Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1882-11-04

ness men who run along the road of life
at break neck speed. Radiance was the
only man upon whose help he could
derend. To Radiance accordingly he
went, and explained bis situation, set
ting forth that he needed loan of very
large amount.
Mr.. Radiance listened to him calmly.
The two men were alone in the little
office. the door of which was closed.
"WeIl," said Radiance, who seemed
to be more than usually cheerful, "Il
help you."
''I knew You would" said Coupon.
"On one condition, continued RadI-
ance.
"Condition granted, answered Cou-
pom: ''vou are always reasonable.
'Yes, | am always reasonable" said
Radiance. "rhe money is ready for
you 9n condition"
"Go on, said Mr. Coupon, as Ra-
dance hesitated.
"On condition, repeated Radiance,
eyeiug Coupon steadily, "that you ask
me to dinner ct your house tonight. "
Mr.. Coupon sat stupefied.
Ask you to dinner-at my house? p
ne managed to gasp.
aye l will be sure to come" and
Radial. o. nodded his head slowly, as
though lac were anticipativ ely enjoying
the treat.
"You know 1 can't ask you" said
Mr.. Coupon, with his breath coming
very short.
81 am sorry can be of no service to
you to-day" said Mr.. Radiance, about
open the door.
'Stay," said Mr.. Coupon, breaking
into perspiration. "You know would
ask you if l could"
"And why not ?"
"You know why not.
81 am not in the least aware. Is
there spot upon my reputation ?"
"No."
care any of the men who frequent
your house better educated or better
hammered than myself?"
'Few as WELL
"I-I don't like to mention such a
thing, bat are you or are you not under
some slight obligation to me?"
Every great obligations.
"Then listen every day, for months
past, bouquet from an unknown per-
son has been left at your door for Miss
Coupon"
"How do you know that ?'
because / am the unknown who
sent it.
"You You dared ~ And Mr..
Coupon rose in his wrath as though to
lay violent hands upon this audacious,
yet innocent offender.
Eyes, and have dared to do n great
deal more. Do you remember last sum-
mer when Miss Coupon, driving at
night along the beach at Cape May, the
horses ran away, the driver became
frightened, the carriage W as overturned
and Miss Coupon would have been
crushed to death if had not stopped
the horses"
"You? You? You ?" and this time
Mr.. Coupon sank upon his chair, and
all the power of the vernacular seemed
to be condensed into the second person
plural of the pronoun.
eyes, / did that l wandered there
to be near her. l have saved from
death your child, whom I adore, yet at
whom l dare not cast glance. l love
her, oh with such passionate love, yet !
dare not breathe it to her even by o
look. And l have saved you, her father,
from what would be to you much worse
than death, since it would mean the
pangs of poverty. Yet you shudder
when L ask you to invite me to your
house. And why is it Because my
face is black. l am a negro !"
The silence in the little Office was
broken only by the sobs of the wretched
man who hid his face within his arms,
which were supported by his desk.
All was tragically true. Black as the
darkest of his race, yet with features so
Caucasian in their regularity that
white man might have envied it, the
fatality of his birth shut the door of
happiness upon him, and left him alone
amid the added curse of culture.
Mr.. Coupon sat paralyzed. This,
then, was the hero after whom his
daughter had secretly pined, whom
she had erected into a god, that her ro-
mantle imagination worshiped.
"We are obliged to you, infinitely
obliged" he said at last, rising. But
of course this ends everything. must
be ruined now."
Radiance took no notice of him. He
had raised his head and was writing
rapidly.
Good morning., said MIR. Coupon,
opening the door.
"Good morning" said Mr.. Radiance;
''but before you go, take this" and he
handed him n check for the amount
necessary to his salvation.
"No-no! 1 cannot, L must not ac-
cept it now "
"Take It," said Radiance. "With
that [ purchase the right to love your
daughter infinitely, in secret, and for
ever. l shall send her no more flowers,
and presently her curiosity will die.
Though this black skin makes me to
her creature less than human, my
soul can worship hers" He paused a
moment, then added:
"And you must never tell her"
"No-no, of course not, exclaimed
Coupon, grasping the check little
tighter. Good morning."
Then left alone, the black man NUT
tered, as one speaks in dream, Il
could bear anything ng-except-that she
should laugh I'-Ncv York Hour.