The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1888-11-01
The Wall Street World.
CHAPTER XXI.
THE BENEFACToR OF MANKIND LEAVES HIS
HOME

The door bell rang. Bddy, occupied with
her pleasing duties as hostess, and flushed
with drinking crusty old Port, cid not hear.
Some sudden impulse or vague prescience
moved Irene to open the door herself II
was Oakhurst Notwithstanding the unto
ward state of affairs, she could not deny her.
self the pleasure of meeting I'm, and ushered
him into the parlor, then fortunately va
can't.
When Oakhurst parted FROM Irene, the
morning before, he intended to wait a week
at least before telling her Of his changed feel.
ings. He did not know what a burden he
had undertaken to carry; he staggered under
it, like the pilgrim in Bunyan's immortal
story. Besides after he had once come tc
q determination he was impatient to see
Agnes and implore her forgiveness. Minutes
were days while he waited To pass week
in this way was not to be thought of, unless
by means of ether or mesmerism be
could fly from himself and find peace in OBJ,
livion.
"My dear James," Irene began, .it is So
kind of you to come with your sympathyl
We are dreadfully cast down. What is to be
done | don't know"
"You surprise me! What has happened:
I have scarcely been out of my studio since
last saw YOU"
"But it's in all the papers!"
Il haven't seen paper"
"What told you yesterday has come tc
pass. William has failed; so has the Sum-
mit-and Mr.. Cleerskegh, the President
and Mr.. Griesmann- everybody else, I
believe. We shall probably leave the house
and take lodgings"
Fverv word waS ~ popo fo n ,I,t,,,,.,A
Again lis heart, full of sympathy for the
woman's distress, whispered: "Wait! don't
wound the stricken deer!" But he Rugged
his resolve and steeled himself against
pity.
II am truly sorry to hear of your brothers
misfortunes. But with his talents and repu-
tation, and with his troops of friends in bust
ness societies, it cannot be that he will long
be depressed. He will work his way back
to his old position, or even higher one"
Irene shook her head doubtfully. She had
not heard the rumors affecting her brothers
integrity, but she saw that his manly resolu-
ton was gone, that he was vacllating,
broken-s spirited, and needed but little more
trouble to make him imbecile
IL was thinking of a case Of conscience, as
[ came here" said Oakhurst. "It was, how
far promise is binding, when it involves a
lasting and irretri evabe wrong in it's fulfil
ment."
Irene looked at him in dumb establishment.
He continued:
Suppose that you were to find, by and by,
that your affections had cooled towards me
that you discovered incompatibilities of
taste and temper-that you felt sure true
union of souls was impossible-that marriage
would be only mockery"
"Dear James, how you brighten me! Why
do you ask such dreadful questions in such a
solemn way? You know love YOU heart
and soul"
but consider the question as an abstract
one. | ask you only to suppose the case
Should you thrust conscience into the cellar.
stife its outcries, and give your consent to a
performance of holy medlock?o
IL can't suppose the case. And don't see
the use Of torturing ones self with imaginary
evils The real troubles of life are quite
enough ia bear"
II k/Ow such case. know q man who
has 20 decide it. 1t is not light matter for
any man, and his is a soul as sensitive as God
ever MADE. He was betrothed to a woman
every way worthy; he loved her sincerely
He ~~,.;o-- ono IL i come
from his susceptibility to fresh Impressions
The pleasure OF the present had more power
over him than the recollections of the past
The influence Of the living woman at his side
was greater, for the moment, than that OF
any absent love. In an evil hour, he com
mltted himself to another. She was, doubt
less, formed to inspire his passion and to re-
turn it. But he was not free. and had nc
right to linger on forbidden ground. For
weeks, nay months, he lived this false and
wicked life, of different mind every day.
and lacking the courage to meet the diff
Guilty. AT last he became sure that his love
belonged where his faith was due-that. if
he would not live a wretched hypocrite, he
must humble himself to confess his criminal
weakness, and return to his first engage.
ment"
He paused he might we'll do So Irene
with some difficulty, was able to say, through
her chattering teeth:
"You seem to take deep interest in this
weak-minded person."
II do-the deepest / am the MAUI
She rose to her feet, and, looking scorn-
fully down upon him, exclaimed:
"Then you acknowledge yourself a villain
NOT from generalization, which would give
your baseness some dignity, but a weakly
fool, so tossed about by Fate that he is made
villain without either desire or resistancein
~ GU may overwhelm me with reproaches.
L am prepared for them; I deserve them.
But God only knows through what a season
of torture have passed to come to this de.
termination"
"A very ingenious story, Mr. Oakhursti
Doyou suppose that the world will believe it.
the day after our losses? Do you expect me
TO believe it, even?"
81 told you that had not heard of the fail.
ure. / am in the habit OF being Believed
"For instance, when you vowed that YOU
loved me, and me only!"
You may spare your taunts But. to show
you how mercenarY am, let me assure YOU
that the woman to whom my word is pledged
and to whom must return, is without any
property or expectations"
"Very well, Sir" said Irene, rubbing her
hands, i'll the endeavor to conceal her aglta-
ton; 1--WE need not waste words. After what
you have told me, could only despise such
Whltfler-a scrap of refuse iron at the mercy
OF any magnet-a miller dashing into every
light. A lover so helpless must needs have
some new passonal attraction-that is the
phrase, believe-with every changing moon.
The man | love should be made of different
stuff" She drew her figure up proudly. and
her lips curled like beautiful fiend's "He
should bury the disgraceful secret, if he had
IT, in his heart and oorr,r II ~ t,;a .