Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-02-16
TRUE IN SPITE OF ALL.


Jack Renshaw never knew how fast
he was going down hill until he was
black-balled when he sought admission
10 the Upper Crust Club. That stung
him to the quick, lalt he had still too
much money left from the ample patri-
mony which he had been recklessly
squandering these past three wears, for
the lesson to take full salutary effect
He had only to appear behind his sorrel
team on the river road to obtain grac-
iOus recognition from the fashionable
hdbitues of the drive.
To be sure they might whisper that
he was a sadly dissipated fellow, that he
couldn't last long at the gait he was 20
ing, and similar hints of a fall from fay-
or. of which Jack, poor fellow! was just
getting a foretastc.
One morning when he was even more
haggard in his looks, and more reckless
in his driving than usual, he met pair
of soft compassionate blue eyes lifted to
his, and for the first time in his life OBJ
served how deicately pure and fair was
the face to which they belonged.
"Ihere goes II Girl who pities me- he
said TO himself II anything on earth
can save me. it is the influence of just
such gentle hearted creature as that"
The idea. having come into his mind.
stayed there Somehow the thought of
those eyes kept him away from tempta-
tion. and drew him very often within the
circle they shone on. until, rather alb
ruptly. and very quietly. Crystal Armt-
age became Mrs. Jack Renshaw. Jack
really had great hopes of himself, and
rs to thinking he might be doing any
great wrong to Crystal by taking her
destiny in his hands before trying HIM
self. he complacently fancicd that he
conferred a benefit. since She had been
dependent upon relatives, and had no
stipend of her own.
But habit is stern master. \ year
after his marriage, Jack was as deep as
ever in his old course, fast wreckng
physically and mentally. as well rs ruin
ing himself financially. but of this latter
fact, having always been careless re-
Tarding money matters, he was scarce.
" aware. CRYSTAL never complained;
she was unchanged. except that at times
4 II look of dreary suffering came into her
face. The social cdict which had threat
ened Jack had gradually gathered force,
until the Young couple were shut out
\ from such sympathy as former friends
might have given them; but now in his
time OF need. one who had scarcely been
friend in his old days. tool, an interest
& in Jack which the latter attributed
u wholly 10 his own good fellowship.
you've stood by me like brother,
il DIR. Luke. but wonder that YOU and
everyone else don give me up as a gone
case There's no use trying, no use be-
lieying in me; can't control myself
Jack was in bed, divided between the
aeonics of remorsc and wretched sick
ness which We're consequent upon his
last three DAYS spree. DR.. Luke was
Il attending him, a. he had done upon
& more than one occasion before.
Il don't know why You should stick
II by me- repeated Jack weakly.
Then I'll tell YOU said the doctor,
arousad from his usual professional
Il calm. 81 loved Crystal Armitage, and
had been ANYTHING but struggling
4 ,hysician with my own way TO make,
q believe might have won her As it
was, | never tried; but when the time
i came that her happiness depended on
YOU, ! made an effort to serve her in the
only way left 10 me- She has never
suspected this. but il IS beyond my
str5n,fh TO see the broken-hearted look
Won bavo bro,ob, to her face. and keep
silence Yon Win moi heed my warning
Of The dancer V,n incur. though tell
Won that another excess on the heels of
his one viii see YOU u dead man. 1t
could be no such great loss to either the
world ar vonrsejf perbaps. but why
can't I make Won feel your responsible
~ 10 herg''