quiet as the grave. Then, as if moved by a sudden impulse, Farlow made one dash for the door, and ran hastily down stairs and into the street. The Powers family never saw him after that night. Through his attorney he withdrew his interest in the firm of Powers, Farlow & Co., and it was understood that he had gone abroad. Miss Powers, after making provision, as well as her condition would allow, for the burial of her dead friend, was taken with a severe fit of illness which lasted many months, and, the physicians say, was caused by extreme nervousness. Many years after might have been seen, in one of the daily papers, the notice of the marriage of Augustine Powers, daughter of Schuyler Powers, to James Waltser, of the firm of Powers, Waltser & Co.