The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-12-14
THR STORY Of OLD BTLgs.

THE STORY OF OLD BILEs.
"Take that chicken out OF your hat u
was the expression uttered in shriil,
boYish treble, that fell unon nv ear :
and q ragged, dhzed .lookfng old man,
in very aeedy suit, and q dilepidated
stoTepipe hat, surrounded by crowd
OF yicious.looking, rewdy boys OF all
ages, was the spectacle that met my eyes,
as turned the corner one day recently.
Twas about TO pass on without giving
the affair any attention, when some.
thing familiar about the old mans
appealing looks struck chord Of
memory. 0Nl y ii
I stopped and drove of the crowd
who wefo persecuting him, while lie
looked still more irnhecile and woe.
Jegone at tue unexpected Buccor than
he had at the abuse. Evidently feeling
the necessity for some word Of thanks
and explanation, he ialtered out, al
amt got NO more chicken in my hat
than you has, sir. and them Young uns
knows u but they has Just got SO into
the habit OF prosecuting poor Old Biles,
that they can't sort Of help Il, Il seems
Ike. I'm obleeged TO You, sir, for
your kindness !" and, replacing the
battered hat, which he had removed
both as an act Of courtesy and 10 verify
his words, he shutllsd of down the hill
gsasped my cigar tighter between my
teeth, and swidng my cane in that ever.
lasting wbirling fashion which has be.
come Second nature to me, with more
thap usual yehemerce, as I went on
to8ard my daily vocation; for in that
momentafy flash Of memory there had
opened to my inner sight q glimpse
down the.vista Of the past, in which q
young love, broken heart and green
grave, were prominent objects.
/ had known the man whose identity
was lost in the miserable appellatien
Of "old Biles, in days which were to
his present position rs Is the noon
sunshine TO the midnight storm-when
he horo an honest name, and lived o
peaceful life. a5 IT
Years ago, whenI was but strip.
ling, / flrst knew him among the green
hills oil Maryland, where he was plain,
unassumiDg, but well.to.do farmer,
then in tho prime Of life ono OF that
class Of men once so common in the
Middle States, who, without education
or culture, and depending solely upon
native shrewdness, move through the
world calmly and prosper after their
own fashion. Biles had quite o little
farm upon the eastern shore OF the
Chesapeake Bay, and owned an interest
in the little schooner which conveyed
his garden products to market. He
was widower with one child, who was
his idol.
Originally named Dorothea, after her
mothers % feminine freak had changed IL
70 tho prettier and more euphonious
Dora; and who at the age OF sixteen
was ono Of the fnirest OF Maryland's
fair daughters. Her face was that Of
pure oval form rarely seen. Eyes Of
limpid liquid blue. Hair OF that In
desoribable shadewhich more nearlyre.
Bembles sunshine in wayy folds than
aught else to which II can be compared.
A form petite, yet perfect in its round
ed beauty; aud o voice musical as the
laughter OF birds. Ah, mel even at
this distance OF time-in spite Of the
gray threads that are thickening around
my temples, and the burrows that gath.
or in my brow-my heart beats faster
and the blood circles through my veins
more rapidly as ! look with the lin.
gering glance OF memory upon Dora rs
she was in the days OF my youth. J
II was O hard trial for Biles when he
realized the necessity for sending his
blne.eyed girl away from the home
Which was desolation without her but
he had no lack Of honest common sense,
and knew that TO carry out the golden
dreamslof Dora's future in which he
reveled, she must be educated and
he placed her in the academy OF DIR.
Tilton in the city Of Baltimore, where
she soon, by her beauty and quick wit,
won the hearts Of her teachers and
companions.
Dora had remained at school for q
year, and her father had made monthly
trips on his schooner TO visit her, when
the ilrst heavy blow Of his life came
upon him. In the innocence and sim.
piieity Of his soul he had nevor thought
Of his awkward ways and ignorant
speech as being anything out Of the
way. What he lacked in knowledge or
refinement was to be more than com.
pensated for by Dora's accomplish-
ments and beauty. To him the oppor.
tunity ofseeing her in her lovelfness,
surrounded by admirers and friends,
granted him on occasional visits 10 the
school receptions and social parties,
was the one glimpse oi brightness that
lighted up his life. Il had never 90.
CURED to him that his daughter could
be ashamed Of his uncouth ways, OF On.
noyed by his rough yet simple man.
nefs. Yet Dora, in protesting against
his presence at q Christmas featiyal Of
more than ordinary style and promise,
deliberately told him that she did not
want him 10 come-thRt he mortified
her, aud that II he wanted 70 do her
real service he would go back to the
farm and RtaV there.