The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-05-31
THUNDER.STRUCk.


ces, but the young man was oslm ana sen
possessed, and dealt in philosophers ana
proverbial resignation. :,
poverty was not the worst OF Ills, ne
said; ''he had youth, and health ana nope,
and energy; his father bad made all his
money. why should not he? The world
owed a living to all its inhabitants, and
would not deny one to him; and perhaps his
sluggish temperament needed Just this to
rouse il" etc, etc. And his friends listened
and sppsuded, and told him be was herol
philosopher SPARTAN And he believed
them.
But all this was nothing. What did it
amount to? Simply tina, the young dreamer
was talking Theoretically, and not practical
ly. What did the young ueophyte know of
the life he was about to enter upon? He
who had looked upon the world through the
rose tinted Windows of the drawing-room.
what did he know of poverty? He had ney
or realized the comforts his fathers
wealth had surrounded him with, but had
taken for granted that his own easy, lnxur
ious life, was the natural state of man he
had seen poverty, the dirty, equalld. vieious
reckless poverty which great city nous
her bosom like fostering sore, sno 10"
given money TO relieve It, ous thn' "" ~
vulgar poverty of u gentleman; ne ,eH ne
couId never descend to tnst. rossioiS us
;sass or respectable, gentiemsnly limitation
wouId have been the exchange OF his club /
room. snd opera box for a seat at the case
ment window of some vine hung cottage; TO
eat strawberries and cream instead of oys-
s.ars aud ices; and listen to the songs of
birds Instead of tue notes of Piccoomini.
And with an abundant wardrobe, and his
pocket BOOK still filled with his last quarter
ample allowance, be could afford to romance
and pbilosophize-for a while.
Bat the time was coming, and soon came,
whsu. his supplies being exhausted, he
called upon his fathers late bankers, and
was civilly referred to the executors, where
he Was met BY the delicately conveyed but
startling information that they had no funds
for him.
Robert FASTENED to explain ole did not
mean a fortune that he knew was not to
look for; but money for his own necessary
expenses-he meant money for his own,
immediate daily use They were sorry,
very sorry, TO say they had none to advance.
Robert was astonished "Where, then,
should he apply for is?n he very innoceutly
inquired Really, they did not know; most
unfortunately, they had not dollar in their
hands.
Robert walked thoughfully back to his
rooms; now was the time to act upon his
theories but they did not seem SO tessibie.
The world owed him living" True, but
how was he to recover the debt? His claim
was a good one, undoubtedly; but to whom
was he to present IL? This was a question
which posed wiser heads than his.
ae thought deeply on the subject, he
applied 70 his friendships fathers friends
and his own; they sympathized, and tenn
ported. and held out vague hopes of some
golden opportunity in the far distance bus
al their plans required time money to
resiize them, and Robert could give neither;
aud, ike "the hare with many friends, he
found ne must, after all, depend upon him
self. Fortunately, he had not overestimated
his internal resources he had, ne said,
youth and health, and energies which only
needed rousing; he had received good
classical education, though, having no
decided turn for any profession, he had not
been educated for one and he had inherited
from his father a clear sense OF equity and
honesty. His resolves were decided and
his action prompt. The sale Of his horses
and his yacht, with the many luxurious
tr'ties of genElemsnly leisure to be his no
longer procured him ready money to meet
has presen, wants. Debts he had never con-
trscted that was the ouly point upon which
MS father had insisted.
just at this Juucture one OF those chances
which will occur in lifetime brought 10
ms notice An advertisement of the school
committee of l., for a teacher in their
district school. OF course the emolumsnt
was small-scarcely more than he had given
his tiger" but it was ont of town, i. was
bread and occupation until ne had time to
TX upon something better; and provoked
with letters from his late fathers physician,
who had friends and interest in the town OF
L., the proceeded there al once, offered
his credentials, underwent examination,
and was accepted.
Mr. Middleton had now been installed in
his new position few weeks, and the ex-
element of novelty being over, the conse-
quent reaction of depression was upon him;
and, as he sat in his desk the warm June
evening, unmindful of flies clock, he had
been taking a sad review OF the past, and q
stll ssdder view of the future.
Strangely slone-like some star struck |
on. from its ordi., and neither mourned nor
missed by the constellation from which it
had fsllen-he felt himself insulated and
changed, until ne almost began to doubt his
own identity. Were these rough, uncouth,
loutish, yelping BOYS stupid in everything
but the art of annoyance, these loud voiced,
bold, hoidenish girls, destitute alike of the
refnements of polished society and the
graceful simplicity of rustic life, to be his
sole companions and only objects of interest
he, whose Sybarite nerves had always
shruuk from discordant voice, an i'll /
chosen word, or uugraceful gesture? Could
he life 80 for nothing else had offered y
could he live, and grow old. and die IN his
present distastefu occupation. And as he
asked himself this question, there came
across his mental vision. clear and distinct
l. a. l.
preceding summer, when. riding out with !
some of his gay friends he had passed on
the road q poor teacher coming out Of much /
such school house as the one IL which he /
now aat. He had made no observation at
the tine, scarcely noticing the man except
to conrteonslv return the bow with which he .
moved aaide for him. But now, strangely
"nnngh. the whole scene returned to him
VIVID "a a pictHre the road. the trees, the
SKY, the vnr7 feeling of the atmosphere the
pale lace and bent forn of the inau. his
threadhsre coat and vo-n visage; the near
sighted frown on the otherwise mild brow
the hsbitusl patience in the clear gray ewes
Strange how this picture had been unknov-
inglv stored away in some dino CALLER If
his brain, to start ont now IN such full color
ing and bold relief. In vain he tried to turn
it aside; it seemed to haunt him. Was that
sad figure prototype of HIMSELF Nexed
at last, by the pertinacity with which the
ideas would return to him, Mr.. Middleton
reused himself and left the house, determn
I'D to drive off this shadowy gloom by active
exercise.
He had walked for some little time with /
out gaining his object but he was q true
"o-shipper of Nature, and gradually and .
imPereephbly her softening influences stole
over him. and the beauty of the weather
and the scenery were winning him from him.
self, when he reached a turn in the road
which wound around little bank or b;ob
xraurd cararad LII l. - -