The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1881-11-10

out thinking Of them. How rare it i
in human affairs that there is no
some one who must give up to tht
others, some one who must sacrifice
himself or be sacrificed! And the one
to whom this lot falls is always tht
one who will do it; that is the rule, 81
far as my observation goes. There
are some whom nature moves thai
way. who cannot stand upon theil
rights, who are touched by the claim:
of others and can make no stanG
against them. The tools to those
that can handle them, as our philoso.
pher saws: and likewise the sacrifices
of life to him who will bear them
Refuse them, that is the only way
but if it is not in your nature to re.
fuse them, what can you do? Alas
for sacrifice is seldom blessed. | an
saying something which will sound
almost impious to many. Human life
is built upon it, and social order; YET
personally in itself it is seldom blessed
it debases those who accept it; il
harms even those who, without will
fully accepting it, have a dim percep-
ton that something is being done fol
them which has no right to be done
It may, perhaps cannot tell bear
fruit of happiness in the hearts Of
those who practice it. I cannot tell.
Sacrifices are as often mistaken as 9th
er things. Their divineness does not
make them wise. Sometimes, looking
back, even the celebrant will perceive
that his offering had better not have
been made.
All this was gUing sadly through
my mind when perceived that some
one was passing slowly, endeavoring
to attract my attention. By this time
it was getting towards evening-and
as soon as 1 was fully reused I saw
that it was John Ridgway. lie could
have avoided him | should have done
so, but now it was not possible; |
made him sign to come upstairs.
He came into the drawing-room slow
ly, with none Of the eagerness that
there had been in his air on the previ-
GUS day, and it may easily be believed
that on my side was not eager to see
him to tell him my story. He came
and sat down by me, swinging his
stick in his usual absent way, and for
minute neither Of US spoke.
''You do not ask me if [ have any
news for you; you have seen Elem
mo; it is only because | have news
on my side. [ am not going after
all"
''You are not going!'
"You are disappointed" he said,
looking at me with face which was
full Of interest and sympathy. These
are the only words I can use. The
disappointment was his, not mine; yet
he was more sympathetic with my
feeling about it than impressed by his
own. GAS for me, don't seem to
care. It is better in one way, if it is
worse in another. 1t stops any rise
in life; but what do l care for a rise
in life? they would never have let me
take Ellen. l knew that even before
| saw it in your eyes,"
ELLEN ought to Judge for herself. "
said, land you ought to Judge for
yourself. You are Of full age; you
are not boy and girl. No parents
have a right to separate you now.
And that old man may go on just the
same for the next dozen years"
"Did you see him?" John asked.
He had a languid, wearied look, scarce
ly lifting his eyes.
II saw only her; but I know per-
fectly well what kind of man he is.
He may live for the next twenty years.
There is no end to these tyrannical,
ill-tempered people; they live forever
You ought to judge for, yourselves
If they had their daughter settled
near, coming to them from her own
pleasant little home, they would be a
great deal happier. You may believe
me or not, but [ know it. Her visits
would be events; they would be proud
of her, and tell everybody about hel
family, and what a good husband she
had got, and how he gave her every
thing she could desire"
''Please God," said John devoutly
his countenance had frightened il
spite Of himself. But then he shool
his head. IF we had got as far a:
that" he said.
"You ought to take it into your owl
hands," cried I, in all the fervor of ;
revolutionary. ''If you sacrifice you
happiness to them, it will not do then
any good; it will rather do them harm
Are you, going now to tell you
He had got up on his feet, and stoo(
vaguely lowering over me with a fain
smile upon his face. "She will b,
pleased" he said; mo advancement
but no separation. have not mucl
ambition; l think | am happy too"
"Then, if you are all pleased"
cried, with annoyance which [ coult
not restrain, "why did you send me Oh
such an errand? l am the only on
that seems to be impatient of th
present state of affairs, and it is nom
of my business. Another time yol
need not say anything about it to me.
"There will never be time whel
we shall not be grateful to you, SAT-
John; but even his mild look of ap
pealing reproach did not move me. |
is hard to interest yourself in peopl
and find after all that they like thei
own way best.
CHAPTER VI.
He was quite right in thinking Ell
len would be pleased. And yet, afte
it was all over, she was little wound
ed and disappointed, which was yer