Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1886-06-17
EVERYDAY TRAGEDY.

My home is just off one of the great
thoroughfares, and many people pass my
door with whom haveno acquaintance
These persons are not exactly those
who are called day laborers. but belong
to that great class of working people
who are employed in laboratories and
factories, in telegraph and telephone Of
fees. and in and about railway stations
and the like. Among them all was one
man whom for many months noticed
specially. 1t was not that his face was
in any way remarkable for beauty or at
traetiveness. Indeed, had it not been
for the expression it might well have
been called very ordinary one-but
there was something in the steady eyes
and in-the sweetness and strength about
the mouth which found very interest
ing.
When / first saw him he was already
verging upon middle age, but his step
still sprightly, and his honest eyes look
ed out bravely and eheerfully from a
friendly countenance.
There was occasionally in bis compa-
ny young woman, who evidently came
out to meet him. This happened often
est in spring and summer evenings when
the days here are at their longest and
finest. 1 used often then to watch for
them, for it was pleasant to see the shi>
ming of the mans countenance and the
shy smile with which the girl would
turn to listen to him. needed to be no
clairvoyant to discern how matters stood
between them, nor to guess that each
had chosen wisely and we'll. AS the
days slipped onward 1 perceived by
changes in their manner that nay young
people had been married. The girl came
now almost daily to meet the man. She
no longer held herself shyly aloOf, but
leaned openly upon his arm as she walk
ed beside him. They were always talk
ing eagerly and confdeutially together,
and 1 could well fancy the little domes-
tic details she was giving him, or imag-
inc the story of business worries or sue
cesses which he poured into the ear
which listened so sympathetically.
After time it seemed to me that the
world was going hardly with my young
people,. Her dress, which had always
been plain and unobtrusive, now grew
more and more simple. and l missed the
bits Of ribbon or dainty adornment.
which had heretofore made it fresh and
jaunty. My friends face, too, grew to
have anxious lines about it. l noticed
how his straw hat did duty until late in
the autumn land how shining and thread
bare was his clothing, with all the seams
showing white about them. 1t panied
me, too, as the weather grew severe to
observe how scantily he was protected
from the winds of winter, and how he
strove with comforter and mittens to
supply the place of the much-needed
great coat. But the shabbier grew my
friends exterior the more noble and
beautiful became his countenance, and
and the very soul of patience and cOur-
age seemed to look out at me from his
earnest eyes.
For time lost sight of the young
woman, but at last one day she came,
walking slowly and dragging, with some
effort. baby carriage behind her. l
was shocked to see the changes a few
weeks had wrought in her appearance.
Her eyes were shining so brilliantly,
such vived hectic spot burned upon
either cheek and the cough was so hol-
low and frequent that 1 felt my heart
sink within me. 1t may seem strange
that l made no effort to know PERSONAL
ly these people in whom was so deep
ly interested, but class distinctions are
the most impossible of barriers here in
republican America. l knew that they
desired no help or charity, and weuld
have resented bitterly any advance
which they might have construed into
interference or even offensive patronage
on my part. So was forced to content
myself with watching and plying them
from afar. The poor baby was always
so frail and delicate a creature, with
seemingly so loose hold on life, that [
was not surprised when very soon the
young mother came walking alone and
desolate drawing no baby carriage be-