Daily globe., 1879-06-22
OTHER PEOPLES BUSINESS.

youth. Mark Ripon had never known
such women, and l offer this fact as some
palliation 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
Ripon; and as it was on the
festival of st. Mark, he had received the
native city, and been adopted by the in
institution.
Wholesome food, stout clothing, and
decent trade has been given him by the
Foundation, and in many respects he
was felt to have done it honor, for after
fifty years Of creditable citizenship, he
was one Of the cathedral vestry, sat in the
Common Council of the ancient city
which had adopted him, and was said to
be worth at least 100000.
But there is a 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 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 the lad tell in
love, it was with a pretty firt infinitely
more heartiess than himself But Mark S
love had been cruelty deceived and
Knocked, and he had come out of his
chagrin and sorrow with a confirmed be-
lief in the general and natural unfaithful-
ness Of women. Popular maxims and
jests 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 a fresh
confirmation Of it.
But he had many friends among his
own sex Men generally spoke of him as
a crusty old bachelor, but otherwise q
Well-to-do, shrewd, and honorable fel
low. Chief among these friends was
young George Downes, the child Of the
only companion his boyhood had eve1
known, and his own godson. If Marx
Ripon loved any human being, it was
George Do~nes, though as the latter grew
up to manhood, he gave him grea
deal Of anxiety. For George preferred
the society of women, and wonld no
credit Marks positive assurances of theil
universal falseness and unworthiness.
One moonlight night, as Mark wa
coming from vestry meeting, he me
George in the cathedral close, and on BIZ
arm~was very beautiful girl. The ole
man looked angrily and doubtfully at th.
pretty face lifted to his favorite's. Th
bright moonbeams touched her long fai
curls, and made the white veil arount
them like glory. Mark remembered
just such a lovely, innocent face lifted t
his, and he had no doubt whatever tina
this girl would be Just as false to Geerg
as pretty Fanny Maltby had been t.
him.
George, however, would not be per
suaded to doubt her. Then Mark of
fered to pay his expenses if he would g
abroad and trrvel for two years; bu
George said che had just got place ii
Butterfeld's Bank, and preferred home
The young man, in Marks eyes, wa
bent on running himsslf, and in few
weeks he celebrated his wedding with al
elaborate rejoicing that reused the ole
mans bitterest contempt.
| George fully expected that he woult
now be ignored, and probably lose for
ever any chance he might have had 0
inheriting his godfather's wealth. Blu
Mark was unlike the generality Of me1
in many respects, and in none more thar
in his behavior to the young man VIII
had so hagrantly disregarded his advice
and entreaties.
In nd hi - ovNf
watched all his movements with con
stantly increasing interest. In fact, HI
did not blame George at all; he regarded
him as one who, in an unfortunate hour
had fallen into the hands Of a powe
which was too great for him. He pitiet
the happy bridegroom, and resolved a
soon as possible to release him from tn
tolls of the woman who had charmed an<
enslaved him.
In vain Georges wife smiled upon ane
entertained Mark Ripon. He visited he
house, indeed, for it was necessary t.
watch her movements; but neither he
smiles, nor songs, nor attentions move'
Mark. He had gone through that delu
sion once, and was not to be deceived
again. 1t was one great point in hi
favor that George had taken house il
such situation that he could keep tn
young wife under very close surveillance
and he was confident that sooner late
he would prove her all that he believe
women universally to be.
But month after month went by, an
George was more in love than ever. Their
had also come to the happy home, owe
the way from Marks, fine little bo'
that had been called after him, and
blue-eyed girl, whom not even Mar
could yet find in his heart to regard 9
false and dangerous. He was even ver
turing to make Mrs George Downes thu
exception said to be contingent on ever
rule, when suddenly all his suspicion
, were forced into active life and prom
nence.
One day-a very wet one-a close ca
riage drove up to Georges house, an
Mrs. George, heavily cloaked and veile,
, was driven away in it.
'Very we'll, ma 'am,'' said Mark, susp
ciously, to himself, ''we shall see wheth.
you confess to having been out to-day"
So he went over to Georges, played
, rubber or two with his favorite. and trie
every way to induce a confession as
] the drive in the rain; but the young vii
would make no allusion to it. This wa
on Monday. On Thursday at the sam
] hour, the carriage came again, an
! Georges wife went away in it. The ne1
week she went out on three different day
! and twice, the werther being fine, b
: noticed that she wore her very best sati
dress, the rich blue brocade that had bee
one of her wedding suits.
The affair was beginning to look yer
t black to Mark, for he had satisfied hin