Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-29


''Do you remember what told you of hil
perplexity over his books2" Morris went on.
''How he prayed for help, and got il, toof
The pooriellow is very i'll in hospital. Brain
fever, I'm told. BE is getting better, but
there was spell, for several DAYS, when he
was totally deranged. He doesn't remem-
Der thing"
doesn't know what be did?"
He hasn't glimmer of recollection, 50
he saws, of anything from the time he left
the bank until he came to his senses in a
hospital"
The two men accomplished their mission
several days later and, as a reward, they got
leave to return to New York leisurely BY
steamer. During the voyage Msyne's plans
were forming and ripening.t
well, may yet be rich, he unused. 81
have finally got fresh start for my goal. I"
Often, while leaning over the deck rail-
ing and gazing at the iurrowed waters, the
strangeness of his adventure would recur to
him. Often as he had tried to gain fortune
BY honorable means. he had never sue
ceeded. Now, despite his past upright and
courageous life, he was returning home with
fresh capital, but metsmorphosed into a
thief. "HOw is it that have no remorse 2"
thought he. Then fragments of his early
them a sentence from Ribot: ''If we per-
sist in regarding the conscience as a cause,
then everything is inexplicable; but if we
regard it merely as an accompaniment of the
nervous processes, then everything becomes
clear"
mo. am not a thief" continued his
thoughts, ''for there was no premeditation.
Nv will had undergone temporary enerva-
tion, and was irresponsible. But my un-
fortunate weakness has led me to no actual
wrong, for I am Withholding this money
from no lawful inheritor. 1t is only bor-
rowed from nobody, and some time in the
future it will be easy for me to give them to
some philanthropic object.
Thus although he felt remorse, be soon
persuaded himself that he ought to suffer
none. He had reached what scientists term
''psychie paralysis, +" or moral powerlessness,
where without will, which is the cause,
there can be no conscience, which is the
effect
No matter how, by sophistry, he might
oueI his conscience in the matter Of taking
Mrs. Blakely's money, he found at once
thar he had TO become liar concerning it.
To account for the possession of money he
had to pretend that he had made successful
venture in stocks. That he did within a
week after his arrival in New York. He
-siid-not modify his simple mode of life, and
proceeded with his previous modest existence.
Every day be was the first to arrive at the
brokers' Office, and worked assiduousIy until
3 o'clock in the afternoon. His colleagues
liked him for his inexhaustible good humor,
his devotion to business, and for the daily
courtesies which he rendered to everyone.
All sorts of dreams peopled his excited
brain. In life be henceforth saw nothing
but money. He had so execrated |
his failures that he had come
ont of the struggle transformed. Now he
lAi complete faith in his star, and nothing |
should hinder his success. Scruples, honor, |
conscIenee-all lay buried in the cemetery |
where Mrs. Blakely lay sleeping her last |
sleep. With his sure exemption from ex-
posure the mans psychic paralysis was aug /
mented. He continued to feel neither re-
morse nor penitence, but hastened eagerly |
toward the future without seeing the specter
of his victim gazing threateningly at him
from the past
The wear steadily and rapidly gave
growth to the stolen capital of Abel MaYne.
Every venture increased the money risked.
At the end Of six months he gave up his
place in the brokers' Office, and avowedly
embarked into speculative operations on his
own account, and when another winter came
around he was known as an exceptionally
prosperous Wall street man,
One evening there was charity concert
in one of New York's large halls, and the
occasion was marked by the debut of a
Young girl as a singer. She was Alice
Mayne, daughter of Abel MaYne. She
was his only child, and had been motherless
since infancy. In his comparative poverty
he had cherished her tenderly and in
his sudden afiuence he had re-
solved to crown her musical education
which had been arduously acquired-with
honors of public praise. Although she was
only Is years old, and was still pupil, her
voice had been pronounced fine enough for
q test of a concert trial as an amateur vol
unteer. This venture was successful. From
the moment of her appearance, Allce's
beauty prod Ro-d its usual effect, and her
first song commanded an admiration which
q second increased. The elated father was
on his way TO the retiring room when he
met William Morris
'Well, you're perfectly happy, 1 fancy7"
said the friend.
Eyes, very happy. was the reply. "win
you come with me?"
''I should think sol want to tell your
daughter all that have heard said about
her,"
They found Alice surrounded BY the in
sEitabIe worshipers of success. Radiant
With happiness, she threw herself into her
Iather's arms.
''You are satisfied with me?" she asked.
More than satisfed-I am proud OF
yOu."
Just here knock was heard at the door.
MAY come in?'' asked a girlish voice
If musical purity and sweetness.
Alice uttered cry of joy, and advanced !
With outstretched arms toward the new
,omer.
you, my dear Florence?" she said. 'fOf
,ourse you may" Then she made formal
,resentation: "My dear, this is my father.
Papa, want you to love my schoolmate.
Miss Florence BIakely."
''Blakely," Msyne exclaimed. did you !
ay Blakely?"
Yes Alice laughed. ''Is the name SO !
6d2"
he bowed in silence to the girl She was :
slender, pale creature, of about his dsugh- !
er's age Could she be a relative of that :
Irs. Blakely who had died on the train, I
nd whose money he had stolen. He saw. or
id be fancy it. resemblance in her face.
Ter costume too, was one of deep mourn
az, as Of daughter grieving for her moth :
RS death. There soon came chance for =
i'm to ask his daughter about her friend. =
Florence is the dearest girl alive" was
be enthusiastic reply, "and pity her so. :
be lost her mother less than year ago."
''How? Where? e
Mrs. Blakely died while on her way to :,
lorids, where she was going in search of =
ealth. Poor Florence was crushed BY :
REF. for she loved her mother dearly"
'sBut thought Mrs. Blakeley had no :
.lative" =
''You knew ber?" =
The man trem bled, but instantly comure- h
ended that ne WAS in no danger He ra | J,
lied: ''The Mrs. Blakely whomNI knew Il
ID little business at our Office, and re- 4
II somebody's remark that she was with y
II a. heir - =