The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1883-09-15
"Go on" said Mr.. Coupon. as Radi.

go on" said Mr.. Coupon, as Radi.
ance hesitated.
'On condition." repeated Radiance.
eying Coupon steadily, ''that you ask
me to dinner at your house tonight"
Mr.. Coupon sat stupefed.
ASK you to dinner-at my house?'
he managed to gasp.
Yes; I will be sure 20 come" and
Radiance nodded his head slowly, as
though he were anticipatively enjoying
the treat.
''You know 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 to
open the door.
''Stay," said Mr.. Coupon, breaking
ask You if could"
''And why not?"
"You know why not"
''I am not in the least aware. Is there
q aspot on my reputation"
mo"
Are any of the men who frequent
your house better educated or better
hammered than myself"
Few as well.''
CT don't like to mention such a
thing, but are you or are you not under
some slight obligation to me?"
very great obligations"
Then isten-every day, for months
past. boquet has been left at your door
for Miss Coupon"
How do you know that?"
Because I am the unknown who
sent it."
"Youl You dared?" And Mr.. Cou-
pou rose il his wrath as though to lay
violent hands on this audacious, yet in
nooent offender.
"Yes, and have dared to do a 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 was overturned and Miss
Coupon would have been crushed to
death If l had not stopped the horses"
You? you? your" 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.
'Yes, did that; I wandered there to
be near her. / have saved from death
your child, whom I adore, yet at whom
/ dare not cast a glance. I love her. oh
with such passionate love, yet dare
not breathe it to her even by a look,
And 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 I ask
you to invite me to your house. And
why Is it! Because my face is black. I
am a negro"
The silence in the little Office was
broken only by the sobs of the wretched
man who had hid 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 a
white man might have envied it. the
fatality of his birth shut the door of hap.
| piuess from 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 erect
ed into god. that her romantic imagi.
nation worshiped.
"We are obliged to you, infinitely
obliged" he said at last, rising "But
Of course this. ends everything. I muss
be ruined now"
Radiance took no notice OF him, He
had raised his head and was writing rap
idly.
Good morning" said Mr.. Coupon,
opening the door.
GOOD morning." said Mr.. Radiance:
'but before you go take this" and he
handed him a check for the amount
necessary for his salvation.
"No-no? l cannot, I must not accept
it now"
Take it." said Radiance. with it
I purchase the right to love your daugh.
ter infinitely, in secret, and forever. I
shall send her no more flowers, and pres
emily her curiosity will die. Though
this black skin makes me to her crea.
ture less than human, my soul can wor-
ship hers" He paused a moment, then
added
''And you must never tell her"
Mono. of course not" exclaimed
Coupon, grasping the check a little
tighter. 'Good morning."
Then left alone, the black man NUT
tered, as one speaks in dream, IT
could bear neutrality-suspicious. she
rh l. TT