The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1866-02-20
THE DAILY EMPIRE.
81. II. ROBINSON,
PUBLISHER AND PROPRIETOR.
Captain DICK's LADY LOVE.


Aud then sat down to consider the case
of this Mr. Richard IIerkness, who was
spending his precious time In flirting with
blackeyed Southern maidCns, f0rgettlng-l
lorgetting-and then began to cry.
That passed over, after little, and ! |
again returned to the solemn duty in hand. !
"Oh, Lille Cass." ! cried, "whoevcr you
are, you little know what pain you have
made for one poor hearti For ! give you
the credit of believing that you are igno-
rant that this handsome captain has wife
who worships him"
The more read the letter the better |
was satisfied she was pure-hearted girl
there was such SAVIOR of innocence about
tit was so sweet and childlike. Why.
perhaps 1t is only some little girl, after all
The blood rushed to my face in u glad cur
rent at this thought. This would account
for her sitting on his lap, putting her little
hands about his dear curly head to measure
1t, making him n smoking-cap sending her
portrait to him and receiving his in return,
begging him to come and see her once
more. Why, then, If it Is n little girl-but
oh, dear, oh, dear, just look at this
Brother Ben. who died twelve years ago.
when was only eight years old Then
she is twenty now-cSactly my own age.
All, mel
AS for the genuincness of the letters
there was not loophole for ray of hope
In that direction. Their genuinencss was
unquestionablc. The lady's letter was
stamped and post-markcd in the most
crushingly, practical manner. Besides,
Dick had AN old habit of taking letters from
his pocket when he was sitting smoking his
cigar after dinner, and idly picking the pa
per full of pin-hOlcs; and this letter had
been through that original process. His
own little note, too, was written on the
same kind ofpapcr that he used in writing
to me, with his monogram stamped on it,
X. II. interviewer In the most graceful man-
ner-thc prcttiest monogram | ever saw.
And If any could be deceived in Richards
handwriting, 1t was not l--no, no-the
deftest forger that ever existed could not
! initiate the writing of that man, to deceive
my sight, for read his words always with
my heart as well as with my own eyes.
wrote and tore up a dozen letters that
day. |, who pride myself on my dcftness
with the pen, was completely nonplusscd
now. And MS ] am contessng my sins free
ly, shall confess, also. that one of the let
| tcrs wrote was to Miss Lille Cass her,
self But blushcd deep for shame after
had written IL; 80 gross piece Of ll-breed-
/ ing as related 10 hcr--so disgraceflil, too,
to Richard and my trust in him. Nothing
hut this jealous imp that ruled me could
have given birth TO such an act. tore
that letter into very small bits indeed.
Aud Mt last my letter 10 Dick was written
and dispatched. IL enclosed these two
letters, stated how | got them, and only
added, "Oh, Dick, dear, dear Dick, what
docs Il mean ?"
1 As soon as the letter had gone. felt n
remarkable degree OF satisfaction and re-
lief. had dong my duty. had done the
thing Dick told me to do, If ever such q
case arose and having done this, felt that
there was nothing elsc In the world for
me TO do. had now only 10 iodit, come joy
or pain.
| 4 h,,e
Ii enclosed portrait of Lille Cass- and II
ever kissed the sensel.ss face of photo
IL graph with all my heart and soul. 1t was
the face of that same poor, invalid little
{ boy that looked ont at me with sinless eyes,
! till tears of mingled shame and gladness
filled my own.
VI And this was Lille Cass! A poor little
fellow leaning wearily upon cane and a
t crutch-a man In years, but child In
r stature, and In heart. The son of wealthy
: planter, Dick wrote, he had been reared as
r the household pet and shielded carefully
/. from rude contact with the world. His
i mother had sought to amuse him by teach
: ing him needle work, and day afler day he
: would sit upon his bed. making little gift
b for those he loved. In his stronger seasons
, y which sometimes lasted several days TO.
I gether--hc was permitted to walk about the
streets of the place, with q servant follow.
ing at respectful distance 10 watch over
him. One day my husband met the littl,
X fellow in the street, and took him kindly by
the hand, winning his innocent heart as h'
7 always wins to him the poor and good
Il His name was Willie, but 10 make IL ever
I more soft and pctting, it had been changed
D. TO Lille.
i sent for Dr. Ira Seeley the morning
y after the letter came. Auntic had dis
pcnscd with his services about the time o
If our last interview. lie came, and when
1t entered the parlOr where he waited, adj
y vanccd with both hands extended. and hi
o great smooth-shaved sensual face wreathct
r with disgusting smile, cxclaimlng:
. MY dear Mrs. lIerkness, this Is an un
Il expected pleasure, truly" .rl.
"PleaSe be seated, sir.N | sGid. In a tom
that fro2e all the warmth ont of his moor
Gice; and down nc sat.
81 have received a letter from my hus
!" band" said 'regnrd.hg the letters whicl
a. you stole out OF his pocket when he wa
3 sick. 1 hate you for that mean act.n
a. 'madam !" he calculated. with n faint at
y tempt at buster show dare your Iwill no
" remain 10 be Observation-Disclosures
a "Bnt choose" said l. "that before yoI
2, 20, you should gaze on Miss Lille Cass
y portrait
+ You should have seen the stare witt
which ho greeted t.
"rhat Is Miss Lille Cass," said |. II hAv
only TO add, that ! do this act of penance--
tO tell You that / am ashamed, utterll
=. ashamed, at my conduct under your skill
:" ful management and 10 say that in fatur
4. prefer that we should be entire stranger
NJ 10 each other"
\ Thus came down the good stick of tina
VI ugly rocket.
An exchange says: at is better 10 low
'' person you can not marry, than 70 MARI.
~ YuII-H -