Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1877-03-29
Ta UE PRIB e.
A True story with a Moral.

=
Raymond Thurston, I believe you
are insane!'
- As AmabeI spoke her voice had a
sharp quiver 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
xbout to degrade himself socially, if not
morally, by the stand he announced
himself to have taken. Seeing her
passionate outcry had not moved him,
she said pleadingly: !
Have you no. pride left? You who
nsed to have SO mucbn
II have just so much pride left. Am
ateI, that can't sit here another day
and eat the bread of idleness,' he said.
You know you are more than wel-
=eoae here
~ Know it, i appreciate your hus-
hand, ) kindness at its full valne, Anna.
bel, and hope that the day will come
when / can prove it. And, Sis, am
only too thankful that you have his
love and strong arm nows when We
have lost so much. Now, dear, don't
Try fe keep me from honest employ
ment.,
S.But Raymond, you can surely OBJ
tsinsome gentleinanIy pasition?'
sIhaye been trying all winter, you
know with what success; there, don't
look at me So pitifully, it will come all
right some day. a--e
sIwonder what BERTHE Haines will
say when she sees you perched upon
etao driyer's seat of an express cart?'
FDF the first tine the forced compo.
sareof Raymondiss face was st rred. A
dark red flush crept to his very hair,
and he arose and walked up and down
the room. Glad TO see him moved at
last, she said.
With her aristocratic ideas, and the
pride that is born in the family, she
Will never recognize you again.
Then must lose the honor of her
acquaintance. Don't say any more
Amabel,' he said.
And unable to bear any more, be
left the room, and later the house.
The Thurston pride of which Amabel
had spoken was stinging him sorely,in
spite Of the. brave face he carried to
cover it. He Was q man of twenty
eight and his life had held only the
pleasures of wealth, the opportunity
money gives for the development of
intellect, for twenty-seveni of these
years. His parents died. when he was
= boy, and Amabel, his only sister, and
fifteen years older, married before she
was twenty, aud gave her brother a
home when he was moi travelling, or in
some college. While he had been q
rich man, he had sccepted this hospi-
tility as it was offered, and Amebel's
iewelry case, her husbands library and
the children'S piay-roJIn bore witness
of her brothers liberality. But sud-
deuiy without warning there swept
over the country one Of the devasta-
ting financial crashes so overwhelming
in this part of the country, and Ray
mond was recalled from Europe by
. his brother-in-law's informing him
that his entire patrimony had been
swept away. Investments that SEEM
ed TO the young man, Ignorant in all
business details, as secure rs they were
f1attering, had fallen into ruin, and u
few hundred dollars only RENAME d OF
q noble fortune.
At first Raymond did not realize the
extent uf his misfortune. He wasstilll
young, and well educated, il perfect
health, and certainly the world had |
. some niche where he could earn an |
honest living. But weeks OF seeking |
employment gave him a keener
-knowlsdge Of his misfortune. Friends
who had been willing TO smoke his ci-
gars, and drink his wines, who were
set willing to extend any social greet
lag, shook their heads when asked t6
cpnfieie any portion Of their business to
his keeping.
Brought up TO study, to a life of ele-
giant leisure, Raymond Thurston al
twsnty-sight knew absolutely nothing
Of bnsinsss, nor had he studiud any v