The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1881-09-01

"Charity, kind sir! Ny poor children
are starvingp
The speaker was q thinly-clad woman,
who shivered in the wintry blast. for ii
was January, and the keen flosty air
penetrated even the warm garments of
the rich
The gentleman addressed was q man
Of perhaps thirty-five, rich and pros
porous man, who hoped soon to become
still more rich and prosperous through
an alliance with the fair girl at his side.
"Poor woman !" said Isabel Howard
compassionately. "I have left my
purse at home. Walter, am sure you
will relieve her distress
"Of course I will, mydarling. Here.
poor woman, take that, and may it do
you good"
As he spoke he drew from his pocket
half sovereign, and put it into the ex-
tended hand of the applicant.
The poor woman's heart bounded
with JOY, for she had hoped for but six
pence at the best, and ten shillings
seemed to her positive wealth.
"Heaven bless your generous hearth"
she exclaimed with heartfelt gratitude
"Thank you," said Walter Barton,
graciously.
Isabel rewarded him with beaming
smile.
lam glad you gave the poor crea-
osity. don't think could esteem or
respect mean man"
1--WE think alike on that subject, my
darling said Walter. "Inever can re-
fuse to give, even if I suspect the object
may be unworthy. It makes me happy
to make others happy"
Another beaming glance from Isabel.
81 love you all the better for that,
dear Walter" she said in low voice.
"On the WHOLE" thought Parton,
"my ten shillings are good investment,
though Ican't help grudging it to the
beggar. When Isabel becomes Mrs.
Barton, and 1 get hold of her hundred
| thousand pounds, l shan't give many
half-sovereigns to beggars. For the
present it's policy to be generous.
Of course Isabel could not read the
thoughts of the man at her side. She
believed him genuine philanthropist,
while, in reality, he was a mean, selfish
hard-hearted man, yet with tact
enough to overcome these traits for
the sake''of making favorable impress
sion upon the heart of the heiress.
| Isabel Howard was an orphan, and
the absolute mistress of hundred
thousand pounds-no small fortune for
girl of nineteen. Buther fortune was
by no means her chief attraction. She
was beautiful, sweet-tempered, accom-
| pEshed, and her heart was animated
by the most generous charity. She had
a regular list of pensioners, and would
have found it impossible to refuse an
applicant who was in need. Doubtless
she had often given to unworthy objects,
but such mistakes rebound to the credit
of those who make them.
As Isabel said, she would have found
it impossible to respect or esteem a
mean man. Thus far, Walter Barton
had succeeded in conseaing his real
character from her, but the time was
coming when it would be revealed.
Whenever he was with her he gave hber-
ally to any who asked for charity, but
at his warehouse he would have repulsed
them with hard and bitter words. He
kept large clothing establishment in
Manchester, but Isabel, who lived in
the suburbs, had never been there, and
knew absolutely nothing of him in his
business relations.
Of course there were many who court
ed the favor of the young and beautiful
heiress, but there was only one who
came near being the rival of the sue
cessful suitor. This was DIR. Percy
Elgin, young physician, who had re-
Gently established himself in the city,
and was having hard struggle to gel
into lucrative practice, being poor
and without powerful friends. But he
was essentially neble, of good figure,
with q frank open face, and unusually
able and intelligent. Success with him
was only matter Of time.
When he saw the rich trader preferred
to him, he quietly withdrew, disappoint
ed, but too honorable to sttempt to re-