The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-12-14

Hes are slow, Biles, when he did com.
lrshend anything, realized It to its
lllest extent and now for the Arst
time his eyes were opened to the
hideous fact that In advancing and
beautifying his idol he had destroyed
ita original purity, and that between
him and his daughter there had been
placed an impossible gulf. The base
thought that Dora was ashamed OF him
ranked in his breast until he was well
nigh mad overit. Determined TO stop
the evil current that was bearing her
love away from him, the foolish man
did everything OF all others calculated
to increase its force, By removing her
from school and conveying her, against
her will, and In spite OF her remon-
strances, back to the farm house, whose
rough comfort was 10 her eyes repul-
siye in contrast with houses OF friends
she had made in the city, he succeeded
in damming up for o time the stresmof
williulness and waywardness which had
been rapidly deyelopedin her charactess
by his opposition to her will, But II
only added force and impetus 10 It's
wild outb1rst when she broke the
bounds and swept away in one angry
food all there was Of love, OF happiness
and Of honor in that humble home.
One night there was o longRnd bitter
quarrel between father and child.
Hard, cruel words were said, and harsh
threats made. The next morning Dora
had left the farm, leaving word only
with the faithful old nurse, who had
been nurRe, friend and second mother
10 her, that henceforth she would
travel her own path in life. The old
man was likeone stunned when he fully
realized the situation, but he accepted
1t and bowed his head in sorrow.
Dora returned to Baltimore, and for
Q few weeks visited around among her
former sVhoolmates without exciting
any remark or suspicion, until her
strange talks and singular actions
awoke inquiry, and the train was deyel-
oped. She then began to realize the
fact that while she was the welcome
guest 80 long as she came in the CO.
pacity Of q visitor from her fathers
house, yet as the voluntary refugee
from It's shelter, once hospitable doors
were closed against her.
1t was in this emergency that Dora's
true character developed itself, reveal
ing the fact that under the form Of IN
angel there had laid dormant heart
Of stone. Acting upon the advice Of
friends TO whom he had confded his
troubles, the old man had placed in the
hands OF the commission merchants
who attended TO his business o sum OF
money sufficient for her support, and
she was notified OF the fact. Without
the least Hesitation or embarrassment
she accepted 1t, and would present
herself regularly once aweek at their
counting.house to receive her allow.
ance. At these times, instead Of ex.
listing any feeling either Of respect or
gratitude for the broken hearted old
man, upon whose money she was SUBJ
sisting, she would chatter gayly with
the clerks and exercise the fascination
OF her wondrous beauty upon the sus.
ceptible heart Of the old bachelor
bookkeeper until he could hardly write
q receipt for her TO sign. Once she
only met her father on the occasion OF
one Of these visits, and as the old man
stepped forward with fearful eyes and
extended hands, ready, willing, anxious
TO forgive and forget, she swept past
him with scorniul anger flushing her
cheek and passed on alone. Her posi-.
ton in society was o peculiar one.
The means which she possessed
through Bies' bounty enabled her TO
live at q boarding.house kept by O de-
cayed Rentlewoman, the pressure OF
whose poverty had darkened her eye
sight and deadened her hearing as TO
what went on under her roof, so long
as people kept up the outer semblance
OF respectability. So Dora went when
she pleased and with whom she pleased,
and the character Of her male asso.
ciates may be readily imagined by any
one who has ever observed the style Of
men who flock around q woman when
she is young, handsome and careless.
Her life was one round OF gayety.
rheaters, balls, picnics and excursions
filled In the measure Of her time. OF
male companions she had host we'll
dressed men, with pockets filed with
coin, yet who were never met
in the parlors Of staid citizens, were
always TO be found escorting her in her
round OF pleasure. Young men Of the
Is first families" inclined TO be fast,
spoke her name trippingly at their
clubs, but kept judicious silence in the
presence OF their sisters.
In short, Dora came at last to occupy
that position in society which Is q sad
one for woman, when unspoken sus-
picions set wall Of fire between, her
and the pure OF her own sex. Mean
while Old Biles grow visibly older; the
native energy which had built and kept
him up was gradually giving way; but
still the farm was productive and his
agents faithful, SO that even the some
times blessed boon Of poverty, which
would have ut least given him the
necessity OF temporary oblivion Of his
denied him. / used to '' meet him 4 in
those days as ho would walk through
the streets, with the beginning Of that
dazed look coming on his face which /
noticed the other morning. Things
went along in this way for some time,
until the morning OF q day made ever
memorable, in the City Of Monuments,
by a sad disaster which plunged oil its
inhabitants into o sea Of grief. On the
4th Of July, 1885,, the day opened
flags foated, cannon roared,
and Christs church bells laid aside
their dignity and merrily chimed out
Doodle" A grand picnic