Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-09-13
Wall Street World.
XXI.
VOLUME 40.

her pleasing duties as hostess, and flushed
with drinking crusty old Port, did not hear.
Some sudden impulse or vague prascience
moved Irene to open the door herself. 1t
was Oakhurst. Notwithstanding the unto
ward state of affairs, she could not deny her.
self the pleasure of meeting him, and ushered
him into the parior, then fortunately va
cant.
Wien 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 to
a determination, lie was impatient to see
Agnes and implore her forgiveness. Minutes
were days while be waited. To pass a week
in this way was not to be thought of, unless
by means of ether or mesmerism he
could fly from himself and find peace in OBJ.
liyion.
any dear James," Irene began, @it is so
kind Of you to come with your sympathy
We are ~dreadfully cast down. What Is to be
done | don't know"
eYou surprise met What has happenedl
have scar cely been out Of my studio since l
last saw YOU
"But its in all the papersl"
81 haven't seen a paper"
SWhat told you yesterday has come to
pass. William has failed; so has the Sum
mit-and Mr.. Cleerskeigh, the President
and MIR. Griesmann-and everybody else,
believe. We shall probably cave the house
and take lodgings"
Every word was a pang t . lkhurst
again lis heart, full of sympathy for ths
woraan's distress, whispered: "Waiti don't
wound the stricken deerl' But be Rugged
his resolve. and stee.9l himself against
pity.
~ am truly sorry to hear of your brothers
misfortuues. But with his talents and repu-
tation, and with his troops of friends in busi-
ness societies, it caianot be that he will long
be depressed. lie will work his way back
to his old position, or even a higher one"
Irene shook her head doubtfully. She had
not heard the rumors affecting her brothers
integrity, hut she saw that his manly resolu-
ton was gone, chat he was vacillating,
broken spirited, and needed but little more
trouble to make him imbccile.
Il was thinking Of a case Of conscience, as
I came here said OaLhurst. at was, how
far a promise Is binding, when it involves a
lasting ana irretri evab,e wrong in its fulfil
ment.H
Irene looked at him in dumb astonishraent.
He continued;
Suppose that YOU were to find, by-and-b
that your affections hal cooled towards me
that you discovered incompatibilities OF
taste and t~emper-that you felt sure a true
union of souls was impossible-that marriage
would be only a moekery!'
"Dcar james, how you brighten me! Wig
do you ask such dreadful questions i'll such a
solemn way. You know | love you, neai7
and SOUL
"But consider the question as an abstract
one. ] ask you only to suppose the case
Should you thrust conscience into the cellar,
stihe its o~utcries, and give your consent to q
performance of holy medlock!'
y can't suppose the case. And / don't sec
the use of torturinS ones self with imaginary
evils. The real troubles of life are quite
enough t. bear"
II k1ow such a case. know a man whC
has 20 decide it. 1t is not a light matter fol-
any man, AMI his is a soul as sensitive as Cos
ever made. He was betrothed to a woman
every way worthy; lie loved her sincerely
His chief fault, and a serious one it is, came
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 sid,
was greater, for the moment, than that o.
any absent love. In am evil hour, he com
mitted himself to another. She was, doubt
less, formed to inspire his passion and to re
turn it. But he was not free, and had NJ
right 10 linger on forbidden ground. Fo
weeks, nay months, he lived this false an,
wicked life, of a different mind every day
and lacking the courage to meet the diff
Guilty. Atlast he became sure that his low,
belonged where his faith was due-that, j
he would not live a wietched hypocrite, b.
must humble himself to confess bis crimina
weakness, and return to his first engage
mcnt.'
lie paused; he might well do 50. Irene
with some difficulty, was able to say, through
her chattering teeth:
"You seem to take a deep interest in thi
weak minded person"
II do--the deepest. lam the man."
She rose to her feet, and, looking scorn
fully down upon him, exclaimed:
"Then you acknowledge yourself a villaii
not from generalization, which would Civ,
your baseness some dignity, but a weak,
fool. SO tossed about by Fate that he is mad,
a villain without either desire or resistance!
"You may oyerwhelm me with reproaches
| am prepared for them; | deserve them
But God only knows through what a season
OF torture | save passed to come to this de
termination"
"A very ingenious story, Mr.. Oakhurst
Doyou suppose that the world will believe it
the day after our losses Do you expect IN
to believe it, evenp
q told you that | had not heard Of the fail
ure. | am in the habit Of being believed"
"For instance, when you vowed that yoI
loved me, and me only!'
"You may spare your tauuts. But, to shoy
you how mercenary I am, let me assure yol
that the woman to whom my word is pledge,
and to whom | must return, is without an,
property or expectations.
Every vel, Sir, said Irene, rubbing he
hands, in the endeavor to conceal her aglta
ton; 1--WE need not waste words. After villa
you have told me, | could only despise such
whiffler-a scrap Of refuse iron at the mere,
Of any magnet-Aa miller dashing into ever.
light. A lover 50 helpless must needs hav
some new p%sssional a~ttraetion-that is th
phrase, | believe-with every changing moor
Tho man love should be made of difreren
stuff She drew her figure up proudly, am
her lips curled like a beautiful fiend's. al
should bury the disgraceful secret. if he Ia,
it, in his heart, and carry it TO his grave
He would not cry out like a boy with a GU
finger
"Prccisely, Miss Norcross. And for tina
reason you would be no mate for me. M
wife must have no skeletons in her closet"
Men generally claim the monopoly @
those agreeable toys, | believe
"Loye is impossible where there are con
cealments. A secret is like a worm in tn
heart Of an apple, and nothing but rottennes
and corruption follow"
Fortunately, you harbor none. You hav
turned your heart inside ont, like a peddler'
pack, and a gratifying display it madel
am more than satisfied"
"The tone you AVE adopted is a warnin
to me TO stop. | wish to handy no epithet
or reproaches. / came sorowfully to tell yo
what | have told. had no fault to imput
to you. But must confess that this morn
ing you have shown yourself capable {
thoughts and feelings | never suspected. am
! shall leave YOU with a far lighter heal
than I came.h
"You expected to see me at your feet, in
p'oring your love and striving to melt va
by tears-did your 1t would have lie a plea
{ ing triumph-one that your sex prizes, | b
$ lieve; but you have not been gratified.
know what is due to myself, and | do M
! stoop. But there may be ways TO punish Il
e betrayer OF confidence, she said with a hea
2 ing bosom and distended nostrils. II have
brother; and even If he is forgetful, / sha
not forget