Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 5, Number 1, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 4 July 1874 — Page 6

6

E A I

A FAPBR

Hom#wUl»r Home lot* 1 often worn

Pi

I THE

it W tel.

The ones

Around iJutlr wmw obowa ifmv*.

A Life in the Balance,

BY CHAKLKS 'T Bls,

Author of the "Diamond ?ev» Eatton."

CHAPTER XXVIII, AOOU«IN1V COSFRKEJiCK.

Dr. Wilmer was the hero of Salorn. Not adi^-•n'itjg voice was left to accTi^n him. ocence had been maa» clear and unequivocal that oven bis special enemv, Mr. Josephs, was forced to hide his spleen. She people were in no mood to hear aught in disparagement of their momentary favorite. The most of them had themselves accused him in the bitterest term*, and shame and regret at their injustice had a prominent share In this reaction. No mild terms were used in characterizing Josephs as the sole agent in trumping up the charge ©f murder, and some dark id ots wore whispered against the inwui ty of the medical witnesses for the prosecution.

No mob was ever just. A crowd of excited human beings is but a pendulum, moved on a floxible cord of opinion, and in every vibration passing beyond the sober limits of reason. The Salem multitude had at first swung to one wild extreme. It was now swinging to the ter, and was ready to accuse -i" of dishonesty who had testified stron on the one side of tli® prosecution. TK-doc*..-( were not only ignorant. hni irauduipnt. Mr. Josephs had by hSviolence exoitod his aunt into a lit of T*^xy, and then accused anlnnoceii( in iu of her murder. Every one, in shot v, ,is a villain who had not met the citing ttews of this critical multitude, whose own honesty, of course,there w.»» tip impugning.

Mrajfosephs himself was in a pitiable statdifcAll the schemes he had so industriollBr woven Were overthrown his fortilnf* were hopeb «s!y embarrassed his cUBhees of retrieving himself by his aunt's property were lost far las foe would lately never rclinqtum toat vr•U id runt .fearfully, Ruin

in this his extremity be suffered i» that all sviJJMthy w«s withdrawn from Mtn. The of the people Wns that he .,.=« riglvtlv served, and that tinanoisi^ain was tht ire ahd jwrt cBlmination at iuslo i! ""T nf nnprincipled speculation, 1: a 1.:n 1 -''itish oyer-

i^isrt WUmer itau losi all-cocti-denee in the midtitude. He eared not to be stn by the velvet paws of that tamed ti^ r, which, in its wild mood, had turned upon him with unsheathed claws. The tender mercies of a mob are but with ife'\ ningi of a savage, as extra va- it a? as^ttlc to 1x3 trusted. For

themselves to be :-ne ii ng current of popular excitement, lose for the time thHrindividuality, snd are but atoms ody that )i. th$men-

|alftetttQr«f'fl'''ingt'iti

It was

bk'w.

:i»

-j!

B'J'fSv" f. na

Of

acqc lorn'

PLK.

OFTMN woxnzn.

1-»..

8otn« ey** wk«B some «y«s wate,

ABd-"

AM St'

ii 4*

,i\ who ylsW

Some bands fold wh» "&**r h*«d« Are lifted bravely la 'iAna thro' igwud

More on the tiro extreme* of life. Some feet halt *he» wmc fwt tread: In tli*'—- mareh ft thorny Bomastt 4l»oawtne»«*uie gOBM taii when WB V4®

Borne nwftrds rent whm oth«**rte«h--Horne move back where «ome mo\ on— Home flats furl where otht Uwb

Uutil the battle has been woiu Home «Swp on while other* kwp The vigils of the true and brave They will not m* tUI nm* creep

41

n- thought. dr.-.-iih A mob

Dr. Wilmer v.^hedto have nothina to do with thepeopl*. He had enou-h Ih'-ni for r* ^ref r\rrewo of i:= -I ft*-' 1",:'

s,»

esclt from t^0 urt—M a- to takt- a long,

•.•In i".

IITED N-T MI lisit #iul jui.iU

hi- «lgdeep dr» situ Mt anew ill"' ii«3" iiim. lv.ih physi1 mentally. 'Ilk v. UHlat the«U*«o* Mr*. May,to !ii-h »il bin tl-.^iU'hts i,:, 1 turn04 str i"'" li" t.'i'i 1 '"«tVV«Wv»iy tt|. .»( th®"Oi'iirt-r.«i!».

Askinf t.» Me m-.i.Mh, his utter ment, ho v. i|i:«muxj by. p« old lady—

Mian RevnoM* this nfirnoon for Philadelphia, in u. hour #fter Um trial was over, lln? Hte** with mo to give to you if vwrtK' call." h:i• I r.-.-«' v«a» I'lfrfWa -_uc ci»art -found fUch.ItMMMiid to him. •vrtrrr?'• h«r it f, .1- u.!«t, :l V'

U5..»!•({. r| i-Uu-iit '-iUto li..i'h! vi-

ln

be

&

!. course, and relieve if-r fr«n

h. hit quick winMam & is •it ?t,«*

Wit

I I a a

it I. low*: "Da. r.'

I h)k- thki

KiM-i itux

ttfv of

itic l:.ri'4f' ^vctir

r-H tu M'nr*!" JO!,! jut r. 1 ii.M!-i 'fee

111

at'

in' \\U

tu!v we'll to kts

»f* a wual b«rto «*y between MM*

i-ctter wr IM l»oth thatour should henceforth cease,! 4 |o t«k« thi# method of

.r.

-her.

The

C*w»^g

'"""Lilt .,.*** iw*.

?!i-

CUH\ RB«WI.W.*

Tn the fi»ee of doubt and \ui.»n. is a true woman ii a man's dgmentinafu«t ima ately concern ti«-won. ii hastycomslu

miarepi fter all—v Mdrs %vhicb oi\ yet

auuwb' «wn J. are enlisted Butlain ot to bo HOWNII.V dinntased.

1

He

mm

fra

ded tsliargeshall

I understand how

ine cit-ur-inwMlcd as fiw 'tooUiimt -T, dwoia Uoi nwm'a lying I* tie. He mttfrt have woven some 'at jg But I «!Tt' nweave it for hiui, or vote my Hi. »e eflort."

.i /ote my Hi u8 effort."

t,un

the

forts. But she was in earnest. Others might not have been. She would not risk the rer~ tc possibility of a failure. a _i'" 1 .. .» *%«A tKaf Had v« I fii *with me" through that jt urney, had you seen her un

v» un'.iu ii |uuiiicj *"»m VU A communitv may b- A mob determination, her silent enis a savage. Keverson takes place in the durance of the dread that possessed her, mental four wild pin -janitors, as iier command over circumstances bv soon an .) ied man yii himself

with tUt fu it and iness of stilerw, t'.V the nw«ea in its :.ung gra- ». i. ,i«o»iainenrt»ryo in theaav«ge. Feeling in pa--ion his iM fores*. Ar I tl re»j/ it is to a-oribehis undeveloped ooixiiti-•:»o* til' tality to thosp mad mov ini^isol hti ii masses which ni-a i-pularly known as mob- w.

her command over circumstances by

Save

ure force of earnestness, you would found worthier reason than you vet hnvc f^r your admiration. Consider loo, li"r :»seless efforts to change pub-

WO- lf ifflcieSB CliOrui wiauue uuu- wni«u

yotfr

ar fr'""

congratulations at 1. I and friends, and ol the J""0 »uu lately had sat in iud^nrtent %, him, and aft running the gam '"t of :hc :'uiit"r h-z crowd who «w«

pi iitvi her to .— hot for It, yet cannot perceive th* evid' r. •"«f martyrdom. r,

Then yon are as blind as bat—or IM «lover, w\ich te still worse she cried, H«twtte? 4 "Wiw it hopes of winning

N l}g

4

rive rrtr vou? Don't

t. tv«-' put -.UI f"Uy into* VOW heed. ius i' M*'!* sbottM teecm y*m better. It W..1S Ui. ,n,j* "ublime effort of renuncia-

ts of cco- 11. t% has been Htwelly mars'. rougiiitall. Otbew saw it not

the m-

I -.s

f«l «S:»V \x surpriwd B«n»Y,-.". •, -m ebeflltf /A' uiv I •i-rflrtd eofiS- lliAtii

TT.'I! I\M TOTONDEW the W '.. -ml m%fet aooiMr hi.iv .peer«wr- etptt' ach tn I can TAA' thretu tnre, 8»" -Mtv jMin. Toor n* f—'

1

In Mv .. ar I ,• t" 'tu i:.'

a

sic iovod you with all her '.•{ amrtia were dead to her. •. n«*?^d to rescue yon Oom ti.,t tbn-nu--i*a tw *tk1 then r.mn tniwory/ln imtier'. ^miteta a con might

SI Hi!.

sinthe

1 i!

I 'I l«U

Hl .. ••vr-

to doftnght Ihr wWdrmyowii oons^oiice oould aocdae tM. Wd ter go without aa tfbit to hersse bcr fault?" "Y«, without a *onl. No! no! ewiadn Rob^ w* 8«^ to do rowr wooing for ytm, nor h» rob vow ofone happy moment my faterforenee. Poor boy I you have «^Sm eaongk It hi time you wen- drawingyour maed of

^*And how wn I to gain happiness hy this flight from wo aa from a peati-

Br flying afl«"r, like tho healing that follows the lnf*x-tiou. I doubt not ^h«t I oould have cured her of this false fiuunr, to which, for some strange reason, she has given such fall belief. She did not want t'» i^o» The poor, dear thing! I could t*, 1 her clinging to an invisible something here, as if to depart would sever her heart-string. Yet I would not say a word to detain her."

Jdtr nv ail, on tXw piea of prior touched yet with the divineata ltT I *""t. mojit foolish of the passions. Heigho! lie kad surprised and I suppose «*y me wlllcome to be fond ®ainedatii tho«^fn- andfcSlu

face that formed the warixest welcome he could have desired. The whole-soul-ed girl expressed and felt it as the happiest moment of her life to be able to meet him here, a free man, after all he had endured. Her welcoming embrace was, in fitct, no light matter to endure, for she put in it all tho strength of the feeUngs(tiat for thca yoment mastered her.

The ccriuratulations of his aunt were more qui t, vet unaffectedly sincere. The poUtio woman of the world was, for the time, roused out of her ordinary nature, ana met her nephew with a touch of genulhe emotion such as sho seldom gave way to. His acouittal had rescued the good name of their family from the stain which bad fallen upon it and this was one reason of her congratulation at his escape, though she was not destitute of true feeling, deep down, below her mask of worldly policy.

And why did you not wait lo se© itle in the court*?" ho asked, Lfturrs as soon as bis aunt had departed on some household duty.

I did not want to. lou don't know how badly I wanted to," she replied. "But what chance had a weak individual like me among that crowd of men who were devouring you? Besides, I proposed, but somebody else disposed."

Aiiss Reynolds Yes. No persuasion would keep her there. She left me divided between desire to see vou and anxiety to follow her. Of course, Ih© last had the best of it. I was after her before she was out of the toom."

Yes.

And why not? I declare, Laura^

vour

in the town.andwM furmypoi^rfio^ereofaimlysis." t*s Vou are her lover. ^Pursue her— the it. :u. r,. ..is with all the ardor of a Ureek god for his tano s. v. met him dh human lady-love, If you will. They tell ry Hutu** everj A aM»n in^

philosophv in this is too abstruse

that lo^e is

vitations to supper and ft lon^r mt^r- ,i«spito all obstacles. ill him, but be Annly dc-

farthe sweetest which is

Bm/j don?t k/ow hav0 ne,

J?ut

I ura. Dm Ihv scene in tlie ""lI2i experience of the soft-hearted danrn* ruoui sutx^-Jingbw qnd Hoft-head«Ml youths who have lived anxiously expected her »nd j0Ved before^W time. Follow her, .j^cr '^us We^ ^ocrowded

about li He knew that sne naa oeen ,, Tmamka h»« (hum) for vou. onpresent, seated by Miss Reynold*, and r^^1

now I profit only I

ou-, th„

».lfe

&)

lie opinion in vour favor, her deep study and happiness and then, if you

ofali thfifarlii'thflt concerned your case, your own scuso of manliness, the good her LA vi uir IMI|O »11 Womanly shrinking, opinion of your friends, or mv tokniai,,l stai im before the court in a posl- twn. you \vill not spend two minutes in ti whi no woman had ever before doufit. I won a« -dineti. She forced Mr. Crawford to save—that is, ifyou dorrt foroe ino to. ScJS hW tho main witness in tho I won't fom, you, then You are •use! A» U-fore, sho would not trust right, I admit, and I will •oe«pt-this in-

Iff !i second hands. All life Iti- heritance. I do not know what it is, but »oino marvelous spirit of eloqnenco has oome over you to-night, and 1 am but as tried hnr.i :o escape her, explained and a straw in the broe*e of your arguro^s h'd that it would never do for ments." -1

,n as a witness, and finally "Ihave been living, as well as you, viciJi'd i'i l»r prisoner. He was Robert. Wliile you have been enduring yen irl.ul had viofded. when he saw much, I have endured something. I am how »!•.«• "cmoil Afl her promises not the trifling girl you knew a year ago, hem •. iii s)-,e was prepared." though^ I have

-jape flroin h.- drank in i^uiv M-.e was prvjHtix-u. ^"g", «..•«•*« a .' ru iry air, it iumed anobl© »nd generous to laugh at my own «nd act the iitas tagfTOUaa, I tfiUd upon occasion*. Indeed I have a dots jiet half express been so gravo, reasonable aiitlw'w.lat0-

You your I to her. Since ly, that I am getting thoronghlv timi of ukt you v.rr" tried, tl whole burden of it, and fear I JWl&iSSiSi? vour has n*!fd upon her my old ways «s»in, tfiilcwr s*ifiebody Snsai .l MthftiMy luwsh® borne it. contrives Rome dreadftilly Sfertous bu.,nwMtii" ne gmt work of her life, ine#», and geta me Into tho very midst of

uka has this #ay finished her labor tn enough of that for one llfbtime. And ne of t!" greater triumphs ever ac- you are mart yourself when youare rded woman—the disarming of laughing at everybody «5punL£fui/®u{! ouhli. idiceulknd forcing recognition own dear self included. Not that I S feLL X? Yoo lovelw-TySu say. ouite dislike the flavor of your logic, jyh.4 "I know it, Laura. For her to have was about visiting you with a weight Ktirred tn to such a burst of eloquonco ofsonnd reason such as you liavp not nottD'. lAaat of hor triumphs. I feci dreamed of but, as you acknowledge iitttafee tod that lovoh«»iin-|yo«r feult, I will content ^[|j this action, honor and sughing at you.

our

8

Ld, indeed, expected to sce ^om both ^^fyou^hSt SS heart has been after the p^saure ofmalefHends had ^Mo^id^l«4tho needle to the somewi' diminished. He therefore «m1 that »he is that ideal in flesh hasteno- i, is quickly as possible, to his x»o this,and be as happy as aunt's house, anxious to understand all ,vi.cn

8i.0

thecausesof'this hasty departum I^au- J0nr^4^°un or X' yo^u forgive hor, ra met him with open arms, and with a ^h forgive the fetes—or somemingling of smiles and tears upon her Yr •T^

1 rget

tunSd?Kfpriso. "Now, liush!" she said, putt,n« her And sihe left her sting boliind.

Read this letter." Laura glanced hastily ovot lis- contents and tben broke out with "Hie noble* generous-hfftrted girl! Robert Wiimer, I don't know what yon are, or hwve done, to deserve the love of such a woman." ,, "What do V6u Mean? I do not see anvthing there calling t«r such eulogy."

You Know not the half of her unselfish devotion. You know not that the woman has been as true a martyr for you as any 'saint of old for her faith. Consider bet efforts to obtain TOUT re-

VA,Ii:wx

howcv w' cot-l its convponenU may be in prfeve. Tltere mav nave oeen moments of individual calmness, those }Ht« necessity for 'her personal who give way to their not rs and suf- others might have made the fer themselves to be i-ciie il ng on the jbrtf^ But site was in earnest.

There mav liavb been no abso1 action. same ef­

TERRE TTATTTE SATURDAY EVENING MAIL, ?l

JteLt

d«.r

J*Zt £xt that she haa

fHjj8 jn your arms and

uuTI,.10lt5!.1:»»

ur vuu wrn ivigm' body forgives something, anyhow." By Jove, Ijaura, there is an idea In that!''

Ah! mv dear cousin, and have yon really fouiid me possessed of an idea she said, fondlv stroking his hair. "I)o vou know I think your prison life has had a bad influence on you. Wonhl the quick-witted, hasty Robert Wilmer I used to know have neoded to lie told how to woo and win his coy lady-love And now I li«ve to usoall the pros and cons of a lesson in logic." it may be, Laura. It was enough to cool the most llery temper, and to add suspicion to the most open nature. lam becoming a cynic, I think. At any rate, I have lost half my faith in human nature, and all my energy, I fear." "All" pure nonsense, cousin," she replied. "The leopard does not so easily change his spots. You are, for a day or two, a freed prisoner, and cannot be expected to act or think like ordinary human beings. It will not be a week liefore the Robert Wilmer of old will be back again, as frank, as hasty, and as trusting as of yore." "Well, well, we shall see! At anv rate I thank you for your suggestion. I have had quite enough of Salem to last mo tho rest of my life. Not enough of you, understand. But you are not going to spend all vour life here." "You

that your property lies

hfre." My pr j-erty ho said, looking up in startled urprise.

Yes. las it escaped that you are the heir ton largo Estate? Have you not Ma

'u'MvWto«A

ir.

tutu

small hand over his inoutii. "Here's Robert Wilmer again, as liasty and im-

Ee

ulsive as ever. I knew bo would soon back. But don't suppose that you are to be allowed to turn sheer idiot in mv presence. Is Josephs to triumph over you after all Why, such a course would seem to the pooplo here as if you had some crisainal conscientiousness. And justly, too. Don't dare to speak so foolishly aaam."

Well, perhaps you are right. I will think it over." «'Yeu may do so, if you tlunk as I want you to. But don't, as you value j'onr safety, attempt to think otherwise, I tell vou, cou&in this property is yours, by every law, social or sensible. It was left you-with the full intention of its owner that you should enjoy it. It's only' other claimant is a man who has forfeited every possible right to it, if the feet of his relationship gave him any right. From you, of all men, he least deserves consideration. Think what you have passed through to please his malice. Consider that ho is probably the immediate catirfe of his ftttnt's death. Remember, also, the specious lie, of his coining, which still stands between you

S

v"^

k-

W a a

-ugbing at you ive me no occasion I wl how, with or without occasion." lAugh

Yea."

IM

fe and

thinl for a moment happlnow for me in

irate from her? I would ?d on the soafifeld than ac-

fato wldch she holds out to me. '-"renrity, hut not alow tor I «4» know

1 chang« this nnfbunded anr roe as I am, too proud

any

awa^I#^% Mightex won't

hurt." Nor logic either, I fenr. your case. When Arc you going to i's .ilelphifi?"

In a verv lew days. As soon as I e?W get affairs arranged hcrf." think of going with voti." "Your

44

"On what errand?" You shall learn that «*r ft# w#V. •Rjere in this much of it I ill Wl run now. I suppose you know that Clara Heynolds h«i a cause of her own, tcsides that which she has given you, for her action." «I know there is some secret, of which ahe appears either afraid or tamed. What lite I do not imagine, wid have not cared. I am content to know that

not

think you are quite suite.! to deal with this afMpk' wadeen*

s' a

which she would not for the worid tell

^*Sb/SedlSr Sartl hate l«* pride and baughtitta*.'* Dont Interrupt mo, sir. I have the £oor now, if you please. I de noi Ima^inethat there ti anything dtegTaceftil. But there are fiuniiy secreta wliich a girl of her nature would richer die than divulge. Fbr a woman proud aa she, aeensuuned to good society, and well awaie of how the worid views certain of the social vieea.it hi strange that she should seek to hide her own special family skeleton fr*m sight?"

Perhaps not.** You are her worid just now. She will never let you seo it. You must trust my woman's wit to leant what is amiss, and bridge over the difficulty.**

Laura, I believe you have suddenly blossomed into a genius!** be cried, clasping her hand, "i did not dream that we had such a jewel in our family crown. I put myself fully in your care. Do with me as you will." vff

"•irf

i'^bilAFTER XXIX. THE MYMTBBY KKVBAIJEP^" The course of events takes us again to Philadelphia. Here, three of our characters were assembled—Clara Reynolds, striving to drown in occupation the bitter late which time liad doomed her to bear Robert Wilmer, anxious to see her and prove his innocence of all crimes and Laura McBride, self-established as his general assistant in this object and just now purposing to see tho reputed wife of her cousin, and learn if lie had been really married without his knowledge.

She had another ulterior object, as expressed in the last chapter, and forbade mm to go near his lady-love until she had first carried out her plans. In feet, to hinder his disobeying her,she had refused to give him tho residence of Miss Reynolds, knowing well that no planning or persuasion will keep the moth from haunting tho catidle-flame, and that many a poor human moth has flown over all tho bars of common sense, and got his wings well singed for bis trouble. It may be rather unfair to apply this comparison to the case of our two characters. Yet in Laura's opinion it was simply moth and candle over again,with a somewhat different acceptation, and she feared that if ho was allowed to liavo his own way, without' her management, he might hurt more than help himself.

But chance is sometimes stronger than the deepest-laid scboines, any where she was busily making, chance was preparing to lightly break. The freed prisoner —tho bound lover—had no heart to stay in his hotel. He spent his time wandering about tho streets o'f the great city, in the irresolute, purposeless way of a man utterlv without an object. He had many friends here, but in his present mood he cared to sec nono of them. He even avoided tho maiu business streets, lest he should meet some one he knew. He did not wish to be drawn into around of congratulations and descriptions of his trial, as he knew would DO the case should he fell into his old circle. He had other too absorbing subjects for consideration just then.

There was much of interest to be seen in the streets to which his roving feet carried him. He behold the back door of the great city. The splendor and ornament of its great front was replaced hero by squalor'and imsightlincss. The rich attire of the kings and queens of fashion was here copied in rags and dirt. The splendid vice that sits in high places was liero emulated in open debauchery. Low grog-shops innumerable opened their death-dealing doors, and appeared to do the most thriving business ef the neighborhood. The amount of drunkenness, poverty and misery visible in these localities was appalling, and his heart bled at the unwonted vision.

Far it was with a different viow from any-that had ever before affected liim that he beheld these distressing sights. He had passed through a severe school of experience, and had been taught to sympathize with all misery and misfortune to a degree which would have been impossible to him formerly. We must appreciate before we can properly sympathize and for the first time in his life he beheld misery with a full knowledge of all it meant. life old haughty bearing was in agreat measure gone. He had Tallen in prido more nearly to the level of the great world, and liad risen in true value to a height to which prido will never lift a man. From being an inmate of a closed circle, he was becoming a brother of mankind, and coming at last to understand and to foel moving within hii* that grand sentiment of the universal fraternity of the human race.

More tiian ono unfortunato was the better for this changed mood of Robert Wilmer. He now dealt words of sympathy and material aid where formerly he would have turned away with disgust and fear of contamination. Kven tho drunkenness that was BO distressing a feature of these scenes did not affect him with his old abhorrence. He no longer blamed aa an excusablo fault what was in great measure tho result of human weakness, and a craving for factitious relief from tho pressing burden of life. His feet were attracted thither by some strange inlluenee. lie had learned what endurance meant, and wished to behold the world's endurance. Tho poor, unfortunato sot was no longer to him more beast than man, but pimply humanity degradod, and which kind words and helping hands might lift again from his low level. Tsntthe brutalltv of those who dealt in Bquid poison, and then drove their unfortunate victims in curses and scorn from their doors, excited his indignation to a pitch that more than onco found vent in word*. Particularly one day, as be was passing through a small street, was his anger excited by one of these brutal exhibitions. The door of a grogshop was Aung violently open, and an old man sent reeling across the pavement, till, felling, ho struck his head violently upon the curb.

The indignant words of the observer of this sava^ exhibition wore cnt short bv the slamming ot tho door in bis fece bV tho bar-keeper. His first impulse was to force his way in, and call the in* solent brute to account for his violence. But the old man lay motionless, »nd apparently insensible, and the force of his ameer gave way to the appeal of sympathy. He lifted him carcftiUy up and found that his head tod ^wUieverts contusion from the fell, and that he was really in an insensible condition.

The man was quite old, and bore the marks of extreme dissipation wi his feoe. He ww moderately well dressed, vet his clothes well as his fee© bore the one stamp—that of the incurable sot. Br this time several ot the neighbors had gathered around. WRh sympathetic looks and words,»nd with expressions of anger against tihefcesfifr of thegrog-

*hJ!r.' Wilmer sent one of these for a carriage. in old times ho might hate given some money for the relief of the unfortunate, but his impulse would have been to pass hastily on, and t^spo from the uncongenial locality Now, hto deslre was to give the matter attention, to take the old wan hom^aml

ate him properly cared for, however}distrust you. and to imagine a truth i^au^Cth£t««k might move, more culpable than the **1 teaming the address Me charge "Yon do got know tta from one of the people present, he help- answered, with her sad ...^ ed to* plaae him comfortably in the car- circle Into which my

riago, and diews to the designated i»- would have cwwideced me as I would c*5ty. It ww a genteel boon* la one of have ooiu»idered a dog. 1 know society the main up-town street*. But ho jpaid better than you, as I have seen it from a little attention to the character and ap- point of view which you never occupied, pearanoe of the house. His charge had I would have been endured, perhaps, partly recovered his senses, hut was not hut do yon think I would have borne able to walk unassisted. He rang the their scornful endurance? waadeterbell, and then, with the aid of the coach- mined to win respect, even at the risk of man. helped the injured man into the misconception. The unknown is always bouse, briefly explaining to tbo girl who open to charitable interpretation. The ooeiMdUiBffiwwhithadhai^eMd, known is beyond charity. As for pity,

She appeared but UtUa sujprised, and am I a woman to accept the nltv of these not particularly grieved, as she led the proud aristocrat I would die before way to aback room, and deshned them would endure it" to place him on a sofa that stood there. I can appreciate your feeling, Clara,

Paving and dismissing the coachman, vet I think you do the world injustice. Dr. Wiimer returned to the room, toll- You have brooded mxm this matter till ing the girl that the old man was proba- you have grown unduly sensitive. iour bly seriously injured, and that he was a experience is yet more one-sided than physican, and wished to examine Ids mute has been, and has kent vou in a condition before leaving him. false position through dread or conse-

She readily assented, and with more quences which would never have occtirInterest than she had before shown. She ml. Your culture and lady-like bearhad apparently been accustomed to ex- ing must have won recognition,' no mathibitions of helplessness on the part of ter what your connection*." the old man, and had not correctly un- You are too charitable to society," deratood his condition at first. she said, gently. "I may have been

Paying no ftirther attention to her, he over-sensitive, yet it has not been withproceeded to examine the condition of out good reason. Oh, this bitter, terrible tho injured man. He did not notice that curse of drunkenness!" she ke out, the uirl bad hastily left tho room, heed- with sudden passion. "This most deed not a subsequent opening and shut- basing and horrible of all the evils which ting of doors, and was first roused from have ml leu upon our race. This mother his close interest in his occupation by a of half man's crimes and miseries! Our low, distressed exclamation behind him prisons, our poorhouses, our insane asyin tones strangely familiar. turns, are filled with its victims. And

Turning quickly, he saw—though half not these alone it has peopled aliko tho blinded by a flood of uncontrolable emo- hospital, the jail, the madhouse, and the tjon—the form of the one woman in aU grave. Thousands of men, old before

the world for whom his soul hungered with a pain that would not be appeased. Claru Reynolds stood before him. Upright, in the middle of the floor, with clasped hands, and a fece filled with deep concern, sho stood like a statue of grief—a look of affright in her eyes as they rested on tho form of the old man,

Dr. Wilmer had faced her for a second before she appeared to realize his presence. Then a strange expression came upon lier features-v-a look in which dread, despair, and other untranslatable emotions seemed to mingle. With a low crv she tottered back, passing her hand Wore her eyes as ir to rub off some suddeu cloud of blindness. She would have tallen but in an instant he was bv her side, and clasped her in liis

She passed iier hands again before her eves. The color came back to her lips. With a faint, forced smile, she released herself from his protecting arms.

Speak, Clara. Will you not speak to iue f» "What has happened to Ww?" she asked, in a half whisper.

He was thrown down in the street, his head injured by striking the carb. 1 cannot tell you how seriously. How strange that I should have been directed to bring him to your house. Is he a friend of yours

He is my father These words came from her like a moan, forced out bysome inward power, yet evidently the hardest words to speak that had ever passed her lips.

He stood for a moment dazed, as if some one had struck him a hard blow, looking vacantly iuto the pain and shame that expressed themselves uncontrolably upon her face.

Then, with a sudden impulse of regret, he cried: ... Oh, forgive me! forgive me, Clara! a have wounded you deeply, but all unknowingly. bv mv thougntles8 question. I did not wish to intrude upon your private lite—to force unwilling answers from you. I was simply blind and heedless.".

It is nothing," she said, with more comj^osurc. "You havo my secret—that deep mystery which the poople of Salem sought so earnestly to learn. It is yours now—and a miserable secret it is."

For a short space ho stood in silence, looking intently at her. Deeply as he felt for her evident misery, he was wounded to the soul by the expression of her face.

Clara Reynolds," he answered, suddenly, "you have conceived an opinion of mo for which-. I have given you no warrant. I mav have seemed proud— may havo shown an egotistic dislike of

^^oaS "!oa"ol'y"acoatlngen"m°

IKS TO,,, Robert, by my knowl-

s»^ta«jsri£'SKSS:

OT.Vlm^o"S^.'dicc-Dot

ing deathly pale. There oan henceforth

lM"

rheir

-Mi.

I j_if your lover! I, whom you sav ed! What ails you, darling? Speak to me. I cannot bcar to see this look upon your fece."

ad^Y

cm-fain human failings! but to suppose .a"1"*,^^Jf^SSeFhJJTSthat I would for a moment hold one per- ^prdenuncia^eMc^taSn^tSt i^lwofiSyoS tionsdeserved, although he had never SK tlio»,»rt »f

berthing WTSefThfd ZPrS ^SSXSl £y%d quaintanct. Then let the dead past

^'i have first something W say to you,"

strong for me. Do not S lust then would have thanked no one for nothing to you, Robert \V ilmotj I Admiration where she sought to impress

You shall not hold such an opinion or

mo!" he cried, bitterly. "What I might have been, or might have felt in former years, is not to the point. I have learned to tolerate much that I would then have despised, and to feel a sentiment of human brotherhood for the most utter victim of weakness. It is not the Robert Wilmer of old whom yon see, but a man who has been through the refining crucible oi suffinr-

You sroeak in ignorance, Robert. Consider the position ofa person fettered with a miserable secret, of which she dare not let a whisper reach the world's ear. You know not what I have suffered from misconception, yet I could not apeak* The truth was worse,than the darkest error entertained." "I cannot agree with you," he replied. "Few evils are worse than secrecy. Weaknes* is no crime. The world would have come to pity and accept you for voursclf, while you nave driven it to

'^SlllSSS

Migsgsfi

life carried me

^HVvt time, their health shattered, their minds ruined, are tottering dally to the tomb, clutched in the grasp of this evil monster. Thousands of wives are enduring martyrdom far worse than that oftlie stake, since it reaches not through moments, but through years of endurance, and arc peopling the grave with their broken hearts. Myriads of children are coming into being the hereditary curse implanted fat every fibre of their frames—weak, miserable, liquorcraving victims of the base tastes of their besotted fathers. Equal myriads are being dragged up through the direst povertv, misery, and crime—are being trained in an atmosphere of delwuchery, profanity, and all the vilest forms of human passion, because the worid has yielded itself supinely to the dominion of this monster You know not—you cannot conceive my experience, Robert Wilmer you kpow not bow utterlv I hate, despise, abominate, this horrible demon, which makes half tho world a charnel-house, peopled not by men and women, but bv a corruption with which death lias nothing comparable. And vet it is to be tied,like a festering corpse upon the world, because, forsooth, it pays a good revenue to the state, A rich revenue indeed Something in money, but what in misery, crime, and murder —Aye, murder in every fonn suicide, wire-murder, child-murder! Wo call this the enlightened age of tho world, yet to win the votes and cater to the depraved tastes of a crew of sots and liquor sellers, and that we may not offend a snjierior crew of self-indulgent gentlemen, (as they style themselves), all tho best feelings of 'humanity must be disregarded, half the world be victims of the brutality of the baser half, and all tho coming generation have a den of misery projiared for tliem. Do legislators need how the revenues they so strongly crave arc decimated by tho consequences of the monstrous commerce that brings in its paltry bribe of dollars and cents, and pays out a tribute too fearful to speak of? Enlightenment! Better, indeed, were we thrown back to the savagery of our ancestors than have no better cnlightment than this to boast of."

He looked at her with a surprise that was more than half admiration. The impassioned energy of her voice, tho warm color that flushed her fece, her graceful attitude, her earnest, indignant manner, the unstudied vigor and oratorical power of denunciation, were more impressive and convincing to him than volumes of quiet argument would have been. He ffelt that ho had not half appreciated lier worth, and thanked the fortune that had won him the love of this glorious creature. As to the value of her facts and deductions—the power of her conclusions—no question entered his mind. He was too fully occupied in

fn^inetive^e^na noase^eil

"p

h*«

wouUi not

condition

or

ms

whafc impatieAtly,

Slw «ld«d him in hi. examination, before hlny aa ho yate.1 himself

whlihVowiIl'tl^rhCT hLrt*S2ntSSt I h»T» noiustlfloalion in shrinking from

been upon her life. He appeared more Ho «'M easy now* and was dox\lv i10r hands every tone of her voice to a Leaving himas cemfortable tw possible, which would have brought her to wiVS,v.8v'fo°lforroli^' Th..tanned the led the way to her onwe. _ffect

»P°k™ »h»

the .l»doi» gSt

ML

W&iiraiEJSK

mor0.

j,avo yon repeat anything so

You

cannot under-

standitffiof"itV" sh^S^d, some-

continuing to stand

of)ier

niv ^S°idiottld^ever!ISvekaSJd him. she drf not dream how grandly fothmvwili^ AiS«hM »rov^Tto6 beautiful sho had grown under thein-and It with my W ill. Chance DM provea ioo

nothing to you, ivooerc winner* KIHIW well what it is. I know the school yon have been reared In, and how you have been taught to regard such exhibitions as this. Nor do I blame you for ono moment. There to nothing lower on God's earth than tho life of a drunkard!

pythoness-llko beauty upon

5ration 0{ t[10

earnest excitement,

conviction. ••My father," sho commenced, more softly, yet not less earnestly, "was a merchant, in prosperous circumstances until the financial convulsion of 1857 brought rttih upon him, imd hurled his family into the depths of poverty. Had this been all, it would havo been a minor evil. But he felt his changed condition most acuratoly, and sought to drown in drink the despair that followed his financial .ruin. You may guess tho result. He became intemperate to a degree that not alone forced his wife and children into a struggle for bread for which their previous lire had unfitted thein, but which weakened his mind, ruined his temper, and degraded him almost tothe level or the bruto. To eodaro suffering for want of bread was a light evil to a child of my natu ,|™0 endurance of the vile and profene lan-

rhear—themythe

igo which young ears were forced abuse of my mother, the blows to myself, reelingdrunkenness the besotted, animal slumbers—oh, I cannot speak mote it! My£ml turns sick with abhorrence at the thought I feel that you have aright to learn this, {ooKTixfran o» SKVwrrH pag*J tm***