The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-06-27
Select gtorg.
THE DIAMOND RING.

was hurrying home fast as could. I
was cold, tired and hungry; and well |
might be all three, considering the weather,
the long and useless tramp ! had taken, and
the fact that my breakfast had consisted of
a piece of dry bread.
But there was something worse than the
chill of the autumn day, freezing the very
marrow ofmy bones; something that brought
a mental ache that deadened physical weari-
ness and woke gnawing anxiety in heart
and soul; something compared to which
bodily needs were as nothing, and that was
despair-hopeless, utter despair.
A girl, barely twenty years old, delicately
reared carefully educated, flung suddenly
from luxury into priyation -privation that
shut closer and closer about me, till now |
stood face to face with actual want, in the
great city streets.
[ did not even know where to lay my
head that night, unless the landlady, who
had warned me that she had already dis
posed Of my room, might be prevailed upon,
for charitys sake, to give space in some
garret for my misery and me.
had been born and brought upin Man
chester.
My father, Edwin Forbes, enjoyed the
reputation of being very wealthy man.
He undoubtedly was so at one time, but
a partner in whom he trusted blindly had
by wild speculation involved the firm in
ways of which my father knew nothing un-
til too late.
When ruin came the villain managed to
escape with plenty of means at his com
mand, while matters had been so arranged
that my father appeared solely culpable,
This, and the certainty of failure and dis
grace, struck him with the suddenness of
thunderbolt, and in the frenzy Of his despair
he shot himself
Without preparation, without even hav
ing the slightest suspicion of any business
difficulties, this awful consummation was
flung in upon my mother and myself.
While my fathers body lay in the house
an artfully planned burglary robbed us of
silver, jewels and wearing apparel, to large
amount,
Nor was this all When the funeral was
over, and we were able to struggle back to
the perceptions of daily life, we learned
that many people believed that my mother
and [ had secreted valuables which we
professed to have lost, and that we had am
pie funds at our disposal, in spite of our
denials, beyond the reach of our creditors.
With the few hundreds which we actu-
ally chanced to have we went away to Lon
don.
One is not easily crushed at eighteen, and
grief stricken as | was, the very exigency
of the case forced me into activity.
But my mother, never strong, broke
down entirely, and became hopeless in
valid.
After all, this was merciful-yes, even
when the change first became perceptible
to me | could feel that it was mercy, for
her mind shared the weakness of her body,
and she realized only vaguely the troubles
which had befallen US.
Provided I was in her sight she was
cheerful and at rest; but she needed my
constant presence and care.
Of course the necessity for remaining
with her restricted me greatly in my efforts
to find work; but managed for while to
turn my talent for painting and other ac-
complishments to use.
In spite of everything our store of mon
ey dwindled rapidly, however; but thank
Heaven, it held out till my mother died, so
that [ was able to furnish my darling with
the comforts she required up to the very
end
She died some eight months before the
period of which | began to write, and |
think the whole universe did not hold a
human creature more utterly desolate and
alone than l. 1t would be useless to chron-
icle in detail my attempts to find occupa-
ton.
It was the old story which had been
lived and told SO often which is being acted
daily under the worlds eyes, to which
practically the world remains deaf and blind
and seems likely to do SO.
Several times I was on the eve Of obtain
ing situation as a governess, but at the
last moment each negotiation failed in
turn.
Once [ was engaged as a companion.
After | entered the house the lady broke
the agreement on learning that was Edwin
Forbes daughter. She even sent me away
with bitter Feproaches for what she termed
my insolence and deceit,
[ was ready to take position Ia shop,
but for each situation that was offered there
were scores of trained applicants in COM
parison with whom [, of course, stood no
chance.
Plain sewing [ did get, but not much,
and that at starvation prices.
My colors were exhausted and | could
buy no mofe, 50 painting was out of the
question.
Growing poorer, sinking lower, day by
day The morning came when was forced
TO seek assistance-yes to beg.
I went in turn to several wealthy ladies
of philanthropic fame, beseeching employ
ment, but none of them believed my tale
| had room in Seho. The woman who
kept it was poor and struggled hard to
make both ends meet,
She was not by nature hard or Hnkind,
but the exigencies of life had dulled her
sensibilities.
Then she had children, and the landlord
claimed his rent at the exact moment it was
due
owed her six pounds. She could wait
no longer. | had left the house on that
morning.to essay one last attempt. 1t had
failed.
1 walked mechanically up Regent street.
| must wander about all day; it was useless
to go home.
Perhaps if l went home after nightfall
my lapdlady would not have the heart to
lr;.ro r,,n Hronn hoa. dnnr