The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1879-08-23
8sAnfI with what patience, what sweet

ssee her sinking under her toll and her
lieprivatiuns, and mot word of com.
plaint escapes her pallid lips. Shewurkt
and starves, and still has word of love
for her father."
'"And you commit suicidel Are you
mad ?''
'"Dare 4 murder that angel? The
Thought pierces my heart Like "a dagger"
said the old man, sobbing.
Sir, you must nave supper with me;
i see "a tavern open yonrier. Come, ynu
must tell me your history, and I will
tell Won mine. There is NO occasion tor
yuu to leap into the river. lam q rich
man; your daughter viii ne longer have
to WORK, and you shall mot starve."
Tine old man allowed himself to he
dragged along by IhiH companion. I'm
few minutes they were seated at q table
| in tine tavern, with REFRESHMENTS before
them, and each examining euriously the
features of the other.
Refreshed by the viands, the old man
began thus;
a"My history is soon told. 4 was q
mercantile man; hut fortune newer fav"
roed me. 1hzd no money myseH, and
loved and married q poor girl. I could
newer begin Guinness unmy own account.
4 took situation ss book keeper, which
I held until i became useless from age,
and younger men were preferred to me.
Thus my circumstances we've always
eircumscriized, hut my domestic happi-
ness was complete. My wife an angel
of love, kindness and loneliness, Was good
and pious, active and afectiunate; and
my daughter is true image of her
mother. But age and illness have
brought me tine last extremity and my
conscience revolts AGAINST the itiea OF the
hest child in tine world sacrificing her
life for an old and useless fellow. 4
cannut have much longer to live and ]
nope tine Lord will pardon me for cut
ting of few days or weein from my
lie, IN order TO preserve that of my dear
Bertha.
"You are q fortunate man, my friend,,"
exclaimed the young man, i'What you
call misfortune is sheer nonsense, and
can he cured. Tomorrow j small make
my will, and you anall be tine heir OF my
possessions, and Tomorrow night ] viii \
take the leap from the Main bridge
alone. But before ] leave this world, j |
must see Bertha, for 4 am anxious TO
llook upon one vino is worthy of the name 4
of human being"
"Sir, what can have made you 80 uDs
happy at this early age?" said the old
man, moyedwith compassion.
81 am the only son aOf one of &ile
richest bankers of Frankfort. My father
died five years ago, and left me the heir
TO an immense fortune. From that
moment, every one that has come in
contact with me has iendesvored to de-
ceeiye and ddefraud me. i was q child in
Innocence, and confiding. My educs-
,tion had not been neglected, and j pos.
sessed my mothers lowing heart. My
friends, and to whom 4 opened my
heart, betrayed me, and then laughed at
my simplicity; in time 4 gathered ex-
perienee, and my heart was filled with
cdistrnst. 1wasbstrothed 10 q rich heiress,
possessed of all fashionable accomplish I
mente; i adored her with enthusiasm
and love, 4 Thought 4 would repay me
for every disappointment. But j soon
saw that abe wished TO make me her
slave, and yoke all other men besides to
her tfinmphal chariot. d broke off the
engagement, and selected poor hui q
charming girls sweet innocent being,
sas q thonght, who should he mig llife'sI
own angel. Alssl 1fonnd her aneday
bidding afien with tears and kisses 10 a.
youth whom she lloved; abe had accepted
me for my wealth only. Ny peace o'l
mind vanished, j sought diversion in
travel. Everywhere i fsnnd the same
Ihnllownes, the same treachery, the same
misery. I'm ahort, 4 became disguised
with life, and resolxed no put an end
this might TO the pitiable farce"
"Bniortnnate young man." said the
other, with tears of sympathy, ~ pity
you. dconfess j have bean more forsu-
nate than you. i possessed 9 wife and
daughter, who came forth ,pure and i'm.