Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1889-09-01
CHAPTER VII

er took u gambling, drinking, nor bad
company, but became very fond of my
own society, had set Of chambers fitted
up over the offices, and spent the best
part of my time there, smoking a great
deal more than was good for me and dwell
ing upon the past in away that was not
conductive 20 good health and spirits.
Whenever INST an acquaintance about
town, he told me wac looking precious
queer" and advised trip to Canada OF
the States; ard knew my mother and
Jem-although the latter had an ap-
preaching crisis of her own to distract her
thoughts-fretted great deal about me.
l was too selfsh, however, to shake off the
unwholesome depression that held me fast
in its grip.
Living in this deplorable state of sell
concentration, it may easily be imagined
that did not trouble myself much about
the we'll being of people surrounding me.
Nevertheless. and in spite of my increasing
indifference 10 outward events, the knowl-
edge was abruptly forced upon my IN
willing mind that something was going
wrong with our head clerk Levens. For
merly the most steady and sober of men,
he was now-when we'll on in the tifhes-
taking TO habits of intemperance.
The first time noticed it was one af-
ternoon in the middle of October, when he
had brought a letter to me to read.
A fog was gradually settling over the
city, and I could not read with ease, so
pushed the matches across to him and
asked him to light the gas.
- nh
tnrning it out again when he tried to
moderate the flame.
The fourth time I became impatient,
snd watched the operation to see what
wac wrong. His hand was shaking so
violently that, when he tried to turn the
tap half way back, he lost all control
over his fingers and pat the light out
again.
I took the matches from him and lighted
the gas myself; but before he left the room
had one or two good steady looks at him.
What l ssw set me wondering where my
eyes had been not TO have noticed the
change that had taken place in him. His
eyes were blOodshot, his skin bloated and
his lips tremulous.
This could rot have been the work Of
two or three days on the spree, but the
result Of some months hard drinking, at
the least.
That evening, after dinner, when had
got my favorite pipe going full blast, and
/ Richards-advanced to the post of major
domo Of my bachelor establishment-was
clearing away the remains of the meal, l
asked him question or two; and, though
he answered with manifest reluctance,
contrived to pump the information out OF
him that everybody in tins house knew OF
| Levens' weakness.
"But it never used to be so, Richards"
cried in establishment.
Dear me, no sir" he returned prompt
". That's why every ones so sorry
about il! Ii YVES only early in this year
that he broke out like this; and we've all
been hoping that be would get over the fit
before you noticed it."
as be such a favorite in the house,
then?n
mot exactly what you would call a
favorite, sir; bat he has always been very
much looked up to and respected since be
has bsen With the firm; and | suppose no
one likes to see a man throwing away a
good position like be is doing
When Richards had left the loom l sat
for some time thinking over what he had
said. 1T was only early IN the year when
he broke out like this" Eearly IL the
wear. Then Lsvsns had taken to drink
ipr habits at Just the very time when l
was least likely to notice the alteration
in him-whea l was still smarting vio-
lently from the pain caused by the less
of CYNTHIA. True, the pain was no less
acute now than it had ever been, but
it was a different sort of pain. 1t no
longer came in bitter spasmodic attacks,
as il had done at first; it had simmered
down into dull, steady, hopeless heart
ache, constant guawing sense of some
thing wanting, which / was always dimly
conscious of, no matter how l was oc-
cupied.
| wondered what she was doing now?
In his last letter Horace had told ma moth
iog OF her beyond the fact that she sent her
bsst wishes. Her best wishes! What q
poor, empty mockery after all that had
BEEN
The next morning l had Leyens in and
spoke to him as well as l was able, dwell
ing principally upon the loss and ruin 10
himself which must at length result If he
continued his present conduct.
''Is is trouble that has done it, Mr..
Ouinton,n be said, humbly, rs he turned
70 leave me, with every sign Of deeply felt
shame upon him. II ahould never have
done it bat for trouble"
fhe had stopped l would have asked
him for his confidence; but he was go anx-
ious to get away out of my sight, SO
crushed by the degradation OF his position
that felt it would be cruel to keep him,
and let him 90 with his trouble unex-
planned. I little thought as watched
him stumbling out at the door how soon
and in what circumstances that secret
trouble was to be made known to me.
A few days passed away in the usual
plodding, listless way in which all days
passed with nae now, and was again sit
ting lonely and thoughtful over my after
dinner pipe, when Richards knocked At
the door and told me "a person" was
down stairs asking to see me.
Didn't he give his name?" asked.
no" said Richards, che didn't give
his name, but he said you would know
him when you saw him"
Although l had one of my most misan-
thropicai fits on, and would gladly have
been left free from I'll companionship that
night, had no sufficient excuse handy
and was obliged TO give a grudging assent
to the unknoRn's admission.
When he came into the brigbt-lighied
room looked at him attentively, but was
obliged to confess myself at loss-where-
at he beamed in evident delight
~ never should have believed beard
could have made all that difference, he
said. ITO think of yOnr not Recognizing
me, even when close like this! My name
is Benson-the detective, you know
"Of cOurse!' l cried, shaking hanos'