The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1881-06-16
ONLY ONE FAULT.

You may sec II IN GREENWOOD GENE.
terry. 4 splendid tombstone with a
woman's name upon il. Not Ruth Holly
though that is the name under which
,on shall know hcr--but prouder
name, and one you may have heard
Flowers grow about her tomb, and the
turf lies softly over 1t. You would
scarcely guess her life and it's sad end
as YOU stood there. Rather would you
fancy that love and tenderness sur
rounded one over whom such piles Of
scnlptured marble rears itself from her
birth unto her death.
II il story such as ! seldom write
this life Of hers--one that can not be
ended by happy reunions and the sweet
sound of marriage bells; but there are
too many such stories in the world to
he quietly passed over, haply there be
any warning in them. The lives Of others
are, If we read them rightly, the best
sermons ever preached, and this Of Ruth
Holly's is only too true. Yet it began
very sweetly, like some old pastoral
poem. She loved and was beloved again,
md the man she loved had only one
fault. He was young, he was brave, he
was witty, he WAS handsome, he was
generous: his hive was devotion, his
friendship no lukcwarm thing Of words;
lie had great talent and great power.
His elolnencc had thrilled many an au-
dience worth the thrilling. What he
wrote touched the soul tothe very quick.
He was All amateur painter and musician
and everywhere was loved and honored
and admired. He had only one fault in
the world-he drank too much wine at
times. When he did SO he turned, so
said convivial friends. into very demi-
god. II was wrong, but not 80 bad rs
might have been, and he would SOW his
wild oats some dry, they said, loving
him Ms his friends all loved him; and so
Ruth thought. Sweet, loving, beautiful
Ruth, to whom he lad plighted his troth
and VIC oel in verse and song and with
his most eloquent eyes long before he
put his passion into words; but SO did
not think Ruth Holly's father. This
one fault Of Edward Holly's over
Swallowed his virtue in his eyes, and
he refused him his daughters hand,
giving him the reason why plainly and
not kindly.
"You'll be . drunkard yet, Ned
Holly" said the old man, shaking his
head, earnestly. 'sl've seen men Of
genius 60 the same road before. I've
often said I'd rather have no talent in
my family. since it seems to lead SO
surely to dissipation. My sons are not too
brilliant 10 be sober men, thank heaven,
and as for my daughter, only sober
man shall have her for a wife; you'd
break her heart, Ned Holly"
So the dashing man Of letters felt
himself insulted and rctorted hotly, aud
the two were enemies.
Ruth suffered bitterly. She loved hel
father, and she loved Edward. To disol,ey
her parent, or 10 break her lovers heart
seemed the only choice offered her. She
had other lovers. abe had seen much
society. and had been introduced TO the
highest circles in France as well M il
England, but amongst all the men she
had known mono pleased her NJ Edward
Holly did. Not what one STYLES an in,
tellectual woman herself, abe reverenced
intellect. and her affections were in
tense. The struggle in her heart was
terrible.
She met with her lover by stealth,
against her fathers will, hut for q long
while she resented his entreaties e
marry him in defiance of her fathers
refusal. At last, angered by her per.
sistence in obedience. Edward accused
her Of fearing to share the fortunes 81
one comparatively poor--one who must
carve his own way up life's steep hill
without assistance The nn,nerited re.
p~ach sunk deeply into her warm heart,
aud in sudden impulse Of tenderness
and sympathy she gave him the promise
he had SO long sought in vain. They
were married that evening, and before
morning were upon their way 10 far.
of city, where Edward, sangnine and
conscious Of power. believed that he
should make for himself name aud
position Of which any woman might Ii
proud. 10 her father Ruth wrote q
long letter. imploring his forgiveness
but the answer crushed all hope within
her hosom.
: As you now SOW, SO must you reap,
were the words her father wrote. 81
have no longer q daughter, and Rutl
knew that henceforth tor shc had heen
motherlcss for yearsl she had in all thu
world Qnly-the brs..sand for whom al.
mad sacrificed fortune, and what is wortl
far more, the tender protection Of
father.
In those early days Edward did hi,
best to make amends for all, and sh,
was so proud Of him and 30 fond Of hin
that she soon forgot to grieva
ShX heard his mama ntkara1N -, ~x~s -.
BY all. She knew that hc had hut L
keep steadily on. 10 mount 10 fhe proud
est seat in flames high temple. and for
year she had no fear Of his faltering
Now and then feverish something i,
his voice and manner, strange light il
his eyes. = greater flow Of eloquence il
his talk, more passionate demonstra
ton Of love for her than usual, told tina
he was under the influence Of wine. bn
the fact only seemed to enhance his powc
offascination. Never was he SO brilliant
never 80 handsome. Almost could Rntl
have laughed ut the sermons preache.
by the temperance folks Of the harm sur,
to follow wine-drinking.
II the story could end here, the tru,
story OF Ruth Hollv''s life. ii would b.
"sAAASFs ssaFlv 0HGs 1NS AANSs tile SUNNY
slope adown which il seemed SO easy /.
slide, daily grew darker ~ the years ilev
on. How they began to tell her the fate
before her. Ruth hardly knew.
A little flush Of shame came first whe,
his step was unsteady and his voice 10.
loud Then grieved tear or two whel
he was unreasonable. Then sorrow
that kept her heart aching night an,
day, for the man who first won inspir
alton from the glass now los! il in il
depths; lectures to he delivered were no
given 70 the expectant public because
''of the llness Of the lecturer"
Ruth knew what that illness meant
and tried TO hide il. Literary work wa.
neglected also. Money was lost tina
might have been easily won. Debt.
grew and credits lessened, the handsome
snite Of rooms WAS exchanged for one
quite shabby. Ruth's dress became
poverty-sxioksn. her husband VA ouI