The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1886-01-19

think of it calmly and be lenient in my
Judgment of the act; to find some good
girl and marry NerGadding that some;
day should show all, and would then
see that her Burden wac greater than.
mine, and ackno wledge that she had act
ed r6r The besr. I vas tHunders,ruck by
this ambiguous Inter and stunned with
the grief it bore. sat for hours endeay-.
ring tn unravel the tangled skein, imag-
iuing everything-induleing in all sotis
Of onjsctures and mental ssgsries. !
wrote letter after letter, but all were re-
turned unopened. and Huaily / came to
the conclusion that he'd been cleverly
yictimizsd by a coanette. 1t was bitter
-as bitter as whrmwood. After all nv
dre.ps and fancies, nv romantic IDEAS
my chatming love speeches. IND my ten
der letters. to admit that it had all been
a mockery and deludea fool.
Shortly Ef,er wards was Sc q d With
fever aud copened IL my bssa for seve.
raj weeks. Upon my recovery packed
up nv trunks and came east. / went to
her home in Philadelphia that nigh,
meet her face to face, aud demand an eS
plsnation; but the bouse was closed and
inquiry disclosed the tsSt tHst the family
nal gone aheosd, to return no one knew
when. Dishear,ened by this decided
to acteh,. correspohdent's commission
to the Wset indies aud Mexico, when
my father died leaving me this and other
property. then resolved to come here
and live awav from the world. In queer
society, admit, but infini,ely superior
to the sha!lp wsminded, false.hearted,
sIaugerors and neea,ise msss OF human
|! ity the world calls society," / disliked
it always. l abhorred 1t then, as do
now. 1t seemed false and hollow before,
| knew it to he empty then NV bust.
ness is al in the hands Of an egent. The
world knows that | exist, because the
itch for scribhling has not left me. Few
know where am ,and there are not many
who would suppose far an instant that
plain Dick Benham. Bohemian, is Rich.
sr Benharh, owner of the Benhaii block
rtc. That is my story. a ,rlle sad
perl aps. doubtless tiresome. There has
been no sequel, there NAV never he. The
years have failed TO bring it, and / have
lost all kope."
At this Sunct1re tiSii Knock vas
heard at the door, and n respoDe to an
Invitation to enter the door was opened
just enough to admit the dimlnulive form
Of ,attered urchin.
"Please, sr." said this strange and uu-
couth visitor, tearfiilly ahd hHrtisd!y ad.
dressing Dick. "would We be go kihd as
TO come to our room. if it is no trouble
xither's in an awful strait"
why, c.rtsinlv," said generous. heart
ed Dick III his kindly manner, adding
aside In answer to my inqniring look
"Pnor creatures, try to alleviate their
sutferings as much as can, much to the
tdisgust Of +mp,=agent; but they seeta
Idoomed to poverty and misfortune But
come. Lyn; our young friend is growing
impatient.
Through cheerless. dthly:lighted cor.
ridors. and up dark s,airways.Se gtopet
our way untl We reached The upper s'ory
Of the tenement and were ushered into .
poorly-ligh,ed and poorly furnished
room by our guide.
In the semi.darkness we found pool
woman with ushe 1t Ksr Breast and {
child df taree Glinslng to her sleeve
crouching Before Sorry stove that con
'aihed email fire, wholly insufficient fo
comfort. In diapidsted rocker, nea
the one small window the pl, ce afforded
sat a welldressed lady, whose face ",
could not see, and by her side stsid ap
pearing parsonage stood as erect as
pine. Her servant, no doubt. Bei0r,
Us was thin, bent and wizeDed speci
men Of humanity, with an evil fate ant
a cruel eve, who rubbed hls b6nf hshd
together with crhckling soHnd and sale
harshly as ne entered:
Mo use, no use. You must get ou
Of this, and tonight at that. I've giver
you weeks time; more than you de
served; and now unless that moLey il
forthcoming at once, out you GO"
"What. in sEth night as this ?" ex
claimed Dick.
"Yrs, into such night as this, If It..
sDv Of your business" said the othe
sharply, and l could see that Dick cher
shed q strong inclination to kick him
''If You San and will wait until n orn.
ing, will pay hef rent Unfortunately
| left my purse at home." said.tbs lady
Of the rocker In low, sweet Voice
Dick started and nervously clu.ching my
arm looked eagerly at her, striving 10
catch glimpse of her face.
"No," snaiisd Tie. collector "she go's
Tonight, and it will he gooa radiance >
"She Stays you q ,-heaFtsd *relch
and it you dare to eject her ri ttitoa
you down stairs" thundered Dick, hi,
forH trembling and Biz blue eyes blazins
with anger.
The lady in the rocker turned sudden
" and could see. through the gloom
that hers was beautiful face but sad
and careworn.
The collector stared at him in dumb
snrpfise. ''Brsve words. brave words
my line gentleman" said be with sneer
Perhaps .yot don't know who am"
'Yes, know you " II; Sss Upham
u1iser, coward aid scouudrel, who lives
by falls and mistdftunes; who hullies
weak wottien, end who starved bis wife
to death BECAUSE of h,s avarice. Do
know you. my friend There is ny card
YOU can 60. Take that card to Mr.
Dare, nv agent, and tell him that de-
sire to zee him in The morning. He will
not need Your serslces as collector alter
tonight"
The fellow stood irresoltite as II be
wotld like 10 speak or act, but: pefceiv.
ifi9 that words would be useless aid &C
,ions fut lie, lie sneaked away mu.tefing
TO himself.
"On, sir" exclaimed the poor Hoifap
with tears in her sunken eyes, "you are
so good and kind | couldn't help il,
ind ed, It Ess beet SO hard since poor
Sim diedlandl''
'i,fhers, there, my good soul. be anie,,
or you will thake he nervous. and tba,
would be tettiSe," said Dick g0od:na.
turedly. as be Snishsa atl,ihg q lihe or
Two upon Clip III }aber: ''Here, tell