The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1875-01-29
BEYOND A DOUBT.


Paul Wayne was bachelor of forty
i've. Not one of the wayward, noma
die sort, but who occupied splendi
house and took excellent care of a
orphan who called him Uncle Paul
He was blest with the best heart in th
!. world, and possessed so many of th
: requisites of good husband and fathe
a that it was matter of great surpris,
among his friends that he remained sin
/ gle. Those who knew him best rightl,
traced his single blesseduess to his own
) fault, most wonderful obduraey ani
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 busi
ness differences attributed it to what,
for a better term, they called eccen.
tricity.
Paul Wayne had his love passages in
his earlier manhood, but they came to
nothing but disappointment, because oil
this obdurant and l1nalterable determin-
alton to abide by his first impressions,
whether these agreed with subsequent
facts or not 4; indeed, whether ii suited
the other party of the love affair or not.
Young girls do not generally like a
lover who is not the least bit pliable.
While their natures demand strong,
manly love, for something that shields,
there is intermingled with it all touch
OF the conquering spirit to be recog.
nized. Paul Wayne's lordly way of
wooing, q way which to his lady friends
seemed to say, wait until I am ready
and I 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 will
regret it, beyond doubt"
Mary Dale did regret it for she mar
ried man who broke her heart by
brutal treatment, and deserted her
while she lay he1plessly 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 who, at seventeen,
called him Uncle Paul.
Mary, Philip Hastings is bad
man. l know il beyond doubt. am
not deceived.
"How do you know it, Uncle Paul ?'
Well, how do you know anything |
Why, there are many ways and reasons
for knowing and thinking SO ; one is-
we'll, ii don't matter. / know it beyond
q doubt"
He knew it, and that was enough for
him. And Mary knew him well enough
to end such an argument at once. 1t 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 will go ont with Paul Wayne, and
down town.
"Bad man, beyond doubt. Bad
He is always with that man
Quigley what in the world brought
hat man, that wretched Quigley, back,
Rhen we all thought him dead and
buried years ago." And Uncle Paul
hrust his cain against the payemen
With nervous impetuous motion, and !
ooked up to see Quigley.
They passed, Paul Wayne looking .
traight ahead down the street, the
'ther casting quick glances at the stern !
ace of the bachelor, hoping fer a look i
+ recognition, then stopping to look i
t the retreating figure, as il to be GER Il
ain that it was the man. A few yards r
eparated them, and then Paul could y
ot resist the curiosity to look back,
nd their eyes met. It was awkward, 4
ut only for an instant, the bachelor
lrning quickly and proceeding on his I
,ay. !
eff could only talk TO him mo- !,
lent. But the poor get bnt few words, !
i'd these not kindly ones; I will let !
i'm alone" and the man QuigIey :
eaded his way among the throng of .
en bearing strange faces. He had been !
one for years, and . new generation !
I'd sprung up. Few gave him a look i
etokening recognition. Now and then q
man with whitened hair and bowed i
rn would half stop, gaze at him an !
stant with curious, inquisitiye look, II
IL trying TO recall somathing of tbs I
lst, then pass on. Farther away from y
d hustle of the business streets the i
ranger paused in his walk, and said
'aiD, aloud to himself, aIf I could p
IL talk TO him moment" The half i,
teous tone fell upoE the ear of two III
hthearted girls who were passing, de
"a shade of melancholy passed over i,
9 face Of the younger as both turned ]