The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-01-07
A Romance of Hard Work.

/. nay Honu AHuIstVh, peueNe you dF =
insape."
i As Amabel spoke her voice had "a
sharp quiyer OF pain as well as anger
She was very proud of her brother
proud of his talents--and she considered
he was about to degrade himself socially
IL not morally by the stand he had an
nounced himself to have taken. Seeing
her passionate outcry had not moved
him, she said, pleadingly:.
"Haye you no pride lett? You who
had all the old Thurston pride once?"
II have just SO much pride left,
4 Amabel," he answered, "that l can not
sit here eating the bread of idleness
another day."
f"You know you are more than well
come here"
81 do know 1t. I appreciate your hus-
bands kindness at its full value, Am
abel. hope the day will come when l
can prove it. And, Sis, 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 OBJ
tain some gentlemanly position?
| 81 have been trying faithfully for six
months, you know with what success.
There, don't look at me so pitifnlly; it
will come right one of these days."
81 wonder what Bertha Haines will
say when she sees You pearched upon
the drivers seat of an express cart?"
For the first time the forced compos-
ure of Raymonds face was stirred. A
dark red flush crept to his very hair, and
and he rose and walked up and down
the room. Glad to have moved him at
last, his sister said:
"With her aristocratic ideas and the
l n fun ho
will never recognize you again, Ray
mond."
"rhen 1 must lose the honor of her
friendship" Raymond said hoarsely,
l'Don't say any more, AmabelE' And
unable to bear any further rem0nstrance
he left the room, and little later the
Ihouse.
The Thurston pride of which Amabel
had spoken was stinging him sorely, in
spite of the brave face he carried to
lcover it. He was man of twenty-eight
and his life had held only the pleasures
of wealth, the opportunities money gives
for the Development of intellect, Tor
tWenty-seven of these years. His pa
rents died when he was a boy, and Anna
bel, his only sister, fifteen years his SEN
ior, married before she was twenty, and
gave her brother home, whenever he
was not travelling, or in some seminary
or college. While he considered him.
self rlcn man, Raymond had accepted
his hospitality as freely as it was offer
ed, and AmabePs jewel case, her hus-
bands library, and her children's play
room bore witness of her brother's gem
erosity. But suddenly, without warning,
there swept over the country one OF the
devasting financial crashes SO over
whelming In this land OF speculation,
| q RaUmhn6 Wv EtIr
Iby his brother-in-law, informing him
tnat his entire patrlmony had been
lswept away. Investments that had
seemed to the young man, ignorant in all
business details, as secure as they were
fattering, had fallen to ruin, and Few
hundred dollars only were left of wnat
had once been noble fortune.
At first Raymond did not realize the
extent 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 a keener knowledge of his
i misiortunes. Friends VINO had been
willing to smoke his cigars and drink
his wines and who " ere yet wiling to ex-
tend every social greeting, shook their
heads wnen asked TO cOntide any portion
of their business into his keeping.
Brought up TO study, to live life of
elegant leisure, Raymond Thurston at
Lwenty-eight knew nothing OF busine IS,
nor had he studied any one branch sutfi-
cienLly to qualify himself for a teacher.
He tried faithfully TO find some employ
ment, spending what little remained Of
his fortune with a lavish hand that had
not yet learned economy.
Society welcomed HIM back after two
i years OF wauderings, Tor Amabel Bar
clay kept open house for her friends, and
Raymond was a fayOflte in her circle,
Her husband, many years older than her.
self, had long retired from business with
a large income, and while he gave Ray
mond cordial welcome, had no opportu-
nifty to aid in finding occupation.
And Bertha Haines, the friend from
whom Raymond parted two years before.
in this removed intercourse became to
him more than ever was friend before.
d They had not thought of love when the
! girl was debutante in society, and
Raymond one oil its fayorite beaux: but
when they met, after the long parting.
some new emotion stirred both hearts.
They did not know what made the hours
LASS 50 quickly when they were togeth.
er, nor recognized the subtle charm that
dWeit for each in the others presence.
lor many a week.
Raymond was the first to waken to the
knowledge that love was the charm that
) bound him to Berthas side whenever
she was present; that ID was love that
made her eyes, the dark, sparkling eyes,
so beautiful in their expression; that
Hove tuned her voice so musically, thai
: love made her The dearest OF all women
: in mis- eyes.
AmaDel was delighted. Bertha was
one of her own fast friends, and Bertha's
Father merchant OF standing and IN.
tluence. Aside from this the girl inheri-
ted some money from her mother. Alto.
J gether Amabel decided the match would
be charming. But hint to that effect
met one OF Kaymond's sternest frowns
such as had never visited his face in the
, old sunshiny days.
. Never speak OF 1t again. Amabel," he
said. ~ am no fortune hunter to live
upon the money OF rich wife. I'll carve
} out my own way first"
Il But carving his own way proved tedi.
! ous work till, desperate at his many
failures, heiaccepted a position, offered
Fin jest, OF driver to an express wagon.
AL do understand horses he said. .siI
J [ can not sell goods or keep books"
1t proved harder work, however. than
in the first flush Of his desperation he
hoa INN .ivxad Not M -, = :. ~