Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-10-30
selttt 1eaomg.
THE PALE YOUNG MAN.

noticed one day in my ride toward home
an old leathcr-stained, worn and rickety
chaise, in which was seated pale young
man. He was fragile creature, with cada
verous check, and hollow, beseeching eyes
that glistened fearfully with each roll in the
socket. He bent as he moved, and his breath
came short and gaspingly. His garments
hung loosely in wide folds over his thin
form, bctraying its shrunken proportions
His hands were folded with an air childishly
meek, and yet there seemed certain for.
lornness in that week air, ard the swaying
posture in which he sat in the old chaise,
betowcned extreme exhaustion.
The worn old chaise stood before mar.
BILE workers shop, where fronting the door,
along the smoky building, and along the
smcarcd windows, laughing in great cracks,
and on all sides Of the ancient fence that two
generations had seen, white shafts, gray
stones and brown slabs uprose, ghastly shapes
yet beautiful, with angels and chcrubs scul p
turcd therein, some for hardfeatured men,
and some for tender babes; some for blame
less maids, and others for youths not yet
world-stained. Many of these shapes, types
of beauty more perishable than themselves,
though made by more cunning haDds, bore
graceful willows dropping from the stained
marble; doves spread their snowy wings
urns, in pensive solitude, waited for the tear
of grief-and over many bent the cold forms
of passive sorrows, as shades, mourning for
the soul that had departed.
1t seemed gloomy stopping-place for the
pale man, to one along whose veins bounded
the vigorous pulse of health-ard yet the
serene face of the invalid, suffused with a
glad and almost holy expression that soften
ed its ghastliness, and made sadness more
spiritual, formed picture strangely in keep
ing with the surroundings Of death. Day
after day, as I passed, I saw him usually in
the same place, either being assisted by some
dear friend into the old lcathery chaise, or
sitting so lstlcssly yet so patient, watching
the motions of the laborers engaged at their
work.
Once l fortunately met friend, who, as
pointed out the pale young man, spoke of
him as one he had long known; and going
towards the rusty chaise, he held forth his
hand. With glad life expression, the in
valid graspcd it, saying, This is a very un-
expected pleasure
'How are you now, my friend?' interroga-
ted the other
WELL he said, and the sweetest smile
broke all over his pale features, I'm nearer
home than ever-thank God!
There was so much fervor in that "thank
Cod that it brought the tears into my eyes
1T is a hopeless case, is it not?' I asked,
passing along with my friend-'what can it
be that draws him to the shop of the marble
worker? l should think he was superintend-
ing the making of his monument L added,
thoughtlessly.
This is just what he is doing answered
my friend. He is doomed man and know
ing his state, is overlooking the progress of
his own tombstone
1T is horriblep I cried, startlcd-'it is a
heartlcss whim-if he has money, surely he
can spend it more christianity than that, or
leave it to the poor?
NO, no not hcartless Mark Bennett is
far from that, and the charities he has dis
pensed no man can number. Not an hour
of his life passes without registering some
good deed. But let nc give you an outline
of his history.
Mark was handsome, healthy young
man ten years ago: with a fine flow of spirits
and high expectations. A fortune was left,
to him, and it proved his snare. Never a
more humble, modest unassuming young man
than he before that, but when his uncle died
and the splendid fortune came-fine fortune,
and no mistake-he was off like an untrain-
ed colt-off, and on the broad road of dissi-
patton. beginning with moderate prodigali-
ty to rid himself Of his golden incumbrance,
his desires soon knew no bounds. Gradu-
ally he threw off the restraints which once
sense of duty, engendercd by mothers pi-
Gus teachings, had kept him undcr-plunged
into fashionable follics, forgot God, ruined
his constitution, and soon sunk all but a
small portion of his fine legacy. Poor fcl-
low, in his case the race was to the swift,
but it has ended in his destruction. And
now listen while give you little romance.
In his humber days he loved and was en-
gagged to Miss Nellie Glen, sweet, intelli-
gent and poor girl, of Scotch descent. Prct-
ty Nellie hers was a very gentle face, the
softcst and most truly feminine, I think, I
ever saw Well, when he went away to
plunge into foreign dissipation, she grew
paler for time, but she never doubted his
love-never doubted his truth.
'Ah well-some women are such loving
and forgiving creatures soliloquized my
friend, bachelor reveries, from which start
led him by the question.
did he ever marry her?'
No. he exclaimed, abruptly, mo; he went
to New York and Philadelphia, dangled
around few golden satellites-from thence
to Europe-came back to the States, paid
court to lady of wealth, and heart-break-