Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-07-02
A BOND OF FRIENDSHIP.
MRS. CELTA SARGENT.
From the Bostol Traveller.

1t was dreary day in winter. The
keen wind came in gusty swirls, scat
tering the light snow hither and thith-
er capriciously. A few persons hast
ened along a quiet street, glancing
anon at the murky sky, their faces
rejecting, 1t would seem. the leaden
hue of the clouds. The afternoon
was indeed dark and gloomy, and so
was the face of Lawrence Ellis as he
sat at his desk reading letter-but it
was handsome face, possessing that
beauty of refinement which is almost
invariably the accompaniment of cul>
ture. He was nearly Az, and had
been The principal of an academy in
small New E0gland town for eight
years. The letter which he had Just
received was from the trustees of the
academy and requested his resigna -
ton at the close of the present term.
They appreciated his thorough schol-
arship, but it had been painfully evil
dent for many months that his heart
was not in his work at the school.
Thus, with much regret and delicate
consideration for the man whom they
would gladly have retained, if pos
sible, the letter was written that
brought despair. And this, then, was
the end-position gone, everything
sacrificed for a foolish infatuatiop
He thought of his dead wlfe-how her
last days had been anxious ones, and
the light of her sweet life had gone
out in sorrow a few months before |
But the living-his children--he had
brought them to poverty, and thrown
his life to the Winds
The room darkened in the winter
twilight; for few unhappy moments
he sat gazing at the desk before him,
covered with q mass of papers, which
were evidently the subject of his deep
thought; then rising hastily, he exam
med every portion of the desk careful
ly, but very quickly. He apparently
wished to escape detection or the sud
den wavering of a resolution. With
one nervous motion of mis- hand many
valuable designs of numerous inven-
tons That ia the future, perhaps, were
TO have lifted him suddenly TO great
wealth, were swept into the center of
the room, and in an instant more were
blazing brightly in the open fire-a fire
which proved to be, indeed, the grave
Of hope.
From that day Lawrence Ellis was
a changed man, and after a few
months OF keen mental suffering he
became Ill, and died suddenly. Thus
Myra Ellis and her baby brother were
left almost alone IN the world, with
future looming gloomily before them.
Fortunately she was singularly brave
and self-reliant for young girl Of II
and after listening, with the calmuess
OF maturer years, to much advice
from many kindly people, wisely took
ner future into her own hands, and
patiently accepted her fate-a life of
toll.
In the carly days of her bereave>
ment, Myra had at least one true friend
IN young Harold Farley. His cheer
Jul presence and helpful words brought
the sunshine of hope into her desolate
heart. He had been her schoolmate
ana a constant visitor at her home for
several years. The young people had
not made the mistake of attributing a
leellng OF great interest and purest
lrendshiP to a tenderer sentiment
we will always remain true friends,
Whatever our future" had been ex-
changed repeatedly between them,
and Il one had suspected the other of
indifference III the years TO come, in
regard to this rather serious compact,
the result 10 each other would have
oeen total loss of faith in all hui
manity.
Harold Farley had been peculiarly
attached to Myra's father, his teacher
ana friend, and had always sought his
society every possible opportunity.
Nothing could be more fascinating to
ann than 10 listen, hour after hour,
20 the great inventive genius, as he
laa long regarded him, explain the
mechanism of some recent invention,
ana ITS grand possibilities. Finally,
She young man found himself also
dreamer of sudden wealth, aud there
IIame a happy day when he thought
Is dreams we're about TO be realiz ed.
q lew months before the inventor re.