Weekly Trinity journal., 1877-02-24
BEELZEBUB.
BY CdAs. X. HARKER.

"No, jerked out the man at the desk,
never stopping the scratch, scratch Of his
pen, nor raising his bead to notice what
effect the blunt monosyllable had on Il
nabby, ragged individual who stood ut
the door.
Over the weak, irresolute, dissipated-
looking face ofthe applicant there fitted
a scarcely perceptiblo shade Of disappoint-
ment Then he turned without word,
pulled a NANCY cap triao further over
his eyes, and was going out, when port
ty Mr., Hurley tipped back in his chair
and said :
" Hold on, my man Did any one
send you hore ?"
/" What, sir ?" stammered the ragged
wrotch, looking round with watory eyes
that wavored and blinlled, aud seemed to
defy their owners power to set them
squarey toward an object.
did any ono send you ," repeated
Mr.. Hurley.
Yes, the litdc ono-top the hill-tho
girl-she said"
"I thought az much," interrupted Mr.
Hurley, slapping his knee. ar Lilly
doesn't stop this sort of business Wen
quarrel. What a paradise this world
would be for bummers, ii we were all as
tender hearted as she. Eh, Pepin ?"
The rich manufacturer chuckled to
himsefa moment, and then said abrupt
ly to the dissipatod specimen Of humani-
ty before him:
What's your name ~
" Beelzehub," answered the trades
man in q rather apologetc tone, with his
bleared eyes on his gaping, dusty boots.
Even Pepin paused, and looked up
from his work with his methodical coun-
onanco expressing as much surprise as
it was capable OF.
Beelzebub," echoed Mr. Hurley
" You don't mean to tell me that's your
real name ?"
The mans moist eyes hickered dimly
at Mr.. Hurley agair.
"Thats what they call mo over to
Uawksbury-I kim from Uawksbury,'
he said, feebly drawing his fingers over
his thin, struggling beard.
Who under heaven gave you such a
nnmo ?" asked Mr.. Hurley growing Gu
rious.
Don't know-that's what they call
me over to IIawksbury," replied Beelze-
bub, with u vacant sort of a smile, as he
twirlod the solitary button on his coat
and unconsciously lost part OF his ahject-
ness as he saw he was interesting the
rich man aud his clerk.
And that was all they could get out o
the lettering, nerve. shaken vaeNbond.-
Ques stoning did no good. lIo had cvi
IDENTITY lived a drunken, scottish life, and
either would not disclose, or which wa.
moro improbable-neyer knew any other
name than the strange one which he gave
Mr. Hurley gazed at the dirty, repulsive
| looking ragmulin, from head to foot
conuasted him with his own we'll fed
well-cothed, comfortable self, aud re-
mem bering that the man had asked fol
work, not for aims, then said
"Pepin, take him down stairs t(
Holmes. l suppose we must find some
thing for him to do, now Lilly has sen
him here. And, Beelzebub, yoa mus
spruce up have no such looking mer
rs you are now in my employ. There
stuff in you yet You are not so old a,
you look, l take it. Clean yourself up
man, and start over again"
Mr.. Pepin glanced at Beelzebub will
an air which strongly resembled disgust
and, rising like machine, he took hi
hat from IA nail, and walked out Of tn,
door, Beelzebub sculling after him. Mr.
Hurley, left alone, complacently solilo
quized that, il be we're not quite so loud
mouthed in bis charity, as some, he haC
dragged one sorry-looking wretch from
the "Slough OF Dospond this morning
and done it in a very sensible fashion
This was the manner in which Beelzo
bub camo to Ilurey's mill lie sooI
grew to be as much fixture Of the place
As even the automatical Pepin himself
At nrst, the smeary, blear eyed, old
young man was received with small fa
vor by tho workmen. Many were th'
jbes and bad jokes at his expense. But
lhe wise old saw says that it takes two tC
make n quarrel, and Beelzebub was al
ways the one lacking and at last he wa
a favorito rather than otherwise with tn,
men
lie grew in his employers esteem also
His eye was still wavering, his mannei
as scrvle and crnging rs an owneresi
spaniel but his dress by degrees grew
tidy, and he was clean and wholesome tC
look at, ifno more. Lilly the manufac
turer's golden-haired daughter, tyranizeC
over BeeIzebub outrageously. He wai
her complete and willing serf obeyint
her every whim, asking no reasons, anc
apparently regarding her as sort Of ter
restiiaI angel of light, the latchet 0
whose dainty little shoes ne was not wor-
Thy to unloo,c.
Itwas in war times, during the perioC
when Northern manufacturers were un-
easy over incenliary lumors. An extri
watchman was appointed at Hurley
mill, and BeeNebub was the man. 1t
true, Pepn sneered at his selection, bu
Mr. Hurley had grown to place consid
erablo confidence in the taciturn, weak
kneed man he had pulled from the mire
BeelzebuD's new duties were at night