The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1857-10-17
AFeRTUNXTE RUIN.

IL "a
= AFoRTUNATE RUIN. a. IL ~
George Ballerton sas ID his room in his ho
tel. He was young man Of six and twenty
tall and slim Of frame, with a face Of ex
ceeding iatellectual beauty, and dresss,
in costly garments, though his toilette wa
but midi iaarently performed. Il He was al
orphan, and for some years had boarded I
the hotel. 1t required but single glane
into his pale features to tell TINT he was q
invalid. He sat With his head resting upoI
his hands, and his whole frame would eve
and anon tremble, q though with som
powerful emotion. Bus tFet5aaz
As the youth sat thus, his door was open
ed, and an elderly gentleman entered. = 4.
'Ah, doctor, you are moving early thi
morning. said Bsllerton, as he Iazily ros'
from his seat, and extended his hand. 9
20! not early for me, George returned
Allyne, with u bright smile. & am an early
bird.'g @ 6atS.a Rz@A4l Il ]
'Well-you've caught worm this time.
Il hope twill prove valuable One.'l g
81 don't know, sighed the youth
Il fear thousand worms will inherit thi,
poor body ere long, a73ss
sNonsensel you're worth half centur,
syet,' cried the doctor, giving him gentle
slap on the shoulder. But just tell me
George, how is it with Rowland9' ~
4 don't understand it, GEORGE i 1891
sNeither do l. said the young man, sor-
rowfully. tThat Charles Rowland could
have done that thing, would not--could
not-have believed. Why had an angel
appeared to me two weeks ago, and told me
that Rowland was shaky, would not have
paid moments attention to it. But only
think; when my father died, he selected for
my guardian his best friend, and such even
now believe Charles Rowland WIS, and in his
hands he placed all his wealth, for him to
keep until should become Of age. And
when did arrive at that period of life,
left my money where it was. had no use
for it. Several times, within three four or
four years, has Rowland asked me to take
my money and invest it, but would not. !
bade him keep it, and use it, if he wished.
l0nly asked that, when | wanted money,
he would honor my demand. felt more
safe, in fact, than should have felt had my
money been in the bank on dcposit.'
sHOw much had he when he left p 1899 a.
, sHow much Of mine p 'tsg g
sYes.' "'t0.sF3F8 efi hah5i ~ GE.Sy5 %
sHe should have had hundred thousand
dollars.' 'srss7 10 ts4.A s.s - Ffais l
sWhat do you mean to do?' ~ 2oss =
'Ah-you have me on the hip there
Sand yet you must do something, George.
Heaven knows would keep you If l could.
| shall claim the privilege Of paying your
debt, however.' . 1'
sNo, no, doctor-none of that ''s5'5.
sBut tell you'll shall. shall pay your
debts, but beyond that can only assist you
ohelp, yourself. What do you say TO going
to sea- 17f".#sss935f'y 7" '. = ri s0 '0-
A faint smile swept over the youths pale
features at this remark. '7' - t"f
Il should makes smart hand at sea, doc
tor! lean hardly keep my legs on shore.
No, no-i must, ..' 'i'
sMust what p e%" " S.",
'Alas! know not. l shall die-that's
alp "4a fat a@Es < III "s -"
Nonsense George. say 60 to sea-.
You couldn't 90 into shop, and you would
not if you could. You do not wish to re-
main here amid the scenes of your happy
days. Think of it; at sea you will be free,
from all sneers Of the heartless, and from
all contact with things you loathe. Think
of it, as" .sHEet7o 'sttsaa&' ts7E SO
George Ballerton started to his feet and
paced the Hoor for some minutes, When
he stopped, a new life seemed already at
work within him. s'"a.5 .''. aE.'". ~"
'If went to sea what could do?'
'You understand all the laws of foreign
trader r" @s@5 "hF ="
yes: you know | had thorough school
ing at that in my fathers counting house,
Then you can have the berth of super
CARGO i-.'' =" d. A
'Are you sure ! can get onc?' ' 1 -."'
sYes.' ~ a.L
Sand the salary?'
1.-TWO thousand dollars - '.s'-
Doctor John Claudius Allyne, l will go!'
George Ballerton walked one evening to
the house of the wealthy merchant, Andrew
Wilton. 1t was a palatial dwelling, and
many hopeful, happy hour had he spent
beneath its roof. He rang the bell, and
was admitted 10 the parlor. In few min
utes, Mary Wilton entered. She was only
twenty. She had been waiting until that
age to be George Balierton's wife.
Some words were spoken-many moments
of painful silence ensued. s,s... 7zL
'Mary-you know all. l am going upon
the sea. | am going to work for my living.
| am going forth from my native land a
beggar. lcannot stay long now. Mary,
did know you less than door, knowing
you we'll, did know you as do many-I
should give you back your vows, and free
you from all bondage. But I believe l
should trample upon your heart did do that
thing now. | know your love is too pure
and deep to be torn from your bosom at
will. So Isay-wait-waitn ? "'
'But why wait? have not enough?'--ah !!
you know not again what you say. There
are other feelings in the human heart be-
sides love. That love is poor, pro6tless
which puts aside all other considerations.
We must love for eternity, and so our love
must be free. Wait. / am going to work.
Ay-upon the sea to workp " fa.5 .aa~
'Butwhy upon the sea? Why away where
my poor heart must ever beat in anxious
hope and doubt ms it follows thee?'@ PSI si& i
'BecauseI cannot remain here. Hundreds
of poor fools have imagined that Stunned
them because was proud. They knew not
that it was the tainted atmosphere Of their
moral life that Stunned. They gloat over
my misfortune. Men may call me foolish;
but it would kill me to stay here.'
sAlas! must it be?' f,aa e SO oza#E
sit must. You will wait?' .sgss in 7z=
81 will wait even to the gates of the tomby
Then Heaven bless and preserve YOU'D
t&' -..'.a.@ -3&s fa'a. 81 ."s4a
The ruined youth was upon the ocean
his voyage commenced-his duties as Ia
borer for his own daily bread all fairly as
sumed. All! it was strange life for him to
enter upon. From the ownership Of i'm
mense wealth to the trade books Of mer-
chant ship, was transition indeed! But
ere he went on deck again, he had resolved
that he would do his duty, come what would !,
short Of death. He would forget that he
ever did else but work for his livlihood.--
With these resolves, clearly defined in his
mind, he had already felt better. i5T
At first our supercargo was too weak to
do. much. He was very sea-sick, and it
lasted nearly two weeks; but when that
passed Oft, and he could pace the, vibrating
deck with stout stomach, his appetite grew
sharp, and his muscles begaA to grow strong.
At FIRST his appetite craved some Of the
many delicacies he had been used to; but
they were not to be had, and he very soon
learned to do without them. The result was
that his appetite became natural in its
wants; and his system began to fnd itself
nourished BY simple. food, and in proper