Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-11-18
A ROMANCE OF HARD WORK.

Raymond Thurston, l believe you are
insane"
AS Amabel spoke her voice had sharp
culver of pain as we'll as anger. She was
very proud of her brother-proud OF his
handsome face, proud of his talents-and
she considered he was about to degrade
himself socially, if not morally, by the
stand he had announced himself to have
taken. Seeing her passionate outcry had
not moved him, she said, pleadingly:
"Have you no pride left-you who had
all the old Thurston pride oncew
81 have just so much pride left Anna
BEL" he answered, that | cannot sit here
eating the bread of idleness another day"
"You know you are more than welcome
here
81 do know it. / appreciate your
husbands kindness at its full value, Am
abel. | hope the day will come when
can prove it. And, Sis, l am only too
thankful that you have his true love and
strong arm now, when we have lost so
much. Now, darling, don't try to hold
me back from honest employment"
but, Raymond, you can surely obtain
some gentlemanly position"
Il have been trying faithfully for SIX
months, you know with what success.
lneft, QOU LOOK al me 50
will come right one of these days"
~ wonder what Bertha Haines will say
when she sees you perched upon the
drivers seat of an express-cart.
For the first time the forced composure
Of Raymond's face was stirred. A dark
red flush crept to his very hair and be
rose and walked up and down the room
Glad to have him moved at last, his sister
said:
With her aristocratic ideas and the
pride that is Unborn in her family, She will
never recognize you again, Raymond"
"Then / must lose the honor of hel
friendship" Raymond said hoarsely
Don't say any more, Amabel." And
unable to bear any further remonstrance
he left the room, and little later the
house.
The Thurston pride of which Amabel
had spoken was singing him sorely, in
spite of the brave face he carried To cover
it. He was a man of twenty-eight, and
his lite had held only the pleasures ol
wealth, the opportunities money gives fol
the development of intellect for twenty
seven of these years. His parents died
when he was a boy, and Amabel, his only
sister, fifteen years his senior, married be-
fore she was twenty, and gave her brother
home, whenever he was not travelling, OF
in some seminary or college. While he
considered himself rich man Raymond
had accepted this hospitality as freely a.
1t was offered, and Amabel's jewel case,
her husbands library, and her children's
play. room bore witness Of her brothers
generosity. But suddenly, without warn
ing, there swept over the country one OF
the devastating financial crashes so over
whelming in this land of speculation, and
RAYMOND was recalled from Europe by
his brother-in-law informing him that his
entire patrimony had been swept away
Investments that had seemed to the young
man, ignorant in all business details, a:
secure as they were hattering had fallen
TO ruin, and a few hundred dollars only
were left of what had been noble for
tune.
AT first Raymond did not realize the ex
tent OF his misfortune. He was still
young, well educated, IN perfect health
and certainly the world had some niche
where he could earn an honest living
But weeks of seeking for employment
gave him keener knowledge of his mis-
fortune Friends who had been willing Il
smoke his cigars and drink his wines
who were yet willing 10 extend every
social greeting, shook their heads when
asked 10 confide any portion of their bust
ness into his keeping.
Brought up to study, to live life o
elegant leisure, Raymond Thurston a
twenty eight knew absolutely nothing o
business, nor had he studied any on,
branch sufficiently TO qualify himself for
teacher. He tried faithfully TO find som'
employment, spending what little re
NAMED of his fortune with the lavish
hand that had not yet learned economy
Society welcomed him home after TIVE
years OF wandering, for Amabel Barcla,
kept open house for her friends and Ray
mond was a favorite in her circle. lie
husband, many years older than herself
had long retired from business with
large income, and while he gave Raymont
cordial welcome had no opportunity to ai'
IN finding occupation.
And Bertha Haines, the friend from
whom Raymond parted two years before
IN this renewed intercourse became TO hin