Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1886-03-19
DICK WARRINGTON.
How and Why He offered UP His
worthless" Life.

Worthless" Life.
He had been gentleman once, and
n scholar, who had won honors at Cam
bridge, and was regarded as one OF the
best men in college at that time unu-
sually rich in promise. He had just seen
one familiar companion of his in the old
days pass into the New Law Cathedral,
outside whose gates he was lounging.
The famous judge gave glance at the
disreputable loafer as he went by, but
never recognized him; if he had done
SO, he would probably have spoken, for
he was kindly-hearted man. But this
very fact made the reprobate more bit
ter. If his old friend had cut him, there
would have been some ground for de-
claiming against the hollowness of man
kind; but Dick Warrington knew well
enough that he himself had sunk out of
recognition, and ones own worthless
ness is not so cheering subject of med
itation as the worthlessness of other
people.
He pondered over neither but only
gazed moodily after the retreating figure
of his old comrade, and then turned and
sautered into Long Acre. He was near
ing his lodgings; they lay in dingy
court half mile away when it occurred
to him that he had forgotten his mis-
sion. He had come out, with the idle
good nature that seldom deserted him,
to buy wine for his landlady's husband
dying, the doctors said, of consump-
ton. Dicks quarterly pay had just
contributed, to that shady serial, which
with none of its virtues and with all its
vices. Thes Family Herald, indeed, has
few vices; for it is an excellent periodi-
: cal, and You may obtain from the
editor, for nothing, advice on any earth
1y subject you choose to consult him up
on, which advice will always be terse and
definite, and improving. Also you may
find essays on politics and social science
therein, it you are areintellectual-essays
that inspire one with wish that the
editor of the Family Herald were happily
controlling the destines of our empire
instead OF the too patriotic cliques
which control it at present. While, as
for the tales-but this is no place to
rhapsodize, even over the Family
Herald.
Warrington was on the staff of the
Social Hearth, which is. as everybody
knows. foolish and vulgar periodical,
whose "criticism of life" is not worth
towpence. 1t paid very badly; but he
contributed more or less to several
other journals, of which BOio Bells was
the most respectable. 1t was a marvel
how he with his talent could write badly
enough to suit some of these editors.
He said it took practice; but on the
whole he succeeded admirably, and the
stories and articles he furnished to the
public showed better than anything
else how far he had fallen. And YET
there was battered remnant of nobil-
ity about him, hardly conscious of its
own existence. As some old picture
may lie long in dark lumber room
hidden behind great masses of rubbish,
till kindly hand opens the shutter,
lets in the fresh air and the sunshine,
and disperses the piled-up lumber, a
chance touch shakes away the covering
from the forgotten picture, scatters its
dusty veil, and, hardly dimmed by
years, its beauty CLEANS into the light
again, so the spiritual virtuoso may
come across strange treasurc-trove,
acts of chivalry, of self-forgetfulness in
the most unexpected quarter.
Dick bought the wine and returned
leisuisly to his lodgings. He stole up
tiously up the dark, crooked stairs into
the narrow passage, and as he traversed
it a straI ge thing happened. Through
the venerable ancient air of London
lodging house that landladies always
seem to fancy improves with keeping
and, indeed, it does acquire certain
fine mellowness wherein are combined
the essences of many different odors-
there came to him the scent of hello
trope. With it returned the memory OF
day when his sister had been to visit
him at college, and with her one of heI
friends, beautiful light-heartcd CIR
whom Dick had cared for with tran.
sient boyish passion. He had bought
boquets for them, and among the flow,
ers he gave to his sisters friends was 8
sprig OF the dim, gray-purple blossom
He did not pause to wonder why the
old scent came back to him in thii
widely different atmosphere, but, pass
ing on, entered the invalid room. Mrs
Hartley was not there, but he saw
standing at the bedside, girl dressed
in the garb of private sisterhood
with cluster of flowers ut her brooch
Her figure was slender and graceful
and he could see readily enough tina
she was lady. His acquaintance in
cluded several women who had takel
the "craze for humanity and typhus
fever" as he irreverently expressed it
and Iris Enderby's presence did no
astonish him, though he noted he
beauty with pleasure. The hair wa
the deep brown that has CLEANS OF rud
der color. and her eyes were clear an
honest, and regarded one with yer
steady and fearless glance. She turne
her head as Dick entered and took hiT
in completely, SO he fancied, in about
second. There was nothing impert
pent in her scrutiny, but much that wa
painful to u man whose inner life ha
never been intended to bear investiga
ton. Insight to character is all yer
well for the people who have the insigh
but IL is sometimes trying TO the III
lucky character; and 80 Dick felt q
rather deiantly he met Iris Enderby
glance.
"She thinks" he said inwardly"ths
lam one of the people it will not do I
encourage" The girl had formulate
no opinion so distinctly; but yet hi
guess was not far from the truth. Fc
there was no denying that Dick with b
battered costume, his rather ding
hands. and the reckless, devil-may-cai
expression on face grown coarse thu
had once been handsome. looked di
reputable character, with whom reiii
III girl could have nothing in common
.TheTeiors Iris wliharew her eyes wit