St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-01-21
A BOYS LOVE.

You may imagine what shock it was
to my dear old Methodist mother when
she heard from my own lips that | was
in love with circus rider. You see,
was very young and impressionable and
had saved the girls life while the cir
Gus was performing in our town.
was bound 1 would marry the girl,
but mother set to work and made in
quiries and investigations that convinced
her that the circus rider had done things
in the past that were not exactly rep
utable. ,a5,.. -...-... ..
told my Augusta what my mother
had said, at the same time adding that
| did not believe word of the accuSa-
tons, but trusted her. She laughed
little scornfully She was conscious of
her own innocence and would have
been satisfied to settle Down and live
quiet life if she had married me. Since
there was SO much opposition in my
family, of course no happiness could
come of such a union.
And so we parted. l was miserable,
but mother did not know it. And so my
youth passed, and l got on in the
world. became rich, was respected |
hope: but never fell in love. How sad
and lonely felt no one knew. At last
mother told me that had better marry.
'Choose wife for her good qualities
of mind and heart" she said, land
nice houSekeeper, and a church mem
Der. l think Hetty Black would have
you if you. asked her."
Hetty Black was not quite my own
age, and had high cheek bones, dull
straight hair and large mouth: but her
hIIr nd
and she was poor, and good home
would be great thing for her. She
liked me, too. l was not vain. but |
knew that.
So we were married, and it seemed
right to take an outing. and we went to
New York to do it, ana there saw fine
things.
We spent fortnight there, and it was
during one of our last days that, going
out alone, | saw a crowd at the door of a
tenement house. 1t was gathered about
a woman dressed in rags who had been
hurt somehow. She was bleeding, and
am somewhat Of natural surgeon.
and feel that l must do what [ can if
any one is hurt. / stepped up and bent
over her. The people thought [ was
doctor and made room for ME.
She was SO dirty, so vile to touch and
ever looked so before. Her clothes were
mere rags: her flesh scratched and
bruised; great red blotches were upon
her puffy white face; but when at last
she opened her eyes aud looked at me,
and gave little cry, / knew that this
was Augusta Star-fallen low as Wo-
man could fall, but still Augusta Star.
She knew me. too.
81 wish you had not come" she said.
''This is the worst of ALL
The people of the house allowed her
to be carried to small room they had
at the back of the hall. She lay there
on a Wash-bench and found her voice
at last.
sHow we'll you look. "she said. ''How
well dressed. how prosperous; and are
you married"'
YES" | said.
$40 pretty girl?" she asked
"No, Il said; ITO a good middIe-aged
woman, who never was pretty"
ss)o you love her?" she asked.
81 have great affection for her," /
said.
She sighed.
mo one ever had any affection for
me-" she murmured. Men went wild
about my pretty looks, but there was.
no1ove. If you had loved me, Henry.
should never have come to this"
InFountarily looked about me, fear
full size might be heared by some one
.'Don't be afraid" she said, 81 shan't
hurt YOU by letting any one know we
ever met before"
The people from the hospital came.
THEY lifted her and bore her away.
The next day went to the hospital
and asked how the woman who was
hurt in - street was.
You are the gentleman who was so
good to her." said the attendant. ''The.
woman is dead. sir: will you look at
her?''
bowed my head. He took me to
place where figure was stretched On a
low pallet bed. Death had b1otted out
all mark of dissipation. A woman of
marble lay there, not unlike statue of
Augusta Starof my remembrance. They
had dressed her in white. and about her
neck was tied little loeket.
1.-The last thing she asked us 20 do"
said the man."
knew the iocket. 1t was one l had
given her. and within it through the |
glass | saw 4 curl OF my boYish golden
hair.
THAT woman has had story" the
man said.
| said nothing. took my wife home
the next day. but never told her Au-i
guSta's story.