The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1881-09-08
A ROMANCE OF LABOR.

brought TO my feInefn Drance While lISi
ening to the rebelious words of younj
man who could not see his fathers wis
dom in desiring him to learn a trade.
ct will make a common man of me
father" he said querelously: 81 shall
be as dirty as blacksmith, and hav
hands like a coal HEAVIER
"And if you think, Fred, that wear
ing fine clothes and having white hand
make you gentleman, let me tell you
sir, that you are very common MAJ
to begin with. A good trade Nigh
help you to truer notions of gentleman
hood"
Then looked at the handsome young
fellow for he was handsome-and
thought just now of Steve Gaskill
Steve had made his mark now, bu1
many years ago | heard just such tall
between him and old Josiah Gaskill, re
latiye to the young man learning his
fathers trade OF a wool stapler.
ITS dirty business, father" said
the splendid Steve, in full evening
dress, land i hate the smell of oil and
the sight of these men in blue linen
blouses. | hope that | shall do some
thing better for myself than that"
very well, lad, what is it thou'd
fam to be ?"
ga lawyer, father.
'tThey're naught but a lazy, quarrel
some set; but thou shalt not say that |
stood in the gate. Be a lawyer I'll
| speak to Denham tomorrow about
| thee"
So young Steve was articled to Den
ham q Downess to study law, especially
conveyancing. He had three sisters,
cised supreme influence.
Whatever Steve did was right, what
ever he said was beyond dispute. Even
old Josiah, with all his sound sense,
was i'll spite of himself swayed by the
undisputed acknowledgment of Stoves
superiority He would not have adj
vised 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 Stoves
tastes were expensive and he fell ma
turally among class of men who led
him into many e4trayagancea. There
were occasionally awkward scenes, hut
Steve, supported by his mother and
sisters, always cleared every scrape and
finally satisfied the family pride by be-
ing regularly admitted upon the roll of
her majesty's attorneys.
In the meantime his father had been
gradually failing in health; soon after
this he died Most of his savings had
been secured fof the helpless women of
the Gaskill family, Steve now found
himself with profession and a thous-
and pounds to give him fair start in
it. People said old Gaskill had acted
very wisely, and Steve had sense enough
to acquiesoe in public opinion. He
knew, too, that as long as his mother
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
prov c. c' ball cautious; young lawyer
was not their ideal. Steve could not
look crafty and wise under any eircum-
stances, 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
happened that year he saw the debut Of
Miss Elizabeth Rrathwaite, great heir
ess and q very handsome girl. Steve was
attracted by her beauty, and her great
wealth was not drawback in his eye.
In short time he perceived that Miss
Braithwaite favored him above all 9th
er pretenders to her hand, and he be-
gan to consider the advantages of a
rich wife.
His profession had hitherto been a
failure his one thousand pounds were
nearly spent; his three sisters were all
on the point of marriage, a condition
which might seriously modify their sis
terly instincts, and his mothers income
wouldn't support him month
wouldn't it 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 authoritative in
temper and economical in money mat
tiers, be die not doubt that she would
finally acknowledge his power as COM
pletelY as his mother and sisters. So
he set himself to win Miss Braithwaite,
and before Christmas they were mar
ried.
True, he had been compelled to give
up great deal more than he liked, but
he promised himself plenty of post
marital eompensations. Elizabeth in
sisted ON keeping her own house, and
as Steve had really no house to offer
her, he must needs go to Braithwaite
hall as the husband OF its proprietress.
She insisted on his removing his office
to Braithwaite, small village, offering
none of the advantages for killing time
which a large village like Leeds did; |
and she bad all her money scrupuluosly
settled on herself for her own use and |
under her control.
Steve felt very much as though his |
wife had bought him, but for little |
while the eelat of marrying a great |
heiress, the bridal festivities and foreign /
travel compensated for the loss of his /
freedom. But when they returned to
Braithwaite, life showed far more /
prosaic side. Mrs. GaskilFs economical /
disposition became particularly offensive
to Steve. She inquired closely into his
business and did not scruple to make +
unpleasant witty remarks about his in
come. She rapidly developed, too, an
authoritive disposition, against which
Steve daily more and more rebelled.
The young couple were soon very un-
happy.
The truth was that great transit
ton was taking place IN sleeves mind,
and times of transition are always times
of unrest and misery. The better part
Of his nature was beginning to claim
hearing. He had now seen all that good
society could show him he had tasted
all the pleasures money could buy, and
he was unhappy.
She had no ennui and no dissatisfac- /
lion with herself There was her large
house 70 oversee. her garden and con-
her servants and charity II
schools. her toilet and whole colony Of
pet animals Her days were too short
sr . u fl1a small infrrezfz IloSl 4hn