The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-11-02

The inqulsitorial tone had reached cul-
mination. Richard felt he WAS in for it,
and was about to explain, when the door
bell rang rapidly, sharply. The fencers
started, dropped their weapons and stgred
at each other Clang-cling, cling, Gent
the bell ~
Good gracious, it must be q madm&n, y
said Mrs. Yudall in a tremor Of alarm
: Do see who it is, Mr.. Arbyght, she be-
scechingly resumed
Richard found at the door Seargeant
Sooltre. who said he had called to inform
HIM that Miss Grace had expressed desire
to have him call upon her at his conyen-
ience.
Then II is my convenience now, said
Richard, gallantly, and in a few minutes
afterw ards he was Oh his way to the cot
tage, leaving Mrs Yudall more mysttred
and perplexed than ever.
Grace received him kindly, and said she
wished to thank him more specially for the
deep and lasting obligation under which he
had placed her by his manly, dislnterested
conduct on the previous evening, fsr
was an entire stranger t. YOU, she said
nalvely but innocently, and for that
and meritorIous. -.
: II the act made you my debtor. y NE
answered, you are now the creditor, for
your kind appreciation has more than
trebly repaid me 1t is true you were a
stranger, bat to the claims Of innocence
and virtne trust | will never We a stran-
ger. 1t is the duty of man To protect the
defer celess. feel have but performed
that duty, and you will place me under
many Obligations to you by never men
tionIng the affair again.
- Do YOU think it would he fair to make
me your debtor and then deprive me of
the pleasure # paying you Are you
sure you are not Just a little arbitrary in
thus sacrificing justice on the altar Of gen
er"sity p
Richard was slightly puzzled by this
pointed question, but recovering himself
quickly, he replied
: think that man would To- wanting in
delcacy of feeling and even honor, who
would aid OF assist an unprotected woman
in any manner for the purpose Of exacting
her appreciation, or leaving upon her mind
the impr, ssion that he had claim upon
her gratitude
'' You are very kind and good, and So
honorable pardon the tattery that
have No hesltancy IN giving YOU my conf
dencr | have already informed these
n"ble-hearted, generous people how II -
her voice became plaintive, then quiver-
ed and broke.
i You task your memory unnecessarily
Let the day Just past be blotted from the
record of your nfe, and all that transpired
during IT'S t1eetlng moments be buried III
the oblivion of death | do not wish your
confidence. ~ want You to repeat single
word. or recall a single event that has pain
for an inseperahle companion, interrupt
ed Richard as sonthingly and re-assur-
inell a. his rough. mcutNated nature
would warrant
- will never forget Yesterday she
resumed in 4 painfully sad voice Then
raising her eyes she half glanced at her
dropred them again, and con
tinurd IN sweetcr and more thankful
tune, but very slowly. " don't want to
forget II.
There are events IN ail our lives. not
n themselves tnd ur tending ~ cnmprom-
iSe vs. iu the least, hut which nevertheless
It would be better to have erased from the
journal Of the brain Do you not really
think So. Miss
= Soolhre, she Instantly said, noticing
his hesitancy and divlning its cause
Soolhre p repeated Richaud. with
surprised look and doubtful, mqmrng
vulcc
YES to-day am Trace Soolhre
Yesterday | was Grace Rolv@son.
~ sl -.
Richard. in amazement.
Iou have heard the name before
believe you are employed hy Mr. Rrlva-
son :"
- | am, but | am perplexed to account
for your knowledge Of the fact.
= 1t is quite easily. accounted for. Mr..
Relvason returned home one evening i'll
very perturbed state Of mind He refused
supper, declined to speak, and made us al!
uncomfortable by his agtated, mysterious
manner Next day We learned that man
named Arbyght, with whom Mr.. Relva-
son said he had a warm discussion, was
the cause of the trouble.
. | am very sorry to have been the in
voluntary cause Of 50 much uneasiness.
but hnpe am forgiven ~ at least one
member Of the family y
- / am not certain of that, she answer
ed. : can speak for none but myself,
and | am not member Of the family.
was always 50 considered, but yesterday I
discovered that had no claim upon them,
whatever, not even to- their name. Hence
am here, preferrIng t. earn my livelihood
to living III idleness and eating the bread
of others | have discarded their name
and taken that Of my benefactOrs. until
such time as God in his Justice and mercy
restores me my own. Again her voice be-
came plaintive and her eyes seemed ID dis
solve, but it was only for moment ~
have lived here but i've years Ny child
hoods days, NJ least all | can recollect Of
them, were spent il Cleveland, Ohio As
far back as my memory extends, | can see
dark, stern woman, though kind at
times, whom | was taught to call and re-
gard as my aunt. About five years ago
she died, aud her brother, Mr. Relvason,
who, by the terms Of her will was made
executor Of the estate. came to Cleveland,
and after the details Of the will had bean
carried out, as he said i never saw it or
heard it read-he brought me with him to
Chicago and introduced me to the friends
OF the family as his niece, and such ! sup
pose myself to he until his daughter. in a
fit of jealous spleen. informed me | was
not a member Of the family, and produced a
letter written BY my supposed aunt, by
which II appears | am the child If some
poor mechanic, Of whose name they have
robbed me, and who perhaps has long since
been-dead | know nothing Of my-my
mother" Her voice broke down com
pletely, her eyes became sutfused with
tears, her lips quivered, but no sound es-
capped them. Her heart was too full for
utterance.
Mrs. Sooltre came in Just then, and
Richard thought very opportunely as she
relieved him of task he felt unable to
perform. He left soon afterwards, prom
lsing, however, - call again on the follow
ing day.
On his Way home the idea that ha had