Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1886-03-19

uring some medicinal compound.
Hor face, with the indlsoribable air OF
fearless innocence about it that some
faces will wear to the end, awokc in
Dick n novel sense of embarrassment.
He hesitnted, but the desire TO speak TO
her was too strong, and he crossed over
to the invalid's side.
"Can be Of any uscp" he asked po-
litely.
mo, thank you," said the girl a
trinc coldly; but her voice was very
pleasant and musical. MRS. Hartley
will be here presently" She turned a
passing glance on him MS she spoke,
distrustful and yet indifferent. But
Dick paid no heed to the restraint; he
spoke again, warming to the old man
ner.
~ have brought him some winc,"
he said, In n careless undertone, dis
burthening his hands as he spoke. 'I
thought it would be needed, and they
have very little money. You soc have
lodged here now for two years, and l
am sorry he has broken down. There
is no hope, supposc?" he added, in a
yet more guarded voice, though the
patient was sleeping heavily.
The girl turned again, and looked
him full in the face. He fancied he
could trace in her eyes some regret for
having judged him too harshly, and her
voice was more cordial, though in all
her intonations when she spoke to him,
then and afterward, he thought there
was suspicion of disdain. He never
blamed her, and he knew instinctivcly
that If his old social standing had still
been his, that element in her voice
would have been rather more pro-
nounced.
There is very little hope, I am
afraid" she said gravely. "Has Mrs.
Hartley any friends who can help herP
The doctor said he would require con-
slant care"
"Shc has been earning for them both
for rome time" said Dick, "and her
hands are full already. | do not think
she has any friends who are likely to be
of any use. If ever you are in need of
a helping hand l hope you will rely
upsn me. / can easily sit up with him
at nights and never fcclit And, indeed.
he looked as if he were SO used to sitting
up all night that few additional times
would make no difference to him.
"Thank you," said Iris, and was si-
lent again. The real or imagined ha-
teur in her voice annoyed Dick unac-
countably.
"Unless you are too fastidious," he
said, in n sudden tone of bitterness that
astounded himself, "to take help at the
hands of poor blackguard like me-"
The girl looked at him with strange
blending of compassion and repugnance
in her eyes.
"You could have been a gentleman
If you had wished,h she said, calmly.
''If you are what you choose to be, why
blame me for taking you at your own
valuationp"
There was something terribly true
and relentless about her words, and
Dick WINGED under them rs the most
violent reproaches had ceased to make
him vince.
THANK you," he said. You show
me what l have to suspect from people
of a higher moral standard. And yet
what right have you to assume that /
am worthlessp"
at is your own appetite" she re-
turned TRANQUILITY. "But-forgivc me
to n certain extent men write their char
| acterS III tnelr faces.
Dick nearly swore heavy oath, but
he checked himself just in time, and
spoke in tones of exceeding suavity.
What excellent discrimination you
have! Then you have ascertained thai
my character is too far gone to allow o.
my associating with you, to however
small an extent, in work of mercy"
A half smile broke over the girls
face, faint and transient, ard yet it Ii
up the whole countenance and softenet
its youthful austerity.
~ did not say that" she returned
relentingly. who am that shoul,
look with scorn OH any human being?'
(This, by the way, she should hav'
thought of before.) "Indeed, if yOl
care to give it, l believe that we shal
be grateful for your help"
"Thank you" said Dick, his ange
melting as incomprehensibly as it hat
arisen. a am at your service"
He sat up that night with Hartley
fulfilling mechanically whatever office
were required of him, but thinking yer,
little of the invalid and good dea
about Iris Enderby and his own socia
status. He fell to drawing the most in
| NlulOuS comparisons DctNSCu iliuoCI
and his old companions, who ha,
walked in the light as persistently as HI
had walked in the darkness; betweei
himself and his own relatives, leading
unimpeachable, if prosaic, lives in tn,
West End. When he gave place to Mrs
Hartley and slept at last, it was t.
dream of bishops, prayer books ant
church institutes, every thing calculated
to awaken a sense of sneaking de
ficiency, and he woke still drawing in
vidious comparisons between himsel
and all of them. If Iris Enderby wa
to have this startling effect on his mora
nature, he thought the less he saw o
her the better; accordingly, he fell int
long and interesting speculation as tt
whether she could ever be persuaded t.
tolerate him. He would find out.
There passed five strange. wild weeks
the most miserable, the most rapturou
in Dicks life. 1t is not pleasant for ,
man to be scorned, knowing that he dc
serves scorn; but before week wa
over Warrington was SO madly in low
with Iris Enderby that he thought h,
would rather be scorned by her thar
worshiped by any other woman. II,
did his utmost, humbly and persistently
to win her toleration. To do him jus
| "a II, I. al.