The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1881-05-07
A ROMANCE OF LABOR.
AN ENGLISH STORY,

Ihefollowing true incident was brought
to my remembrance while listening to
the rebelllous words of young man,
who could not see his fathers wisdom in
desiring him to learn q trade.
=" 1t Will make a common man of me
father, he said ENORMOUSLY; 81 shall be
as dirty as a blacksmith and have hands
like cOal-heayer."
"And If you think, Fred, that wearing
tine clothes and having white hands
make you gentleman, let me tell you,
sir, that you are a very common mau to
| begin with. a good trade might help
you to trIer notions of gentlemanhoOd. -
Then l looked at the handsome Young
feliow-for he was handsome-and
thought just now of Steve Gaskill. Steve
had made his mark now, but MANY wears
ago l heard just such talk between him
| and old Josiah Gaskill, relative to the
young man learning his fathers trade of
a wool stapler
4" It's dirty business, father" said the
splendid Steve, in full evening dress,
land l hate the smellof oil and the sight
of these men IN blue linen blouses. [
hope that [ shall do something better for
myself than that. 4"
every well, lad, what is it thou'd fain
to be?"
ga lawyer, father"
"They're naught but lazy, quarrel
some set, but thou shalt not say ever
stood in the gate. Be a lawyer, lad,
I'll speak to Denham tomorrow about
thee. .
So young Steve was articled to Den
ham Il DOwness to study law, especially
! conveyancing. He was an only son, but
! had three sisters, and over them and his
mother he exercised supreme influence
Whatever Steve did was right, what
ever he said was beyond dispute. Even
old Josiah, with all his sound sense, was
IN spite of himself swayed by the undis-
! puted acknowledgment of Steve's super
lorlty. lie would not advise his son to
! be lawyer, but seeing that Steve was
not afraid to be one, he was rather proud
| Of the lads pluck and ambition.
1t cost them a good deal. Steve's
/ tastes were expensive, aud he fell natur-
/ ally among class of men who led him
| into many eXtravagances. There were
occasionally awkward scenes, but Steve,
supported by his mother and sisters, al
ways cleared every scrape, and finally
satisfied the family pride by being regu-
! larry admitted upon the role of her ma
! jesty's attorneys.
/ In the meantime his father had been
/ gradually failing III health; soon after
/ this ne died. Most of his savings had
been secured for the helpless women of
the Gaskill family, and Steve now found
! myself with a profession and thousand
! pounds to give him a fair start in it.
1 People said old Gasl1iil had acted very
wisely, and Steve had sense enough to
acquiesce in public opinion. He knew,
too, that as long as his IA other or sisters
had shilling they would share it with
him.
SO he hopefully opened an Office in
his native town Of Leeds, and waited for
! clients. But Yorkshire men are proven
| biaLly cautious; a young lawyer was not
! their ideal. Steve could not look crafty
! and wise under any circumstances, and
! that first year he did not make enough
to pay his rent.
Nevertheless he did not in any way
curtail his expenses; and when the sum
mer holidays arrived, he went as usual to
a fashionable watering place 1t hap
pened that year saw the debut Of Miss
! Elizabeth Braithwaite, a great heiress
and a very handsome girl. Steve was at
tracted by her beauty, and her great
wealth was not drawback in his eve.
| In short time he perceived that Miss
Bralthwalte favored him above all other
| pretenders to her hand, and he began to
consider the advantages of q rich wife.
His profession had hitherto been a
failure; his one thousand pounds was
nearly spent his three sisters were all
on the point OF marriage, a condition
which might seriously modify THEN
sisterly instincts, and his mothers annual
income wouldn't support him a month
would 1t not be the best plan to accept
the good fortune so evidently within bis
reach ?
Elizabeth was handsome and inclined
TO favor him, and though she had the
reputation Of being authoritive in tenn
per and economical III money matters, he
did not doubt that she would finally ac-
knowledge his power as completely as
his mother and sisters. SO he set him
self to win Miss Braithwaite, and before
Christmas they were married
True, he had been compelled to give
up a great deal more than he liked but
he promised himself plenty OF post-mar-
ital compensations. Elizabeth insisted
on keeping her own house, and as Steve
had really no house to offer her, he must
needs go To Braithwaite Hall as the hus-
band OF its proprietress. She insisted
upon his removing his office to Braith-
waite, small village, offering none O.
the advantages for killing time which 6
large city like Leeds did; and she haC
all her money scrJIpuloTsly settled OF
herself for her own use and under hel
control.
Steve felt very much as though his
wife had bought him, but for a little
while the eclat of having married a great
heiress. the bridal festivities and foreign
travel compensated for the loss OF his
freedom. But when they returned K
Braithwaite. life showed far more pro,
sale side. Mrs. GaSkilPs economical dis
, position became particularly offensive tc
Steve. She inquired closely into hi:
business. and did not scruple to MAKE
unpleasant witty remarks about his IN
; come. She rapidly developed, too, al
authoritative disposition, against which
Steve daily more and more rebelled
The young couple were soon very I'm
happy.
The truth was that a great transition
was taking place in Steve's mind, ans
times Of transition are always times o
unrest and misery. The better part O
his nature was beginning to claim hear
ing. He had now seen all that good so
cietv could show him; he had tasted al
/ I I :,