Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1870-01-22

NJ sEuEa O.


tinguished, when two men hurried
from different directions 70 Tie
shore. The elder Of the two had
already reached the strand, and.
was preparing 70 make q leap, the
design Of (which was MOTTO be mis.
taken ; but at. that same instant the
younger seized his arm, and ex-
claimed t'i'@ l3 'iHV fi"'a
"sir, / believe you want todrOwn
yourselfE r'yta.nI. Jss El nDit
@You have guessed 1t. What is
that to your" -'i'! ti. 10 a''iit
This was the answer spoken In
an angry tone. %.
"Nothing, I know; I would sim
ply ask you to wait . cocple Of
minutes, when, IL you like, we will
make the great journey together
arm in arm, the best way Of dying
With these words the younger
extended his hand to the elder.
whose own was not withheld. The
former continued In tone Of en-
thuslasm. .....-.t ...r
$50 cit! Arm in arm Truly I
did not believe that human heart
b cat with mine In this last hour.
| will not seek to know who you
are-an honest man or q william.
Come, let us begin our journey to.
gether."
The elder held the young man
back, and fixing bis dim, half-ex-
tinguished eyes upon the counte-
nance Of his companion exclaimed |:
"HOldl You seem too young TO
end your life by suicide. A man
Of your years has still q brilliant
and alluring future within his.
grasp" I'D
"BrilliantI y answered the young
man, sc0rnfully. "What have / to
hope for in the midst OF q world Of
wickedness, falsehO0dstreacheFy and
unhappiness! Come quiCkp
"You are still young, You must
have had q very sorrOwflll expeTi-
ence to make life already distaste-
iul to you.' las 4.
~ despise mankind.
"Wlthout exception ?"
"WithOut exoeptiOnW 80 t
"Well, then, you have now, per-
haps, found man whom you will
not necessarily despise. have,
believe me, during my whole life,
lived an honorable man."
"Really this 10 highly interesting,
Ii is II pity | had not earlier mace
your acquaintance
"Leave me TO die alone, young
man."
"Live on. Believe me, time
heals over old wounds, and there
are men Of honor yet 10 be found
"Now, If you take this view, why
are you hurrying so fast to say
adien TO this worldl' t-l
"Ohl | am a siclSly old, man, una
bic to make a livelihood a maj
cannot, will not longer see his only
child, his daughter, blighting hel
youth, and la6oring day and nighl
to support him. No. / would b.
an unfeeling father to live on thus
"HOw, SIR; you have q daughter
who does this for yOu;' asked the
young man surprised.
"And with what endurance, with
what love, does she sacrifice herself
for me! She works for me, she
goes hungry for me, and has only
the tenderest words Of love II
smile for me always"
"And you waRt to commit sui
cider Are you mad y
"Shall | murder my daughter
The life she is now leading Is bel
certain DEATH" answered the old
man, in despairing voice.
"GOOd, sir, 60 with me TO the
nearest inn that is still open, and lei
us drink q bottle Of wine together
You will not object to relate to me
your history, and, II you like, | viii
let you hear mine. SO much, how
ever, l will say TO you beforehand
chase oil thoughts Of self-mnrdel
out Of your head. lam rich, and, /
things be as you say, from hence
forth you and your daughter shall
lead q pleasant life."
The old man followed the young
er without opposition. A few min
utes later, over full glasses, the cid
er began T.'
my history Is soon told. Iva
q merchants clerk, but always nn
lucky. As / had nothing by inner
itapce, aud the girl | married wa
poor, ] was never able to commence
business on my own account, anG
remained until old age In q depend
ent position. Finally, I was dis
charged on account Of my years
and then began TO struggle for sub,
sistence. Ny wife died Of trouble
and now my poor child Is wearing
her life away TO gain my support
l cannot bear to see her wOrkinS
herself to death for me; therefore
It is better Igo-you know ALL"
"Friend," exclaimed the yOunS
man, "you are the most fortunate
man l ever met. II is insane to cal
that misfortune. Nobody is easie,
to be helped than you. Tomorrow
will make my will, and you shal
be-no resistance I-my heir. ThI
coming night is my last. Befor
this, Imust see your daughter, on
Of pure curiosity"
"But, Young man, what can it b.
which thus carly has made you .,
unhappy" asked the old man mucl
moved.
al believe II was the wealth
which my father left me. l wai
the only son of the richest banker
in the city. My father died, leRv
ing me more than was good for me
Stnno that timn / havp hpnn do,