The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-01-13
The Penitent Wanderer.

sort, but who occupied q splendid house
: and took excellent care OF an orphan who
called him Uncle Paul. He was blessed
, with the best heart in the world, and
possessed SO many of the requisites Of q
good husband and father that 1t was n
matter of great surprise among his
friends that he remained single. Those
who knew him best rightly traced his
. single blessedness to his one fault, a
most wonderful obduracy and unwilling.
ness to give up an impression once fully
entertained. This characteristic injured
him in his business too, but those with
whom he had business differences at
: tributed it to what, for better term, they
called eccentricity.
Paul Wayne had his love passages in
his earlier manhood, but they came to
nothing but disappointment, because OF
his obdurate and unalterable determina-
tion to abide by his first impressions,
" be ther these agreed with subsequent
facts or not; indeed, whether it suited
the other party in the love affair or not.
Young girls do not generally like a lover
who is not the least bit pllable. While
their natures demand strong, manly love
for something that shields, there is inter-
mingled with it all touch of the con-
| quering spirit to be recognized. Paul
| Wayne's lordly way Of wooing, way
which to his lady friends seemed to say.
| Wait until am ready and have only TO
name the day, brought him at least one
ridiculous jilt, but to it all he only said,
as he put the girl out OF his memory !:
"She will regret it, beyond doubt"
| Mary Dale did regret it; for she mar
ried man who broke her heart by bru-
tai treatment, and deserted her while she
lay helplessly sick with a girl-baby in
her bosom. That girl-baby was given to
Paul WAYNE with the last breath of the
dying mother and 1T was baby Mary
Dale who, at seventeen, called him I'm
Gle Paul.
"Mary, Philip Hastings is bad man.
L.know it beyond doubt. am not de-
ceived,"
"How do you know it, Uncle Paul?"
"Well, how do we know anything? /?
| Why, there are many ways and reasons
for knowing and thinking SO; one is
well, it don't matter. l know it beyond
q doubt"
| He knew it and that was enough for
him. And Mary knew him well enough
| to end an argument at once. 1t was lust
at the proper moment, too, for Philip
Hastings, the "bad man." was announc-
ed. While we leave the lovers together
enjoying briet morning call, we will go
out with Paul Wayne ana down town.
'Dhu man, UGy OIu u uOuUJ. Ddu COiIl-
paily. He is always with that man Quig-
ley; what in the world brought that man,
thai wretch Quigley back, when we ali
thought him dead and buried these
years? He ought to have died long ago."
And Uncle Paul thrust his cane against
the pavement with a nervous, impetu-
Gus motion, and looked up to see-Quig-
ley.
They passed, Paul Wayne looking
straight ahead down the street, the other
casting quick glanceS at the stern face
OF the bachelor, hoping Tor look Of rec
ognition, then stopping TO look after the
retreating figure, as ii to he certain that
it was the man. A few yards separated
them, and then Paul could not resist the
curiosity to look back, but only for an
instant, the bachelor turning quickly and
proceeding OH his way.
.sIt could only talk to him moment.
But the poor get few words, and these
not kindly ones; will let hm alone;"
and the man Quigley threaded his way
| among the thro;Ig of men bearing strange
faces. He had been gone for years, and
| new generation had sprung up. Few
gave him u look betokening recognition.
| Now and then man with Whitened hair
and bowed form would half stop, gaze at
HIM an instant with Il curious, lnquisi-
| tive look, as ii trying to recall something
| of the past, then pass on. Farther away
| from the hustle OF the business streets
the stranger paused iii his walk, and
said again, aloud, to himself, "lf could
only talk to him moment"
The half-piteous lone fell upon the ears
of two light-hearted girls who were
passing, and u shade Of melancholy
passed over the face of the younger, as
both turned to look at the speaker, and
4 we recognize our Uncle PauPs Mary.
Not superbly handsome girl with ori-
entail eyes and the soft, sensuous Ian.
guor of the famed east, but Il good,
healthy, pretty girl, something to love
fondiy, something tangible to stand the
wear and tear of life, something worthy
OF mans striving efforts. That even
ing there WAS an icy party at Uncle
| Paups. Mary had been amusing him in
the eirlier hours with "old-fashioned
SONGS" as Paul called them, and the two
were in the midst OF these pleasures
when Phillip Hastings was announced.
| Uncle Paul could not escape. He had
noW here to go but to bed, and it was too
early for that. Young ladies need not
be told how really disagreeable the posi-
ton when a young gentleman is present
who loves her, while an elderly member
Of the family is immoyably anchored in
the room, ana who in turn heartily dis
| likes, OF lHknkS uc NcCS3 thV youhE ilebu
as ''bad man." She was afraid Of an
explosion as she nervously undertook
the task of directing the conversation.
She endeayored to steer clear of the
quicksands, but in trying to draw Uncle
Paul into conversation she precipitated
lust what she was SO anxious to avoid.
Uncle Paul had sat quite still for
awhile, in a half-drowsy, brown study,
but he awakened suddenly, when Mary
said, ''Susie and / met such strange
looking, unhappy old man to-day"
"A What-that old man-beyond a
doubt bad man."
"Why. Uncle Paul, have you walked at
llast?" asked Mary. II am glad some-
thing can fix your attention"
Paul did not look as though he cared
to listen, as Mary went on: $50 old and
feeble, and yet about him a something
telling OF better, happier days; in his
face curves worn deep by patient sor-
row. Just as we passed him he was say
ing: If j could only talk to him mo.
ment,' as If some old friend had refused
him sympathy. Who could 1t have been,
wonder? Ipitied him."
Uncle Paul tidgeted, but said nothing,
though he felt the thrust SO umintcntion.
. ally given, while Philip Hastings seemed
happy and yet uneasy at the turn things
had taken, SO different from what he de.
, airad The two talked OF the strange old