The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-10-01
TALES OF THE BORDERS.
THE SOLITARY OF THE CAVE.


For twelve months | corccaled, oi
I thought that | had concealed, thu bank.
ruptcy which overwhelmed me as helm
/ less vessel on a tcmpestous sea. But the
I Prince landed in Scotland, and the war
began was employed in preparing the
way for him in England, and, for a season,
wild hopes that made mybrain giddy, rem
dcrcd me forgetful Of the misery that had
hung over and haunted me. But the
4 brilliant and desperate game was soon over
our cause was lost, and with it my hopes
perished remorse entered my breast, and
trembled in the grasp Of ruin. Sir
William Forester effected his escape to
France, but bis estates were confiscated,
and my Catherine was robbed of the
inheritance that would have descended to
her With this came anothet pang more
bitter than the loss Of her father's fortune /;
for be, now fugitive in a strange land, and
unconscious of my condition, had a right to
expect assistance from me. The thought
dried UP my very hearts blood, and made
it burn within me, and | tancied | heard
my Catherine soliciting me to extend the
means Of life to her father, which | was no
longer able to bestow upon heTself; for
with the ruin Of our cause, my schemes Of
borrowing, and Of allaying the -.amour Of
creditors, persisted.
But it il said that evils come not singly,
nor ala they SO with me; they came as a
legion, each more cruel than that which
preceded it. Within three weeks after the
confscation Of The tates Of Sir William
Forester, the il ldUal who held the
mortgage upon mine died, and bis property
passed into the hands-of whom heaven
and oarth Lewis, can hardly write it.
His property, including the mortgage on
nv estate, passed into the hands Of Sir
Peter Blakely | cou.I have died a
thousand deaths rather than have listened
to the tidngs My estate was sunk beyond
ia value. and now | was at the mercy Of
the man | had injured, of him | hated. |
could not doubt but that, now that | was in
his power, be would wiring from me his
z pound Of flesh to the last grain, and be
has done it the monster has done it.
But to proceed with my history.
NV Catherine was now a mother, and
longer to conceal from her the wretched-
ness that surrounded US, and was now ready
to oyerwhelm US, was impossible; yet |
lacked the courage, the manliness to &C
quaint her with it, or prepare her for the
coming storm.
But she had penetrated my soul, she had
,,-b,la / aoth hv har
side buried in gloom, and my soul grooming
in agony, she took my hand in hers, and
said
" Come, dear Edward, conceal nothing
! from nc. If cannot remove your sorrows,
lot me share them. l have borne much,
but, for you, can bear more.
"What mean ye, Catherine " l IN
auired, in a tone of petulance.
q" Ny dear husband" replied she, with
her wonted affection, think not | am
ignorant of the sorrow that preys upon your
heart But brood not en- poverty as an
affliction. You may regain affiuence o.
you may not il neither can add to :
diminish my happiness but as it affc is you
Only smile upon me, and | will welcon'
penury. Why think of degradation or o
suffering? Nothing is degrading that Il
virtuous and honest; and where honesty
and virtue are, there alone is true nobility
though their owner be newer Of wood
Believe not that poverty is the foe o
affection. The assertion is the oft-repeated
but idle falsehood of those who never loved
| have seen mutual love, joined with con
tent, within the clay walls of humble cotters
rendering their scanty and coarse morse
swectcr than the savoury daintes OF tn
rich; ana affection increased, and esteem
rose, from the knowledge that they en-
dured priyation together, and for each other
!, No, Edward" she added, hiding her fac
upon my shoulder, " think not Of suffering
We are young, the world is wide, ant
Heaven is bountiful. Leave riches b
those who envy them. and affection vii
render the morsel Of our industry de
licious."
My first impulse was to press her to m
bosom but pride and shame mastered me
and, with a troubled voice, | exclaimed
Catherine"
30 Edward! !" she continued, and he
tears burst forth, ''let us study to under
stand each other, if am worthy of bein
your wife, / am worthy Of your conf
dence."
| could not reply. l was dumb
admiration, in reverence of virtue an
. affection Of which | felt myself unworthy
/ A load --amed to fall from my heart,
pressed hcr lips TO mine
Cannot Edward be as happy as b
, Catherine" she continued; I'VE have, Z
J least, enough for the present, and wi;
frugahty We have enough for years. Com
love, wherefore will you be unhappy? b
you our purser." And endeavouring
I smile, She gently placed her purse in m
hands.
' GOOD Heavens - exclaimed, strikin
I. my forehead, and the purse dropped upo
/ the floor; am / reduced to this /? NeVeI
Catherine, never. Let US perish in N