Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1871-10-07
Love, q Giver.
BY T. $. ARTHUR.

you're a selfish man =
The words leaped out with quick,
angry impulse. There was frown on
the beautiful face, aud fame that was
not Of love in the bright eyes.
If the soft hand laid so truslingly in
his scarcely three months before, had
struck him a stunning blow, Alfred
Williston could not have been more sur
prised or hurt. "Selfsh - 1t was the
first time that sin had been laid at his
door. Hes generous fellow 'rhe
most unstltsh man alive,' there's not a
mean trait in his character Such
things had been said of him over and
over again, ard repeated in his ears by
partial or interested friends, until he al
most believed himself the personfication
of unseltshness. Aud now to be called
selfish man by the sweet little rosebud
mouth that looked as if only made for
kisses-to be called "a selfish man by
her to whom he had gwen all he had in
the world, and himself into the bargain!
No wonder that Alfred Willislon stood
dumb before his pretty wife.
The accusation was made, and for
|
ing back of the words could take back
their meaning. You're selfish man
had been cut, by sharply uttered tones,
deep into his memory, and there the sen.
tcnce would remain. He did not at.
tempt TO meet the charge. TO have
done so, would have been felt as a deg.
radiation.
Good morning. dropping coldly from
his lips, and he went away without offer.
ing the usual parting kiss. 1t was show
cry at home and cloudy at the office for
the greater part of that afternoon.
What's the matter, my friend ? You
look as sober as IA judge on sentence day!
remarked an acquaintance who called
upon .Williston. ..rt
'Hrigh-ho moon in the rainy quarter
already p rtjoined the visitor, taniliarly,
with a sly, provoking laugh.
| Williston turned his face partly aside
that It's expressions might be concealed
| Sunshine aud shuwrrs-s summer and
winrer--you will have these alterations
like the res, Of mankind, and learn t.
bear them with philosophy.
DO YOU think me very selfish man
Edwards ? asked Wlliston, turning upon
his friend Il serious tace.
Selfish /! Oh, dear ! No, not uery
selfish. Fve heard you called the most
generous fellow alive. But we're all
more or less selfish, you know ; born So
and can't help it, unless we try harder
than is agreeable to most people. There
was time when had very good
opinion of myself as touching this thing
bu, ! grow less aud less satisfied every
day, aud am set ling down into the con
clusion that | am no better than my
neighbours
well, despise a selfish man. He,
the meanesi creature alive = Willistor
spoke with n glow OF Indignation.
He's mean just in the degree that he''
selfish replied the friend. Aud as W,
are all mole ar less selfish, we are al
more or less mran don't see how W,
are tu get away from that concluslon.'
Willis,on knit his brow, like one an
uoy"d or perplexed.
Has anybody "alled.you selfish p ask
ed he friend. 4..... .......
Yes.'
why's The little darling at home
IIa ! ! see ! That's the trouble =
The young husbands deepening colo
betraye" 'he fact.
She called you selfish ? Ha Goot
for Marcy No, afraid to give thing
their right name. always knew sh'
was girl of spirit. Selfish That
interesting. And did you really tanc!
that you were unselti,h /?
This half in sport, halt in earnes
speech, had lhe effect intended. A Sigh
OF himself, as seen by another's ewes
gave Williston a new impression, ant
let in a doubt as TO his being altogethe
perfect. -,
sand you think me unselfish p he said
in q tone of surprise. well ] CUES