South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1882-06-09

tSo, auu Iau everything which
young man could wish for, yet Dame
Rumor said that he WAS tired of a
bachelor life, and was looking for n
wife. Indeed, il was true that Robert
Work had paid the strictest attention
to Mise Jennie Hammond during the
previous winter, and society Was al
ready busy IN anticipating a wedding
IN the tall that would | Q in keeping
with the social status of the contract.
ing parties.
When Lille Herriott came 10 Iona.
Robert Work was at once struck with
her beauty. Her mistress was what
might be called apretty woman, but
the major portion of it WAS artificial.
Stripped OF her hnery she would have
been commonplace person. Her
maid. however, was different. Her
beauty WIS not OF the kind that re-
qnires artificial measures to bring it
out, but WAS only enhanced by the
simplicity of her dress.
AS Robert Work was q constan.
visitor to the cottage OF John Ham.
mond. and as Lille Ierriott WAS al.
ways attending her rnistress, he soon
began 10 take rs much, If not more.
interest III the maid than in the mis-.
tress. Jennie Hammond Was too full
OF conceit, too much impressed with
the idea that wealthy man like Rob
Work would never con descend TO look
at such an inferior person, except in
the light of Il human being, TO notice
tubs, and even Rob Work thought
that his interest in the maid was only
the outgrowth Of love for the mistress.
1t was q fact, though, that he lost
much OF the pleasure OF long strolIs
when Lille did not accompany them,
but il never dawned upon his mind
'.at he WAS in love with the girl.
One afternoon III July Rob Work
was lounging in the Iona Hotel, whcu
an old friend. by the name Of John
Harper, came in. They commenced
conversation, and il soon drif.ed 10 a
discussion of what the rich thought Of
the poor. Rob Work contended that
the rich, as rule, treated the poor
ana those IN humble circumstances in
accordance with the principles Of tile
Golden Rule, but john Harper differ.
ed with him. lie said that the rich.
especially those who had been poor
once themselves, invariably looked
down ON The poor, forgetting that they
we're sod S creatures, and as such en-
titled TO proper respect, and offered
to prove if. Rob Work, who had me-
yer known what poverty was, comba-
ted the idea, and dared John Harper
to prove it.
4 WILL said John Harper, 'and
through yourself, if you agree to do
what | say
Very WE'LL replied Rob; tell me
your plan
1t 10 this,' said JOHN Harper. You
Know how you are respected as rich
man. Now just try and see what these
friends Of yours would thin. Of you If
you were working for your living
How? asked the young book pub
Usher.
'Disguise yourself az book agent,
so that none ofyonr friends will know
you, aud go to them in that capacity.
See what treatment you will receive. ;
i will DO IT, said Rob. 1T will be
lots of fun. ] will 60 canvassing for
one OF my own hooks, and show You
by the number Of orders Ireceive that
my friends are not people who look
down on q nan solely because he has
to work for living. 1t will be q
good way Of killing time, too
The next day Rob Work left Iona
or the plea Of urgent business, and a
few days afterwar an elderly man.
dressed in shabby suit Of clothes.
came to tnat city. lie engaged board
at al humble cottage, aud gave il out
tiiai he was an agent engaged I'M the
canvass Of book published by Work
& 20. The next day lie started ont
on bis travels with a sample of the
book be was cGnvass.ng for. From
one house 70 another lie went, going
only TO the cottages Of the wealthy
people, who were we'll able 10 sub.
scribe tOr the book he WAS ceiling
Hl5 elGcTly gentleman was none o.
Their than Robert WORK. so efsc.ual-
~ disguised that hjsown brother could
not have recognized him. To say
That lie was tlunder5truck az the treat.
ment he received, would be putting It
far too mildly People whom be lad
always been led TO believe were cbari,
table aud benevolent, slammed The
door ia his face, and those who listen
cd long enough TO hear a sorrowful
story told by him Of how the sale Of
the book was the only thing ne bad to
keep starvation away from bis door.
actually laughed at him, and told him
70 20 20 the poor.house. These were
the people whose names abOnc out on
subscription Isis for charitable objects
OF o fashionable nature, and Rob could
not understand it, At last he made
q tour Of the houses o. the people IN
CoUuarafively humble circnrpst,pco,