Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-05-30
OTHER PEOPLES BUSINESS.

OF loving women around MS childhood
and youth. Mark Ripon had never
known such women, and offer this
fact as some palliation for his want of
faith in them.
He was ignorant of his uarentage: he
had been found one summer morning
ON the steps of the Foundation School
IN Baxtersgate, Ripon; and as it was on
the festival of st. Mark, he had received
the name of the saint and the name 81
his native city, and been adopted by
the institution.
Wholesome food, stout clothing, and
a decent trade had been given him by
the Foundation, and in many respects
he was felt to have done it honor, for
after fifty years of creditable citizen
ship, he was one of the cathedral vestry,
sat in the common council of the an
Gent city which had adopted him, and
was said to be worth 1T least $50 900.
But there is success which the world
sees little of-tEat OF the hcart-and in
this respect Mark Ripon was the veri-
est 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.
Unfortunately, when he fell in love,
it was with pretty tlirt infinitely more
heartless than himself. But Marks
love had been cruelty deceived and
moked, and he had come out Of his
chagrin and sorrow with confirmed
belief in the general and natural un.
faithfulness Of women. Popular max
inns and jests confirmed him every day
in his idea, and like most Englismen,
having once avowed this as his opinion,
every reteration of his own idea was a
fresh confirmation of it.
But he had many friends among his
own sex. Men generally spoke of him
rs crusty old bachelor, but otherwise
well-to-do, shrewd, and honorable fell
low. Chief among these friends was
young George Downes, the child Of the
only companion his boyhood had ever
known, and his own godson. If Mark
Ripon loved any human being it was
George Downes, though as the latter
grew up to manhood, he gave him u
great deal of anxiety. For George pre-
ferred the society ofwomen, and would
not credit Marks positive assurances Of
their universal falseness and unworthi-
ness.
One moonlight night, as Mark was
coming from vestry meeting, he met
George in the cathedral close, and on
his arm was very beautiful girl. The
old man looked angrlly and doubtfully
at the pretty face lifted to his fayorte's.
The bright moonbeams touched her
long fair curls, and made the white veil
around them like glory. Mark re-
membered just such lovely, innocent
face lifted to his, and he had no doubt
whatever that this girl would be just as
false to George as pretty Fanny Malthy
had been to him.
George, however, would not be per-
suaded to doubt her. Then Mark
offered to pay his expenses if lie would
go abroad and travel for two years. but
George said che had just got place in
Butterfeld's bank, and preferred
home" The young man, in Marks
eyes, was bent on running himself, and
in few weeks lie celebrated his we'd
uIIS Will al CltbQOldNG INJOlIlllS llldl
reused the old mans bitterest contempt.
George fully expected that he would
now be ignored, and probably lose for
ever any chances he might have had of
inheriting his godfathet's wealth. But
Mark was unlike the generality of man
in many respects, and in none more than
in his behavior to the young man who
had so flagrantly disregarded all his adj
vices and entreaties.
He redoubled his care over him, and
watched all his movements with con
stantly increasing interest. In fact, he
did not blame George at all; he regard
ed him as one who, in all unfortunate
hour, had fallen into the hands of
power which was too great for him. He
pitied the happy bridegroom, and re-
solved as soon rs possible 70 release
him from the tolls Of the woman who
had charmed and enslaved him.
In vain Georges wife smiled upon and
entertained Mark Ripon. He visited
her house, indeed, for it was necessary
to watch her movements; but neither
her smiles, nor songs, nor attentions
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 a
house in such situation that ne could
keep the young wife under very close
surveillance, and he was confident that
sooner or later he would prove her all
that he believed woman universally to
be.
But month after month went by, and
George was more in love than ever.
There had also cone To the happy
home, over the way from Marks, fine
little boy, that had been called after
him. and hlue-eved girl, whom not
even Mark could yet find in his heart
to regard a. dangerous. He was even
yenturing to make Mrs. George Downes
that exception said to be contingent on
every rule, when suddenly his suspic-
Ions were forced into active life and
prominence.
One day-a very wet one-a close