Connecticut western news., 1879-06-04
Other Peoples Business.

Other Peoples Business.
 There is scarcely anything more un- fortunate for man than the absence of loving women around his childhood and youth. Mark Ripon had never known such women, and I offer this fact as some pallation for his want of faith in them.
 He was ignorant of his parentage he had been found one summer morning on the steps of the Foundation School in Bsxtersgate. Ripon; and as it was the festival of St. Mark, he had received the name of the saint and the name of his Dative city, and been adopted by the in- stitution.
 Wholesome food, stout clothing, and decent trsde had been given him by the Foundation, and in many respects he was felt to have done it homer, for after fifty years of creditable citizenship, he was one of the cathedral vestty, sat in the Common Council of the ancient city which had adopted him. and was said to be worth at least 950,0G0
 But there is success 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 aronnd 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 sis ter. The school had been simply place in which to eat ard sleep anl to learn.
 Unfortunately, when the lad fell in love, it was with pretty fiirt infinitely more heartless than himself. But Marks love had been cruelty deceived and mocked, and he had come ont of his chsgrin and sorrow with confirmed be- lief in the general and natural unfaith- fitness of women. Popular maxims and iests confirmed him every day in his idea, and like most Englishmen, having once avowed this as his opinion, every reiteration of his own idea was fresh confirmation of it.
 But he had many friends among his own sex. Men generally spoke of him as crusty old bachelor, but otherwise a well-to-do, shrewd, and honorable fel- low. Chief among these friends was young George Downs, the child of the only companion bis boy hood had ever known, and his own godson. If Mark Ripon loved any human being, it was George Downs, though as the latter grew up to manhood, he gave him good deal of anxiety. For George preferred the society of women, and would not credit } Marks positive assurance of their uni versal falseness and unworthiness.
 One moonlight night, as Mark was coming from vestry meeting, he met George in the cathedral close, and on his arm was Q very beautiful girl. The old man looked angrily and doubtfully al the pretty face lifted to his favorite's. The bright moonbeams touched her long fair curls, and made the white veil around them like glory. Mark re mem bered just such lovely, innocent face lifted to his, and he had no doubt what ever that this girl would be just as false to George as pretty Fanny Maltby hai been to him.
 George, however, would not be per suaded to doubt her. Then Mark offer ed to pay his expenses if he would g abroad and travel for two years; bu George said "he had just got place il Butterfeid's Bank, and preferred home. :" The young man, in Mark eyes, was bent on running himself, ant in few weeks he celebrated his weddin, with an elaborate rejoicing that rouse, the old mans bitterest contempt.
 George fully expected that he woul now be ignored, and probably los forever any chances he might have ha of inheriting his godfather's wealth But Mark was unlike the generality ( men in many respects, and in none mo1 than in bis behavior to the young ma who had so fagrantly disregarded a
 hls advices and entreaties.
 He redoubled his care over him, an
 watched all his movements with a col sfantly increasing interest. In fact,
 did not blame George at all he regarde
 him as one who, in an unfortunate hou
 had fallen into the hands of Q DOW.
 which was too great for him. He pitie
 the happy bridegroom, and resolved |
 soon as possible to release him fro
 the tolls ef the woman who had charns
 and enalaYsd him.