The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-01-29
BEYOND A DOUBT.

tive. Not one of the wayward, noma-
die sOrt, but who occupied a splendid
house and took excellent care of an
orphan who called him Uncle Paul.
He was blest with the best heart in the
world, and possessed so many of the
requisites of a good husband and father
that 1t was a matter of great surprise
among his friends that he remained sin
gle. Those who knew him best rightly
: Sraced his single blesseduess to his own
fault, most wonderful obduracy and
unwillingness to give up an impression
once fully entertained. This character
istic injured him in his business affairs
too, but those with whom he had bust
ness differences attributed Is to what,
for better term, they called eccen-
tricity.
Paul Wayne had his love passages in
his earlier manhood, but they came to
nothing but disappointment, because of
this ObduTant and unalterable determin-
alton to abide by his first impressions,
whether these agreed with subsequent
facts or not; indeed, whether it suited
the other party Of the love affair or not.
Young girls do not generally like a
lover who is not the least bit pIiable.
While their natures demand strong,
manly love, for something that shields,
there is intermingled with it all G touch
of the conquering spirit to be recog-
nized. Paul Wayne's lordIy way of
wooing, way which to his lady friends
seemed to say, wait until I am ready
and have only to name the day.
brought him at least one ridiculous tilt,
but to it all he only said, as he put the
girl ouS Of his memory, "She viii
regret it, beyond a doubt"
Mary Dale did regret it ; for she mar
ried man who broke her heart by
brutal treatment, and deserted her
while she lay helpIessly sick with
girl-baby on her bosom. The girl
baby was given TO Paul Wayne with the
last breath Of the dying mother, and it
was baby Mary Dale VINO, at seventeen,
called him Uncle Paul.
Mary, Philip Hastings is bad
man. 1 know it beyond a doubt. I am
not deceived"
How do you know it, Uncle Paul P''
" Well, how do you know anything?
Why, there arc many ways and reasons
for knowing and thinking so ; one is
we'll, it don't matter. I know it beyond
a doubt"
He knew it, and that was enough for
him. And Mary knew him well enough
to end such an argument at once. It was
Just the proper moment, too, for Philip
Hastings, the "bad man." was an.
nOunced. While We leave the lovers
together enjoying brief morning call,
we viii go out with Paul Wayne, and
down town.
"Bad man, beyond a doubt. Bad
company. He is always with that man
Quigley; what in the world brought
that man, that wretched QuigIey, back, |
when we all thought him dead and
buried years ago." Aud Uncle PanI
thrust his cain against the pavemen
with nervous impetuOus motion, and
looked up to see-Quigley.
They passed, Paul Wayne looking
straight ahead down the street. the
other casting quick glances at the stern
face of the bachelor, hoping for a look
OF recognition, then stopping TO look
at the retreating figure, as II 10 be GER
tain that it was the man. A few wards
separated them, and then Paul oouId |
not resist the curiosity to look back. |
and their eyes met. It was awkward.
but only for an instant, the bachelor
turning quickly and proceeding on bis
way.
"If could only talk to him mo- |
ment. But the poor get but few words.
and these not kindly ones; I will Let |
him alone" aud the man OuigIev
treaded his way among the throng OF
men bearing strange faces. He had been
gone for years, and q new generation |
had sprung up. Few gave him look
betokening recognition. Now and then
a man with whitened hair and bowed
form would half stop, gaze at him an
instant with curious, iGquisitive look,
as If trying to recall something of the
past, then pass on. Farther away from
the hustle of the business streets the
stranger paused in his walk, and said
again, aloud to himself, elf I couId
only talk to him a moment" The half
piteCus tone fell upon the ear of two
hghthsarted girls who were passing.
and shade OF melancholy passed over
the face of the younger as both turned
to look at the speaker, and we recog-
nize our Uncle Paul's Mary. Not a
superbly handsome girl with oriental
eyes aud the soft, sensuous languor of
the famed east, but q 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 evening there was 81 lev partv at
Uncle PauIs. Mary had been amusing
him in the earlier hours with cold
fashioned songs" as Paul called them
and the two we're in the midst of these
pleasures when Philip Hastings was an
nounced. Uncle Paul could not escape. /
He had nowhere to go but to bed, aud
it was too early for that. Young ladies
need not be told how really disagreeable
the position when a young gentleman is
present who loves her, while an elder
member of the family is immovably
anchored in the room, and who in turn
heartily dislikes, or thinks he does, the
young man as dad man." She was
afraid of an explosion as she nervously
undertook the task of directing the con-
versation. She endeavored to steer
clear of the qnicksands, but in trying to
draw Uncle Paul into a conversation