West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1880-06-26
The Charlington Hardness.

Helen Charlington was as white as the
ermine cloak which she had wrapped about
her head and face. Perhaps il was the
night air that made her shiver; but she
faced Doctor Warren Bolton with a deter
mination which needed no words COR its ex-
preston.
''But Helen-"
Listen TO me. II you cannot come to-
night, do not come to me again anywhere.
1t is the end between us.
''Helen, Helen ~
Her eyes mad not left his face.
care you going ?" she said slowly.
For an instant he seemed 10 waver: but
only for an instant.
81 am going, Helen" he said as slowly ::
III you ever want me | will come back TO
you"
He doubted afterward If she had even
heard the words, so quickly did she turn
away from him. He caught the dazzle of
the brilliantly lighted room which She en-
tered, turned his face to the darkness and
the cold again, and strobe off where duty
waited for him.
The Charlingtons were called "a hard
family" not from any social shortcomings.
but on account Of their well known obsti-
macy. seth Charhngton was one of the
largest manufacturers in Riverford, and i'm
the numerous strikes among its operatives.
always held hls own against them longer
and more successfully than any other mill
owner. He had discarded his only son for
some slight disObedIence Rumor said that
his wife, VINO had died when the bow was
born, had gone gladly out of a home I'm
which she had never known happiness
There was but one other child, daughter
the image of her father" every one
agreed, and the impression prevailed in
Riverford that she was exactly like hIm i'm
disposition. few who knew the facts
asserted that she had taken her brothers
part with such determination that both of
them had been ordered TO leave the house
never to return to it Helen being pre-
vented from doing so only by the refusal
of her brother TO allow her TO sacrifice her
self to his interests. That Helen and her
father were too much alike to agree was
well known, though their lives ran in such
different directions that they seldom
clashed. Mr. Charlington's time was spent
among the looms and spindles of his factory
TO which he would not wholly trust any
: overseer. His daughter was a social favor
ite. She enjoyed life of singular free
dom, and with abundance Of money at her
command, gathered about her in her
fathers house whatever friends she pleased
to select. Mr.. Charlington was glad TO
see any display which could be made with
his money, although too busy IN making
more to take time for any comfort of his
wn.
Helen, after her engagement to Doctor
Bolton, found herself for the first time in
her life in q position where she was occa-
sionany called upon for some self -sact tifce.
For this her previous life had wholly un-
fitted her Much as she loved Warren
Bolton, the new relation between them had
not existed six weeks before they had
many stormy times and words He was
popular young physician, with a large
practice among the mill operatives, and
Helen, though neither jealous nor capri
cious woman; was exacting and unreasOn-
able. She ignored thepoverty and wretched-
ness Of the world. That there was good
deal or it she knew IN a vague. general
sort of way for Doctor Bolton. he was
content TO have Il 50. II would have been
his first instinct TO shield her from any
thing d'sagreeable OF painful had she
needed such protection. But for himself
he reserved the night Of ministeripg TO the
afflicted, asking no help in hIs work, but
submitting TO no interference. His own
comfort and convenience he was always
ready to sacrifice 70 her, that Of bis
patients, even the poorest among them
never and slight as the causes of their
quarrels had been, they involved a prin-
ciple vital to both
The old New England fashion Of a
Thanksgiving dinner had always been held
In the Charliugton family, and Helen's in
vited guests always made a gala day Of
what would have been in Seth Charling-
toms house very sombre festival. On
this particular occasion shc had arranged
little different programme. The preced .
ing summer Mr. CharlingtOn had built a
fine cottage on the bluffs by the seaside,
five miles south Of Riverford. and 1t was
Helen's fancy TO invite the guests, who at
different times bad soiOurned there with
her, TO Thanksgiving party by the side
Of the sea. Her father humOred what he
called one Of her many unaccountable
whims. The sleigbDg was fine, the
weather perfect, and it wOull have been
hard TO end a merrier party than the one
assembled at the ocean at that unaccus-
toned geason. But Dr. Bolton was absent
Helen had not waited for him. She had
received a note from him before they left
the city, saying that business detained
him, and he should, If possible, drive down
to the cottage later I'm the day. She was
terribly annoyed at the disappointment.
She had always mads Thanksgiving her
greatest holiday of the year, aud never be-
fore had anything occurred to mar its
pleasure.
'Heartless and selfish where ] am con.
cerned, was the feeling with which she
crushed IN her hand the little note. Il wa.
surely tOo brief and curt to be loverlike,
that was true, but Helen refused 20 con
mder under wnat painful pressure IL wal
probably written.
The whole day passed without his ap