The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-08-26
MISS ARNOLD.
Another Story of Love that was True,
but Didn't Run Smooth.
BY THE AUTHOR OF 1.-TWO OLD MEMS
TALES ETC.
CHAPTER VIII (CoNrINuEp).

III. noWtNeT, L was SaNeu lIoih ueCouihS
an utter young monster, by the presence
in the school of this very boy, James st.
Ledger.
'1n the hustle and hurry of my early
wars, had taken little heed of, scarcely OBJ
served, this boy at all. But when the pause
came, | noticed him. | noticed him for
many reasons. He was tall for his age, slen-
der and of extremely delicate make, but
with limbs of a symmetry and beauty that
reminded one of fine antique statue. His
face, too, was extremely beautiful and
there was something in his large, thought
full, melancholy eyes, that it was impossi-
BILE to ever look upon and to forget.
II no sooner observed him at ALL than
my whole boyish soul seemed to knit to
him.
His manner was extremely serious; the
expression of his countenance sad to de-
gree, deeply, intensely sad, might say; yet
through that deep sadness there was ten
der sweetness which was to me most inter-
esting. ! shall never forget his smile for
laugh he never was heard to do.
~ soon discovered two things that made
me feel more for him than the rest. One,
that he was an extremely well-ln1ormed
boy, and had received home education of
a very superior order; and the other, that
he was most unfortunate, and that his mis-
fortunes had one peculiar ingredient of bit
terness in then namely, that they were of
nature to excite the Scorn and contempt
of the vulgar herd that surrounded him.
rather than to move their rude hearts to
sympathy and pity.
THE propensity to good in rough, vulgar,
thoughtless human beings, is very apt to
show itself in this way, in sort of con-
temptaous disgust against vice and folly,
ard an alienation from those connected
with it, however innocent We must accept
| it, upon reflection, suppose, as rude form
of good inclination; but was too young
| for reflection, too young to make allow
ances, too young to be equitable Such
conduct appeared to me the most glaring
and barbarous injustice, and excited in me
passionate indignation.
| Never did | hear ST. Ledger taunted, as
he often was, with the trailties of his
mother or the errors OF his father but my
heart was all in flame, my fist clenched,
my cheek burning. Many fellow have |
laid PROSTATE upon the earth with sud
den blow, who dared in my presence to
chase the color from st. Ledger's cheek by
alludng to the subject. There was this re-
markable in ST. Ledger, by the way, that he
never colored when his mothers shame or
his fathers end was alluded to, but went
deadly pale.
"The history was a melancholy one of
human frailty, and is soon told His
mother had been extremely beautiful, his
father the possessor of a small independent
fortune. They had lived happily together
many years, and she had brought him five
children; four girls and this boy. | have
heard that the father dotted with no COM
mon passion, in husband Catherine upon
the beautiful creature, who was moreover
accomplished and clever. She seemed de-
voted to her children, and had given no
common attention to her boy in his early
years. Hence hismental accomplishment
The husband was | suspect, rather her in
ferior in intellect; and scarcely her equal in
refinement and manner, but it's no matter,
| it would have been probably the same
whatever he had been. She who will run
astray under one set OF circumstances,
would probably have run astray under any.
She was very vain Of her beauty and talents,
and bad been spoiled by id0latry and fiat
terry of all who surrounded her.
Il will not pain you by entering into any
particulars; in brief, she disgraced herself,
and was ruined.
"The rage, the passionate despair, the
blind fury Of the injured husband, it was
said, exceeded all bounds. There was of
course every sort Of public scandal. Legal
proceedings and the necessary conse-
uueuces, divorce. The wretched history
dad not even end here. She suffered horri-
| bly, with shame and despair, | have been
told, but the shame and despair had not the
effect it ought to have produced, She fell
| Ca, had ,,,,l a l.,
The husband did the same. Wild with the
stngs of wounded affection, blinded with
suffering, he flew for refuge TO any excite
ment which would for moment assuage
his agonies; the gaming table, and excess in
drinking, soon finished the dismal story He
shot himself in paroxysm OF delirium
penny he possessed at faro.
"Iou tremble, Catherine Your hand in
mine is cold. OH the perncious woman!
Oh! the depths Of misery, if l were indeed
to tell you all have met with and known
which are entaied upon the race by the
vanity, the folly, and the vice Of woman
Angels! yes angels you are, sweet saint
sweet Catherine, and men fall down anG
worship you, but woe for them when she
they worship proves iiend
Dear Miss Arnold, you are shedding
tears but you would have this dismal story
You had better hear no more OF it, let me
stop now"
60 on, pray, 60 on, Edgar. Tell US abou
the poor boy and the girls; you said ther,
were four OF them"
The boy and his sisters were taken by
some relations. ltwas about year afte
these events that met him at this school
They had sent him here, thinking th,
army the best place for him. To get hin
shot of, poor fellow, perhaps if they could
, His four sisters were all then living, ant
how tendery, poor lad, lie used to talk t,
me about them. How he would grieve owe
the treatment they were receiving will
the best intentions he acknowledged, bu
too hardening and severe he thought 70
girls SO delicate, They wanted a l. other
fostering, fathers protection, poor things
. but he never alluded il the remotest wa,
. to either father or mother Adam, whel
he sprung from the earth, was not NOR
parentass than he seemed TO consider him
self But he used to talk Of a future 70
his sisters, and sometimes, in his NOR
cheerful moods would picture to himsel
, what he would do when he should be
man, and able to shelter them with home
however humble, of his own. His Who'll
soul was wrapped up in these girls"
"Did you ever hear what became O
themY
Three died OF consumption, I have beel
told, just as they were opening into th
bloom of early womanhood, almost til
oveliest creatures that ever were seen."
"And the fourth?"
'She was the most beautiful of all, fine
high-spirited, dashing creature. He
brothers secret terror and darling"
"Well?
"She followed her mothers example
and died miserably at the age of two-and
twenty"
what can we do for this MANI? erie
Catherine, when she had recovered he
voice little. edgar. what can we do 70