The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-08-14

Yes. many picture OF the past .ltf
I'll cherish fondly till the last
Within that dim and shadowy hall
There's one dear face Of all the rest,
aaseens cAlmly gazing from the wall.
1ep frAs If 10 whisper. A II Is blcst-''"
That sainicd hook to me doth toll, fsg -
r. .- Sister. in spirit land all's we'll"
OTHE PEOPLES BUSINESS. D.
r. sfsU 1911 '- ssist Hlsan
There fs scarcely any thing mere un-
fortunate fora man than the absence
Of loving women around has child.
hood sud youth. Mark Ripon had
never known such women, and I offer
this fact as sorhe palliation for his
want Of faith i'm them. atef4 -
He was ignorant of his parentaee ;
he had been found one simmer morn
ing on the steps of the Foundation
Schoolin Baxtersgate, Ripon aud az
it was on the festival OF st. Mark, he
had received the name of the saint
and the, name of his native city, and
been adopted by the institntion.7 70
I Wholesome food, stout clothing, aud
q decent trade has been given him BY
the Eoundltion, and in many respects
he was felt to have done it honor, for
after fifty year, OF, creditable citizen
ship. he was one Of the cathedral yes.
try, sat in, the Common Council Of
the ancient city which, had adopted
him. apd was said to be- worth At least
f50,OOO.g aps Of seiq3 sd daidw ri
r.. But there .is, q snccess which the
world sees little of--that of: the heart
and in this respect Mark Ripon was
the .veriest pauper. OF. the nurses and
matrons who had been around his
earliest years he had not one tender
memory none Of them had fed the
hunger of his heart. He had no home
no mother, and no sister. The school
had been simply . place in which to
eat and to sleep and to learn. : :. q
Uptortunately, when the lad fell in
love, it was withIa pretty Airtinflnite-
iy, more hearsless chan himaelf But
Marks love had been cruelty deceiv-
ed aud mocked. and he had come out
Of his chsgrin aud sorrow with . .aon-,
firmed belief In the general aud nat
uraf nnfaithfulness OF women. Popu-
Lar GHiaxims and jests confirmed him
every day in his idea, and, like most
Engliahmen, having onco avowed this
as his opinion, every reiteration Of his
own idea was fresh confirmation of
it. .-,t,,e ari47,fesJ ~ aana !,
Bot he had many friends among
his own sex. Men generally spoke Of
him as crusty old bachelor, but
otherwise : well.to-do, shrewd, aud
honorable fellow. Chief among these
friends Was young George Downes,
tbs child Of, the only companion his
boyhood had ever knoHn,. and his
own godson. 1T Mark. Ripon loved
any human being, it. was George
Downes, though as the latter grew
up to manhood, he gave him . great
deal of anxietys For George prefer
red the society of women, and would
not credit Mark positive assur rances
of their universal falseness and un.'
worthiness. !ai5leaia5o>s isEaaifs,'' ?
One moonlight nigh t, as Mark was
coming from vestry meeting, he met
George inlthe cathedral close, and on
his arm was very beautiful girl.
The old man looked ansrily and
at the pretty face lifted to
his favorite's. The bright moonbeams
touched her long fair curls,i and made
tho white veil around them like q
glory. Mark remembered just such q
lovely, innocent face lifted to his, and
he had no doubt whatever that this
girl would be just a. false to George
% pretty Fanny Maltby had been to
him. i09ei's ~ go 5lrN
George, however, would not be per-
suaded to doubt her. Then Mark Of
fered to psy his expenses if he would
90 abroad and travel for two years );
but George said she had just got a
place IN Butterlieid's Bank, and pre-
ferrsd = home Tho young man IN
1fktk.s syiess, was bent on running him.
self, and In o few weeks he celebrated
his wedding with an elaborate rejoic-
ing that reused the old pans bitterest
contempt. z1s1.,
George fully. expected thathe would
now be ignored, and probably lose
forever any chance he might have had
on einheriting his godfather's wealth.
But Mark was unlike the generality
of men in many respects, and in none
more than in his behavior to the young
man who had so flagrantly disregard-
ed his advice and entreaties.s ys3s
He redoubled his care over him,
watched all his movements with q
constantly increasing interest. In fact,
he did not blame Georgeat all; he re-
garded him as one who, In An unfor-
tunate hour, had fallen into the hands
of - power which was too great for
him. He pitied the happy bridegroom
and resolved a. soon ~ possible to re-
lease him from the tolls Of the woman
who had Charmed and enslaved him.
In vain Georges wife smiled ppon
and entertained Mark -Ripon. He vie
tied her house, indeed, for it was nec-
essary to watch her movements; but
neither her smiles, nor soDgs, nor at
tentions moved Mark. He had gone
through that delusion once, and was
not to be deceived again. 1t was one
great point in his favor that George
had taken house in such . situation
that he could keep the young wife un-
der very close surveillance, and he was