The Benton record. [volume] (Benton, M.T. [Mont.]) 1875-1879, 1879-06-06
VOL. I Y.


say that lingering wound IS more pain
full than sudden death, they, with their
usual tender sympathy, cut Eustace dead
So considerate were they that they drew
their dresses more closely around them
In order not 70 offend By touching him.
X \
Ten months later the once petted dag
ling of society was housed IN a. hotel in
the suburbs. The windows wee cracked
and broken, the door gaped upon its
hinges, the fence was rotten and hall
fallen in places. The trees were leaAess
their slender stems were bent back and
forth as the fierce winter winds swept
across the lowlands along the creek. Tn
this humble frame dwelling Eustice
4 St. James on q cold night, sat before a
handful Of embers. He was thoroughly
disheartened. He had visited all his
friends to seek aid in establishing him
self in business, but some were "not at
home," others had "pressing business
engagements preventing, but some other
time, ETC., etc." while others refused
point blank. One, alone, least liked in
former days, man blunt and plain Of
speech, Godfearingly Puritanical in his
way of life, had aided him.
But what, save failure, could be expect
ed Of young man Of no business train
ing and with liberal habits ? And Eustice
had lost all that Mr.. Sandy had lent to
him. Too proud to seek for aid, too
ignorant Of business to succeed; too un-
skilled to earn his bread by the labor of
his hands, starvation seemed to threaten
him with death. At last he thought, II
can put away COAL" but d flush Of false
shame reddened his cheek as he thought
of such degradation. His sturdy Scotch
Irish blood, however, whispered Honest
labor dishonors no man, however cul-
tured," and his determination was made.
On the next day he invested his last
cent in a portentiously large shovel.
Armed and equipped in this manner, he
followed the first coal carr passing by,
and hesitatingly asked to be allowed to
put the fuel away but from his refined
and intelligent face, perhaps suspeeting
him of being a thief, the lady bluntly re-
fused, and hired dull, clumsy looking
negro in his stead. Were Prospero and
Caliban placed side by side, with shovels
in their hands, Prospero would starve
while Calban would increase in flesh.
Employers dread q mechanic with
thought lines on his face, but stupidity,
like mud, taking any impression, is but
little feared.
All day tramping the streets he sought
employment, but he was refused by one
because "the driver was always hired for
that. purpose" by others for other causes,
aud it was not until three o'clock that hi3
hands found anything to do. He went
briskIY to work On the wood, and al
though the Jagged splinters cut his hands
until they were raw and bleeding, still he
stuck doggedly to the task.
Driving by in her phaeton, Miss Eunice
Hildreth saw something strangely famil-
lar in the splendidly proportioned form
which bore the wood in its massive arms.
Handsome masculinitY in distress has a
powerful influence over tender womans
heart, not because Of beauty, oh, no! butt
accidentally yet the peculiar thrill
which shot along her nerves was not all
pity. It was the confused recognition Of
beloved object by the soul-that indis-
tinct, magnetic thrill which sweeps across
the heart before the brain has spoken.
She bent a keen glance upon him, and at
that instant the worker turned in a
moment she recognized her betrothed
husband doing mcnial labor in pubic
street where all might see him.
Immediately there arose a mighty
struggle in her breast. Pride, as error
ever does, Kissed out in confused SEN
tences, "You must care fer self first, for
society will expatriate you you recog-
nize him; beside, he never loved you for
he has never come to see you in the last
ten months, though he knows you~are
wealthy enough for both,3 but love, as
ever the truth speaks, whispered simply, |
Smile upon him." She adopted mid
dle course; she bowed coldlY as she
whirled by. The next moment tears
were streaming-tears Of shame for her
ignoble conduct; but it vas too late
for time never gives an instant back. We
may curse him till the voice is hoarse,
till our eyes are blind, till our hair is
gray; but the moment once gone is gone
forever, with all its golden opportunities.
That night a ragged figure stepped |
upon. the porch of the Hildleth house,
IL, Il