New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-10-21
THE MESSAGE.

OWOAoCu oAAAOAC4AU AACSSClASoclS ull0cI Ou0
roof. To the elder, the slow-paced
hours were bringing death; to the
younger bridegroom. Thefaded mis-
tress Of the rich parvenu's home had
lain down to die, facing the doom of
all with the stoicism of the neglected
and unloved. Ready to take her place,
to clutch at the gauds the
other despised, and to parade a
triumph which should have been her
dishonor, was her rival.
She was a young woman of course.
subtler feminine charms than bright
eyes, rosy lips always parting in smile,
a slender figure, and audacious, girlish
ways, were hardly likely to fascinate
man of John Harden's character-a
man who had risen from the meanest
ranks Of life, spent his years in
money-getting, and Stunned rather
than sought good company in thetrue
sense OF the word. To be put out of
countenance by no one, had been a
leading maxim of the money makers
career; whilst therefore surrounding
himself with all the glitter Of opulence,
he remained the blunt, plainspoken,
homely John Harden Of early days.
He was just sixty, and the girl busted
Il,
On some foolish boarding+school bead
work, could hardly be twenty. The
pair sat opposite to each other by the
ERE, only interchanging "a word from
time to time, betraying nothing of
their secret thoughts TO chance caves
choppers at the dOor. Yet despite
such guarded speech, a quick observer
must have seen at a glance how it
stood with both; the girls flushed
cheek and sparkling eyes, the mans.
look OF suppressed satisfaction, told
their own story. the dread messenger,
whose name is Death, as he passed
through this hushed house, made way
for joyous successor whom, under
various guises, men call Love.
The hand of the costly time-piece ON
the mantel-shelfpointed to twelve, and
the mere sign seemed to chill the air.
Mr.. Harden rose TO make up the fire,
as he did so, letting one hand fall on
his companion's- is growing late
and cold. Better go to bed, Con-
stance" he said in a voice of tender
concern.
The girl, allowing herself for a mo-
ment to be carried away by impulse,
leaned forward, her bright brown c,lrls
just touched his scant gray locks, her
softly rounded cheek just came in con-
tact with his own, lined and corrueat-
ed with care. @!Should I leave. YOU
alone at such a tinle?" she whispered.
He said nothing, but kneeling before
the fire, making itllp after methodical
fashion, contrived at the same time
to transfer from his waistcoat pocket
to her not unwilling fingers, minEte
box Of crimson leaSher lined with vel
vet. Within cleaned wedding-ring,
and as Constance Emery gazed upon
1t furtively, her lovers face showed
exultation equal tNiher own.
10 this shallow giGl, the first glimpse
OF her wedding ring meant everything
that life itself could mean. She was
nothing, possessed nothing; the ring
would give her all sheset store by, and
render her exactly what she wished 80
become. It would throw theresponsi-
hllity OF her own existence upon an
others shoulders, relieve her from the
burden of breadwinning, afford
ease, luxury ,socialpower, and the kind
ofssway over an ordinary nature that
bWsuch women is made to do duty for
The ring, in.short, was to
open wide the portals OF a career after
her Gown heart, withoutat, unattaln-
atnleiag a crown. To the man also the
ring symbolized the aspect of life most
agreeable to MIN. In one respect,
money -naking had not rendered him
call0us. To his mind, a certain femi-
nine type ever remained arresistible.
Of ideal lovliness, of spiritual or intel
ectual beauty, it was not at all likely
chat be should have herem0test con-
,eption but he owned. the sway of
rolicsome grlhoad, the easy assur-
ance of young, handsome, reckless
women. To surface charms oflook or
manner, he was ever ready to do
tonnage. But the ring had other and
,raver meaning for him. His first
marriage had been childless. The