The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-08-03
Select Stugy.
A ROMANCE OF HARD WORK.

sharp culver OF pain as well 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 an
nounced himself to have taken. See
ing her passionate outcry had not NOV
ed him, she said, pleadingly;
"Have you no pride left you who
had all the old Thurston pride onceY'
al have just So much pride left, A.
mabel" he answered, that | can not
sit here eating the bread of idlenesS
another day"
"You know you are more than well
come here"
II do know it. 1 appreciate your
husbands kindness at its full value,
Amabel. | hope that the day will
come when 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"
al have been trying faithfully for
six months; you know with what sue
cess. There, don't look at me so pitt
fully; it will come right one of these
III 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 com
pOsure of Raymond's face was stirred.
A dark red flush crept to his hair and
he 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 inborn in her family she
will never recognize you again, Ray
mond."
"Then | must lose the honor of her
friendship" Raymond said, hoarsely.
"Don't say any more, Amabel." And
unable to hear any further remon-
STRANGE he left the room, and little
while after the house.
The Thurstan pride of which Anna
bel had spoken was singing him sore,
ly, in spite of the brave face he carried
to cover it. He was man of twenty
eight, and his life had.he only the
pleasure of wealth, the opportunities
money gives for the development of in
tellect for twenty-seven of these years.
His parents died when he was boy,
and Amabel, his only sister, fifteen
years his senior married before she
was twenty, and gave her brother a
home, whenever he was not travelling,
or nsome seminary or college. While
he considered himselfa rich man Ray
mond had accepted this hospitality os
freely as it was offered, and Amabel's
Jewel case, her husbands library, and
her children's play-room bore witness
of her brothers generosity. But sud
denly, without warning, there swept
over the country one of the devasta-
ting financial crashes so overwhelming
in this land of speculation, and Ray
mond 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 bu
siness details, as secure as they were
Aattering, had fallen to ruin, and a few
hundred dollars only we're left of what
had once been a 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 en-
ployment gave him keener know
ledge of his misfortune. Friends who
had been willing to smoke his cigars and
drink his wines, who were yet willing
to extend every social greeting, shook
their heads when asked to confde any
portion of their business into his keep
ing.
Brought up to study, to life ofels.
CANT leisure, Raymond Thurston at
twenty,e eight knew absolutely nothing
of business, nor had he studied any
one branch sufficient to qualify himself
for teacher. He tried faithfully to
find some employment, spending what
little remained of his fortune with
lavish hand that had not yet learned
economy.
Society welcomed him home after
two years wandering, for Amabel
Barclay kept open house for her friends
and Raymond was a favorite in her
circle. Her husband, many years ol-
der than herself, had long retired from
business with a large income, and
while he gave Raymond cordial well
come had no opportunity to aid him
in finding occupation.
And Bertha Haines, the friend from
whom Raymond parted two years be-
fore, in this renewed intercourse be,
came to him more than ever as friend
before. They had not thought of love
in the days when the girl was a debu,
tante in society, and Raymond one OF
its beaux; but when they had met af-
ter their long parting some new emo,
tions stirred both hearts. They did
not know what made the hours pass
quickly when they were together, nor
recognized the subtle charm that dwelt
for each ia the others presence, for
MANY a week.