Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-08-18
LABOR LOST.

There is scarcely anything more I'M
fortunate for man than the absence OF
loving women around his childhood and
youth. Mark Ripon had never known
such women, and | offer this fact as some
palliation for his want of faith III them.
He was ignorant of his parentage; he
had been found one morning on the steps
of the Foundation School III Baxtergate,
Ripon; and rs it was on the festival of
st. Mark, he had received the name of
the saint and the name of his native
city, and been adopted 10y the institu-
ton Wholesome food, stout clothing
| and decent trade had been given him
by the foundation and in many respects
he was felt to have done it honor, for
after fifty years creditable citizenship
he was one of the Cathedral vestry, sat
in the Common Council of this ancient
city which had adopted him, and was
said to be worth at least ESQ, 900.
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, no sister.
The school had been simply place in
which to o"t, ploeP ana learn.
Unfortunately, when the lad fell in
love, it was with pretty tiirt, infinitely
more heartless than himself. But
Marks love had been deceived and
Knocked, and, when he had come out OF
his chagrin and sorrow, he had con-
firmed belief in the general and natural
unfaithfulness of women. Popular max
inns and tests 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
fresh confirmation of it.
But he had many friends among his
own sex. Men generally spoke of him
as crusty old bachelor, bat otherwise
as O well-to-do, shrewd and honorable
old fellow. Chief among these was
young George Downes, the child of the
only companion his boyhood had ever
known, his own godson. If Mark Ripon
loved any human being, it was George
Downes, though the latter, as he grew
to manhood. gave him a great deal of
anxiety, for George preferred the society
of women, and would not credit Marks
positive assurances of their universal
falseness and unwerthiness.
One moonlight night, as Mark was
coming from vestry meeting, he met
George in the cathedral close, and on
his arm was a very beautiful girl. The
old man looked very angrily and doubt
| fully at the pretty face lifted to his IA
vorites. The bright moon-beams touched
her long fair curls, and made the veil
round them like glory. Mark remem-
bered just such lovely, innocent face
to his, and he had no doubt that this
girl would be as false to George as pretty
Fanny Maltby had been to him.
George, however, would not be per-
suaded to doubt her. Then Mark offered
to pay his expenses if he would go
abroad and travel for two years; but
George said he had got situation in a
bank, and preferred to stay at home.
The young man, in Marks eyes, was
bent on running himself, and in few
weeks he celebrated his wedding, with
an elaborate rejoicing that reused the
old mans bitterest contempt
George fully expected that now he
would be ignored, and probably lose any
chances that he might have had of in
heriting his godfather wealth. But
Mark was unlike the generality of men
in many respects, and in none more than
in his behavior to the young man who
had SO fagrantly disregarded all his
advices and entreaties.
He redoubled his care over him, and
watched all his movements with a con-
stantly increasing interest. In fact, he
did not blame George at all; he regarded
him as one who, in an unfortunate hour,
had fallen into the hands of a power
which was too great for him. He pitied
the happy bridegroom, and resolved as
soon as possible to release him from the
tolls of woman who had charmed and
enslaved him.
In vain Georges wife smiled upon and
entertained Mark Ripon. He visited her
house, indeed, for it was necessary to
watch her movements; but neither smiles
lnor songs, nor attentions moved Mark.