The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1878-01-24
From the Pittsburgh Post.
John Hathaway's Creditor.
BY J C. PURDY.

In the dusk Of New Years Eve,
made darker by the twilight gloom of
his luxurious library, John Hathaway
sat alone. Yet not alone for all about
him, crowding every alcove and cor.
ner, were the wisest and wittiest COM
panions, prepared to advise him. if
John Hathaway were q man to be ad-
vised !; to instruct him if so potent a
man could need instruction, or to en-
tertain him If man 80 lofty should
stoop to entertainment. Scorning all
such companionship, and turning his
back upon it, John Hathaway still had
for company his own thoughts; aud
these he would not scorn. for they
were his and could not turn his back
upon, for they haunted him aud would
not be thrust behind. AS he sat there
in such company, the rich man wished
hopelessly for a solitude where these
persistent ghosts could not penetrate !;
and even while he wished they pluck
ed at and buffeted him more intrusive
ly than before.
He was q prosperous man. Him.
self and everything around him pro.
claimed the fact and emphasized it.
Wealth was his servant and luxury his
atmosphere. Health had not a;togeth.
or parted company with him. He had
reached middle life; his ties had all
hons, farnNnA on6 ho1
ken; the hot contest of youth had
given place to the calm of achievement,
his ambitions had been greatly graft
fed, and he had only the easy task
now Of standing upon the height he
had conquered. Surely such a man
might be contented, and leave unquiet
aspirations to those of us who have
not reached his happy plane. But
Hathaway was not all innovatOr, and
so was not contented.
While he was occupied with his
ghosts his wife came in. She was not
a ghost. Substantial even to gross
ness and unspiritual even to the point
of vulgarity was Mrs. Hathaway.
And yet she was not the disturbing
element in her husbands life. lie did
not care enough about her to fret on
her account. Whatever troubles he
had came from within, never from
without. She was in lightsome mood
just now, in the slow, slumbrous fash
ion y cow might manifest.
why on earth don't you light the
gas, JOhn?' she said 'you are the
queerest one! You must have plenty
of nice things to think about, to sit
here in the dark. Dou't catch me saw
ing the gas in that way. Why don't
you come
'How much do you want, Maria P
asked this husband, speaking as if his
wife were his washerwoman aud put
ting his hand into his pocket.
Il don't want any money she an
swsred in a confused kind of a way,
jumbliDg injury and explanation in
her mind and in her tones. sIl'sNew
Years Eve, you know, aud thought
perhaps you'd like to come and sit
with the re st or US and talk
don't like said John, still as if
his wife were a servant who had been
rather too presumptuous.
She was not q woman of high or
delicate nature, but che felt vaguely
that it would be nice if John were to
her more as other men were TO their
wives. She had tried in her way to
bring it about. She had failed, and
went away with dull faint ache in
her heart. After she had gone, John
for the first time in years, thought q
little about her in her absence.
poor creature ! he said presently,
She acts sometimes, almost as if she
loved me, and that is uncomfortable.
Perhape if 1 would make love to her
little she would stop. It's worth
trying
While he sat there in the deepened