The Van Buren press., 1870-03-29

"No matter" says l. 81 meant them
boys shouldn't steal q peach, and they
didn't neither"
WELL you've good pluck here's
crown for you
NV eyes stood out. "A whole crown"
says |.
!" Yes; do what you please with it. but
I'd advise you to buy pair of shoes
Thank you," says i, with beating
heart cit pays to be good, don't it"
He smiled curious smile. asked me
several questions, and ended by taking
me home with him.
Home! l thought was in heaven, al
belt had seldom heard Of such place.
My heart beat heavily every time l dared
to put my foot on those rich carpets.
The next day there came man to see me.
was washed clean and had on good
suit of clothes. Says he, 4" Youngster.
I'm going to where you live. and proba-
bly, Ahall make bargain with your
people. want boy-just such bold
clever boy as you are, and If you behave
yourself, l promise you that you shall
have as pleasant home as you desire
Well, that was good. ! hardly dared
to speak or breathe, for'fear Of breaking
the illusion. | never was SO happy clear
through as | was that day. They gave
me light tasks to dol wished they were
more important From that day ! was
treated as one of the household The
man was widower, and had no children /,
consequently. became to him as son.
He educated me handsomely, and when !
was twenty one he died, and left me three
thousand pounds
Well, l considered myself rich man.
l gloated over my wealth; it became as
an idol to me. How to increase it was
now my first desire / consulted CON-
petent men, and under their counsel put
my money at intcrest-bought stocks
and mortgages.
| grew wealthier; my business (my
benefactor had stocked me fancy shop)
prospered, and l was in fair way, |
thought, to marry Lucy Manning.
Sweet Lucy Manning the most artless.
winning maiden in all the world to me,
loved her deeply, dearly. She was
bue-eyed, auburn haired, her disposition
was that Of an angel; and had plighted
my VOWS to her.
One night was invited to the house
of prosperous merchant, and there |
met siren in the person of his niece,
black eyed girl, whose charms and whose
fortune we're equally splendid. She was
an heiress in her own right--shc was
beautiful and accomplished
Heavens, what voice was hers-pure,
clear, sweet, ravishing! ! was charmed,
and she was pleased with me. Alas, !
met her too often! In her presence
forgot my gentle Lucy; she msgnetized,
thralled me.
1t was triumph to feel that so beauti-
full, gifted, and wealthy woman loved
meme who had been brought up in the
purlieus Of a city-who had known mis-
cry and corruption all the first years Of
my life.
Gradually broke ofrmy intimacy with
Lucy | received no token from her
she was too proud. But that cheek grew
pale, that eye languid; and though ! sell
dom met her, knew in my heart that she
was suffering, and branded myself vii
lain.
At last she knew with certainty that |
was to marry Miss Bellair. She sent me
letter-a touching letter-not one word
of upbraiding, not one regret. Oh, what
noble soul wounded And she could
could calmly wish me joy, though the
effort made her heart blced--I knew it
did.
tried, however, to forget her, ! could
not Even at my magnificent wedding,
when my bride stood before me, radiant
in rich fabrics and glittering diamonds.
the white face of poor Lucy glided be.
tween, and made my heart throb guilty.
Oh, how rich l grew Year after year
/ added to my gold. My miserly dispo-
stion began to manifest itself soon after
my marriage. / carried my gold first to
banks, and then to my own private safes
Iput constrsint on my wife---for very
generously she had made over her whole
fortune to me.--and began to grumblc at
expenses, l made our living so frugal
that she demonstrated, and finally ran up
large bills where and when she pleased,
Against this protested and we had open
quarrels more than once.
My clothes grew shabby; ! could not
afford to buy new ones, although the in
tercst of my investments was more than
| could possibly spend for rational living.
l grew finally dissatisfied with every
but my money. ! neglected my wife.
and grew careless Of her society. Sew
eral gentlemen came to my house, among
them would.be author and celebrity.
He came, thought, too often for my
good name, and ! ordered my wife to
discontinue his company. She refused
aud | locked her up in her room. How
she managed to set herself free ! never
knew; but in the evening, when return.
ed, she was gone from the house. That
caused me some uneasiness; not much,
for ! was soon absorbed in taking ac-
count ofmy gains.
II was, perhaps, nine in the evening, /
had just managed to take up paper for
moment to read out It's business details.
when the door opened, and in came my
wife, dressed bewitchingly, as IT, just from
an evening concert, followed by that
moustached celebrity. GOOD evening,
my DEAR" she said in the coolest way
imaginable, and placed chair for her
friend. Stop" | cried, my jealousy
aroused "that man sit not down in my
house" THAT mana gentleman and