The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1872-02-15
sIsn't it the truth |? But tits q pair

full subject; let us drop it. You arr
not at all like her, that is a comfort
sAnd Robert?'
Robert must take care of himself
Your uncle has done just as should
had been in his place, and I do moi
like to interfere
But mightn't he come and stay witt
Us, until-until'-que Daisy. in
tinlid, hesitating voice.
Hugh didn't wait for her to finish.
He fowned and shook his head.
No, no, Daisy, that won't do.
want you all to myself; and even if
didn't your brother and I wouldn't be
likely to agree. Better leave things
as they are.'
But uncle John has forbidden him
the house,
Then where is he nowP
At the Park Hotel and she sighed
softly.
James Wallace boards there, too,
doesn't hep
Yes
He is the worst associate your
brother could choose
Il know it, but what am / to do?'
Why, there is but one cours left, If
hOOGdb WOA 1Ol1OH your aOflC6 kGGD
away from him entirely
you don't mean it, Hugh? What
let my brother drift right on into the
whirlpool of ruin without making an
effort to save him?'
tYou have done what you could
If there is spark of true manhood in
him it will shine forth now.'
Poor DaisyI This lack of sympa-
thy on the part of Hugh hurt her sore
ly. Robert was her only brother and
it seemed hard that she couldn't offer
him the hospitality of her home. 1t
needed all her influence to keep him in
the right path, and here were they sun
dered almost as widely as if they had
been strangers.
She saw him that evening. But
nothing was said as to Hugh. Even
from herself she tried to hide that he
had acted ungenerously.
Robert was as bitter against his un-
Gle as ever. / can work. said he, but
not cringe. / would as soon accept
help from a deadly enemy as from
Uncle John. AS to asking his for
giveness, will never, never do that.
But you were in the wrong, you
acknowledge that YOURSELF
1 didn't deserve such abuse. though,
if / was.'
Daisy didn't care to argue the mat
ter. She had come to find out what
Robert was going to do. There was
a clerkship vacant in the store where
James Wallace worked, and he had
applied for the situation.
If it were only somewhere else, I
should like it BETTER said Daisy.
yes, know why. You are pre-
JUDGED against Jim Wallace, but
fello W never lived
But he drinks, and CANDLES, and is
an infidel besides. o Robert. do be
advised and give up this intimacy =
Nonsense, Daisy! What if he isn't
perfect. Neither am /. We like each
other and that is enough. I haven't
such a host of friends that I can afford
to lose this one,' and he smiled bitter
ly.'
She said no more, she knew it would
be useless. But her heart ached when
she looked into the future, and thought
of the influence he might exert over
her brothers destiny.
Roberts application was successful.
He was in fair way now to earn his
own living. His uncle watched his
course approvingly. So did Hugh
and Daisy. But Robert himself was
He had been used to
spend money with lavish hand. Re-
stric.ed to his salary now, he was
4orced to practice the closest economy.
Nor could he obtain credit. The rup-
ture with uncle was known, and peo-
pie hadn't much faith in his honesty.
He grew disgusted with himself and
the world and the discipline, instead
of doing him good, only made him
the more reckless. 1t might have been
otherwise but James Wallace was con-
stantly near to suggest how unjustly
ne had been treated, to encourage him
IN his rebellion against fate, and to
sneer at every good impulse or kindly
feeling that stirred his heart.
The effect of such association be-
came apparent only too soon. His
friends, who had hoped so much from
he Independent spirit he had mani
tested and his energetic way of going
% work, were disappointed and
alarmed at the result. Report after
'eport of his dissipation reached them
md there was danger that, if he did
not reform, he would lose his situation
or his employer had threatened to
discharge him more than once. and
vas only prevented from doing so by
Daisy's persuasions.
James Wallace met with no such
enient treatment. He was summari-
y dismissed, and Robert was furious
when he heard of it. 1t was then the
come that nearly wrecked
his future life, both here and hereafter.
The story is not new one, but it is
none the less sorrowful. From drink
ng and gambling he passed by swift
3ut gradual steps to theft and bur-
ylary.
It happened thus: The store of Mr..
Bayne was broken into one night, the
safe burst open, small sum of money
md goods to the value of several hun
lred dollars taken, and neither Robert
nor James Wallace anywhere to be
'ound next morning. Not only was
heir flight suspicious, but there were
3ther circumstances connected with
he event that proved their guilt con-
John Burns and Hugh Campbell
we're shocked and indignat. Daisy
was heart-broken. They had no pity
for the criminal she would have Civ
IN her life to insure his safety. 1t was
-he disgrace that stung them deepest;
it was the guilty act that made her
She would have sought her
ost brother, and won him from his
errors by love and kindness; they
would not have listened, though he
had plead for mercy, but stern inexoa-
BILE justice itself meted out his punish
ment, without sign of human SYM
pathy.
The police started at once in pursuit
of the tugitlves. Robert was oVerta-
ken, and brought back James Wallace
Uncle John and Hugh re-
fused to see him, or even employ
counsel in his behalf, or have anything
to do with the affair whatever. But
Daisy, in defiance of their commands,
obtained a permit that opened the
prison doors to her.
He was crouching in one corner of
his cell, wild-eyed, haggard faced,
when she entered.
80 Robert! Robertr she cried. fall
ing on his neck, in passion of tears.
He undid her clasp, he held her hack.