Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1888-03-22
wild DICKS" LEGACY.
(COncIuded.)


the amount compared with the debts he
owed. and how into his aching, thrOb-
bing brain had suddenly come fiend-
ish thought-he had only to alter the
amount for which the check was made
out and all his difficulties would vanish.
1t would be his money some day; he
was robbing nobody; and his father
well, he was never angry long. and he
might never find it out: and, if he did
-. But there was no need to think
of that, for in few DAYS time he was
going home for the long vacation, and
he would then tell his father himself.
All the old arguments that he had used
in that hour of temptation came back to
him. He remembered how after time
he had struggled successfully against it,
and had almost overcome it, when one
of his gay companions came in, and to-
gether they had drunk glass after glass
of champagne, which had soon diSpelled
all qualms of conscience, and he had
Welded to temptation. Then had come
the bitter awakening, the fierce pangs
of remorse, the overwhelming shame;
for, when his head was clear, he knew
himself to be thief and a fOrger.
He had tried to drown his remOrSe in
even greater recklessness, but the words
thief and '.forger" seemed impressed
upon his brain forever. Then came his
journey home, and the first sight of his
fathers changed face. The face that
had always been full of love and pride
when it had looked upon him was now
cold and hard as stone; the voice he had
never heard speak in anything but kind
tones was stern and broken as he bade
him begOne, never to return. An out
cast from his fathers home, he had made
one feeble struggle to redeem his char
acter, and had failed. All his money
gone, he had sunk lower and lower;
there seemed no way open to him to earn
an honest living until his old skilfulneSS
in riding obtained him an engagement
in circus troupe: and. finding that he
could easily earn enough to keep him
self, and having keen love for horses,
he soon became famous for his clever
feats, and could command a good salary.
The life suited him; he was brave and
reckless, and the dangers he dared gave
him the excitement that he needed. But
morally he got worse and worse, until
heaven sent little child to lead him: ::
and this child's love brought him the
first ray of hope. He had said once that
it was too late for him TO reform his life,
but that night, after he had heard Fairy
pray for him, he felt stronger, and the
world and its temptations did not seem
so hard to battle against.
He had made few steps in the right
direction, had conquered some of his
failingS. and he resolved that with heav-
ems help he would not turn back. For
the first time for fifteen long years he
felt thopeful almost happy -ready-nay
eager-to begin the battle of life, for
he was strong in the new faith that had
suddenly inspired him.
X
"Wild Dick" was no longer an appro-
pirate name for him, as one of his COM
rades one day remarked.
NO, for he is tied to a child'S pima
fore strings now," said another of the
men with coarse laugh.
Better if you all were!" broke in a
woman warmly. If there is a good
turn done here, it is always wild Dick
that does it."
$50 You have turned his champion.
have YOU, Bess? When is the wedding
to be-" retorted the man, amidst the loud
laughter of his companions.
A look Of Scorn crossed the wOman's
handsome but faded face.
"As if he was too good for any one
here! l know gentleman when | see
one, if You don't"
''Oh, he is Gentleman Dick now. is
he:" said another; and they laughed
again.
At that moment Dick came in sight,
and, Shabbily as he was dressed, no one
could for one moment have mistaken
him for a common man, for, now that
the marks of dissipation and reckless
ness were passing away from his face,
he looked both handsome and well bred.
He stopped to speak to group of chill
dren, and the man who had first spoken
spoke again.
"Bess is right, think. Dick is not
one of our sort"
HE has grown too good for common
mOrtals," answered another; and so the
subject dOpped.
Sunday was the happiest day of the
week to Fairy, for then she had Dick all
day to herself. They would go for long
walks into the country, he carrying her
on his shoulder when she complained of
being tired: and they would eat their
dinner in the sweet fresh air, reaching
home in time for their tea.
Fairy'S checks We're rapidly losing
their paleneSs, and getting plump and
rosy with country and long reStful nights
for she had no longer to rub her sleepy
eyes and stretch her aching limbs, wait
ing for her turn to ride into the lighted
ring and to receive the plaudits of the
crowd. The only rides she had now
were in the early morning, when Dick
took her for rapid gallon
down some fair country road shaded by
green trees.
In September they were stopping at
North country town, and on Sunday
Dick took Fairy to the heather-covercd
moors, where she ylayed about in happy
while he read; then, when
she was tired of play, he told her won
dcrful fairy tales, making her large dark
eyes Glisten with delight. He carried
her home on his shoulder. for he thought
she looked tired. and she was as happy
and content on her high throne as if she
was queen.
The tea was set in the small room, the
preserves and cakes making it a feast
in Fairy's eyes; and when they had lin
ished She Perched herself upon his knee