Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-07-17

a poor family have hard time of it.
only wonder more don't go to the bad
than do. Brought up as gentlemen, they
are then thrown on their own resources,
to live on their wits, either in some beg
carly profession, or as hangers-on where
there are any rich relations. They must
put up with being snubbed and thrown
over whenever they come in the way
made use of and then cast aside at least,
such was my experience. / was proud
and passionate, and so felt these things
more than others, dare say. wanted
to go in o the army, but my father said
he couldn't afford it--I would be always
getting into debt etc.-and so was ap-
prenticed to London barrister--a great,
pompous man, whom cordially detested
before q month was out. He had way
of aggravating me whenever we came in
contact that used to make me long for an
excuse to pitch him down stairs i be-
lieve in presentiments. ! knew that man
would injure me some day. / saw more
trickery and underhand dealing while in
that office than had ever seen in my life
before. Mr.. Pierson was a man of tact,
not talent He had gained several good
cases, which made his reputation, and he
had way of making people believe that
if black was not just white it was GER
tainly gray, which proved very useful to
him,
az was about twenty-five when / went
into Kent for a few weeks, partly on
business for Mr. Pierson, and partly to
visit an uncle of mine. Am firing you,
sir, with this long storyY'
" Not at all, Tracy; go on"
All started at the unfamiliar name,
which the doctor slightly emphasized.
His breath came quickly, and his voice
was husky when he spoke again;
Would you think, now, that o man
could hear his own name so seldom that
when it was spoken as you spoke mine it
could make the past come back like a
great wave, almost blotting out the pres
ent? haven't heard my name for more
than ten years." he went on, musingly.
81 don't wonder it sounds strange to
me. II was in the summer when i went
to Kent; the time for falling in love,
as it is called, and, of course, / did it. l
don't wonder at myself, even now, when
/ remember all that has passed We
were thrown very much together. Lucy
was an orphan, living with rich maiden
aunt, whose place adjoined nv uncle's.
had always a fondness for playing the
part of protector; and she was a cling
ing, dependent little thing, with long
golden curls and delicate pink-and-
white daisy face. had never cared for
any girl before, and from the first loved
her madly. It's the old, old story and
l needn't make fool of myself again by
telling it to you. Before went back to
town we had exchanged rings, and she
had promised to love me through eter-
nifty. A lengthy eternity it proved
"Our engagement was to remain Sc
cret until should become a great law
yer, and then l was to claim her. This
was Lucy's idea. / wanted to speak TO
her aunt, but she begged me not, giving q
dozen different reasons for my silence. |
believe, even then, she thought it best not
to bind herself too closely; but, of course,
never suspected this, for, with all my
Pierson told me that the business l had
been attending to had now to be compleI-
ed, and that he was going down hlmseli.
was, of course, very anxious TO go, Dul
he did not give me the chance. Lucy
met him at a couple of dinners, and, from
what she said, | knew he had been very
, attentive to her He was a good-looklng
man. about forty, and could make himself
very agreeable when he chose to DO so
wrote TO Lucy Immediately, telling hel
: what l thought of him. She replied, ac
a cusing me of being jealous, and saylnt
c she was sure was prejudiced agains
Mr.. Pierson, who had spoken very hlghl.
/ of me, and to whom l found she hau con
fded the whole story of our engagement
n I was very angry, and wrote rather harsn
,, Iv TO her | fancy, for l remember sh
told me | did not love her as once dld
II That was our first quarrel and was 500
4. made up, and for few weeks we CORE
u snonded as usual. Mr.. Pierson returne
to London, but went back again to Ken
n in a week or two. He said he was co
is lecting evidence for an important case.
"Soon | noticed that Lucy's letter
grew shorter and shorter, and hnally OF
came saving that she had been thinkin
IT over our foolish engagement, and,
there was no prospect of my being ab
to support her, she had come to the Co
4 clusion that for the sake OF us bolh
ne had better be broken
ne 81 know every word of that coo
hcartless letter now One rememDe
] such things Very soon after heard
her engagement to Mr. Pierson: was
n gentleman and he was a snopi put
ny Whats a gentleman bornH Is
re- shillin's an pences' quoted the doct'
softly.
yn Ehl-what's that?"
"Only a quotation from the Yorksh
in Fdrmer; go on
re. "Well. of course was furious;
what good did that do meS thought
nd only had money l would find so
ce. means of revenge; but money was. J
what hadn't got. About that time Il
81 a man calling himself st. John. He
Its, clever and well educated, and seemed
| read all my wild, restless loDgings al
ose glance. He led me on from bad to wo
Ter til il ended in forgery; then he turI
,rst Kings evidence and l was loci
up. / was always very strong, !
ed, finding one OF the bars looose wrench
yed it out and dropped from my window
dark night and escaped. On my way
,rk the sea | met this man-St. Johh
I'D. might have got off if l could have
him alone, but couldn't; / stopped h
,on. he taunted me with my disgrace;
yer me that Mr.. Pierson had known OF
yhy nlan laid to ruin me. The young
on throwing you over was prime uum
ink. our hand he added, with leer
Sc. warned him to be silent; but he, a
not blinded to his danger, eXasperated M
ross every way possible. l grappled, '
mYn him and, remembering trick
learned at school, soon threw HIM
rful hands were on his throat. A hall mi
hard more and the earth would have Deel
of one sordid wretch; but his cries
ould been heard by some men In nelgl
ing field, and was overpowered.
snty- mana ruined gamester, ohce ~ ~
lsant man--had changed me lrolh az ~
asn't honorable lad to felon, and then'
the regarding the honor which is sa
being exist even among thieves, threw
was over to save himself. lwould be COZ
been to give five years of my life.nay, 1
aped / would be content TO dda hve y yeo
II try my life--could IT purchase Il"' o"'
said my family disowned me anu
no attempt even to procure couns
i the me. All forsook me except n'ie
some from whom l got a tear-stained lett
Ill, closing five.pound note, her qua
l sup allowance, and telling me thaI sue 9
rs the never forget me. MY lalher hau ~
ouire den any of them to write to me OF
i,sl ..tiay1 ~, rane. hut Mary ha(