Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1881-06-09
LABOR LOST.


childhood and youth. Mark Ripon
had never known such women, and ]
offer this fact some palliation to'
his want of fat in them.
he was ignorant Of his parentage;
he haG been found one morning Oh
the steps OF the Foundation School III
Bqxtergate, Ripon: and as it was Oh
the festival OF st. Mark, he had re
ceived the name of the saint and the
name OF his native city, and been
Il lopted by the institution Whole
50 ne food, stout clothing and d.
cent trade had oeen given him by the
foundation, and in many respects h.
was felt to have done it hnnor, for,
alter fifty years credita1le citizen
ship. ne was one Of the Cathedral
cestry, sat in the Common Council o.
the ancient city which had adopted
him, and was said to be worth at least
$4,000.
But there is success which the
world sees littI- of-that Of the heart
and in this respect Mark Rlpon
was the veriest pauper. Ofthe nurses
and matrons who had been arour d
his earliest years he had not one ten
der memory; none OF them had fed
the hunger OF his heart. He had 10
home, no mother, no sister. The
school had been simply place III
which 10 eat, sleep, and learn.
Unfortunately, when the lad fell il
love, it was with pretty hrt. in6n.
itely more heartless than himself Blu,
Marks love had been cruelty deceiv
ed and Knocked, and, when he had
come out Of his chagt-in and sorrow,
he had confirmed belief in the gea
eral and natural unfaithtuiness e
women. Popular maxins and tests
confirmed him every day in his idea,
and. Ike most Englishmen, having
once avowed this as his opinion, eve
" reiteration of his owa idea WAS 4
fresh confirmation OF it.
But he had many friends among
his own sex. Men generally spoke
OF him as crlisty old bachelor, but
otherwise as well-to. do, shrewd and
honorable old fellow. Chief among
these was young George Downes, the
child of the only companion his boy
hood had ever known, and his own
godson. II Mark R,pon loved any
human being. it was George Downes
though the latter, as he grew to man
hood, gave him a great deal OF ankle
ty, for George preferred the society
Of women and would not credit Marx ;
positive assurances Of their universal
falseness and unworthiness.
One moonlight night, as Mark wa:
coming from vestry meeting, ne ne'
George in the cathedral close, and OF
his arm was very beautiful girl
The old man looked very ansrily ant
,ioubtiully at the pretty face lifted t'
his tavorite :. TIE bright moonbeam
touched her long fair curls. and mad
the veil round them like glory
Mark remembered Just such lovely
innocent face to hi-, aud ne had n'
doubt that this girl would be as falls
to George as pretty Fanny Maitb!
had been to hin.
George, however, wonld not be per
suaded to doubt her. Then Mar!
offered to p y lis expenses It h
would go abroad and travel for tw'
wears; but George said he had got
situation in bank. and preferred /
say at home. The young man, Il
Marks eyes. was bent on ruinlu
himself, and in a few weeks he cele
br.ted his wedding, with an ela5o
rate rejoicing that reused the OIL
mans bltterest contempt.
George fully expected that now Il
would be ignored, and probably los
sny chances that he might have ha
of inheriting his god fathers wealth
But Mark vas unlike the generai1
OF men in many respects. andln non
more than in his behavior to th
Young man who had so fagrantl
d;sregarded all his advices and Fl
treaties.
He redoubled his care over hin
and watched all his movements wit
a constantly increasing interest /
iact, he did not blame George : t al
he regarded him as one who, IN Il
unfortunate hour, had fallen into tn
hands of a power which was too gres
fer him. lie pitied the happy bride
groom, and resolved as soon as po
sible to release him from the tolls
woman who had charmed and Ell
slaved him.
In vain Georges wife smiled opo
and entertained Mark Ripon. II
visited hsr house, indeed, for it "s
necessary to watch her movement
bnt neither smiles, o. songs, or after
tons, moved Mark. He had go1
through that delnsicn once, and We
not to De deceived again. 1t was on
great point of favor that George ha