Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1882-11-04
ROMANCE GF A RICH GIRL.

NJ. Coupon was a wealthy New York
merchant doing an extensive business.
Upon that account he was much re-
spected by his fellow men. ana equally
respected by himself de had two
children, a son and d daughter, the
former q young man of twenty-five, who
occasionally helped him in his business
in that condescending and amateurish
manner which the sons of rich men
usually employ.
The daughter was just eighteen, q
Tavishing blonde, named Eudora, whose
golden hair and violet eyes had been
the unconscious means of having an eX-
quisite bouquet, from an unknown ad
mirer, sent to her every day in the
week, even Sunday not excepted.
Eudora idealized into hero the un-
known sender-for hero she was certain
he must be. Without any cause for
doing so, she connected him with an in-
cident which had occurred during the
previous summer, while she was staying
at Cape May.
Accustomed to crafty every caprice,
and wooed by the loveliness OF the sum-
mer night, she had set out late one
evening to visit friend, driving along
the starlit sands, and accompanied only
by her fathers coachman. A sudden
| thunderstorm came up. The sky black
ened. The horses became frightened
at the increasing noise of the surge of
the sea. The driver, losing his pres
ence of mind, endeavored in vain to
stop them.
When within q few yards of her
friends house. the carriage was over
turned. and Eudora would have been
dragged along and probably crushed to
death. had not man, lettering near,
suddenly dashed forth and stopped the
terrified steeds. handed them over to the
now partly recovered driver, and res
cued Eudora, unhurt Just IN time to
place her in the hands 0f her alarmed
friends, who hurried anxlously from
their house. She turned to thank her
deliverer, but he was gone. In the
darkness she had not seen him. There
was no clue by which he might be
recognized in the future. She was
young lady given to romance, and the
consequence was that she dreamed OF
him in her heart.
The great rival of Mr.. Coupon in
business was man of thirty, who had
raised himself from nothingness, and
whose character, strange to say, was as
blameless as his reputation. BY one of
those eaprices in which the creative
force so often indulges, this gentleman,
with a disposition rs sunny as Skye
terriers, rejoiced in the name of
Radiance. He was unmarried and
wealthy, and was apparently troubled
with nc kins men, either rich or poor.
Yet none Of the men with whom he
transacted business asked him to their
houses, lone Of them had any inter-
course with him beyond that necessi-
tated by commercial affairs. But ell
spoke highlg of him, ali esteemed him,
and there was not one who, at some
time or othe-, had not been indebted to
him for financial aid.
Perhaps it was this which made Mr..
Radiance inly sorrowful, notwithstand-
ing the natural gsyety of his tempera-
ment and the abundant glow of cheer
fulness he diffused. Ha was singularly
handsome, with frank and open look,
and a complexion which, for fiawlessness
and delicacy, any woman might have
envied. His manners might have been
| y
read, spoke several languages, and was
accomplished in manly pastimes. Miss
Eudora Coupon, on the few occasions
when she visited her fathers establish
ment, and Mr.. Radiance happened to be
there, had not faile to remark the
athletic perfection his figure and
bearing. Onceher mot ar, who chanced
to be with her during Iheir downtown
visit, remarking the passing glance
Eudora had bestowed, sa d to her in a
half whisper:
at is q pity, isn't it p
eyes" answered Eudo-a, ga great
pity" and Immediately forgot the object
of her compassion, as IS the custom of
the children of the world.
Evidently there was sonnet ainp about
Mr.. Radiance tha' people u5 lot
stand. Why, for IN tca. og.d Mr..
Coupon have been or intimate au ees
terms with him for gears aid
he be indebted to hin for hayna ce
been saved from fallur and et never
once have asked bin to g house nay,
have even shuddered at the mere idea {?
Why should many OF Mr.. Coupons
business friends hold the same relations
| toward Radiance, and have recolied
from taking him into their homes, as if
he were aleper?
Plainly there was something in this
man-something beneath and beyond
character (which rendered social n'er-
course with him repellant IN the high
est degree. Was il really trne that his
character was as good as hls reputl-
ton Was there no hidden crime atoned
for perhaps, yet leaving behind it an
indelible scar ? Had he once been n
convict Was he ticket-of-leave man
Notwithstanding his grace, his hand
someness. his culture, did he not bear
with him that forlorn and terrible
aspect which those sustain who have
known the silence Of a cell, the horror
of the iock-step, the loathing and the
degradation of serving out term?
Upon a certain day Mr., Coupon was