The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-11-21
AN AFFLICTED CITIZEN.
EIe Meets a Woman Whose Heart Wa
Harder Than Granite.

Of your time, madam he said, taking
3ff hat that had seen better days in
the dim and misty past, 81 should like
TO explain why l am compelled to APP
pear before you as an applicant for
charity"
Proceed" said the lady.
"You have no objections, presume,
20 my leaning against the pillar of the
portico to rest MYSELF"
None whatever"
He leaned his robust frame against
one of the posts, coughed behind his
hand, and began:
81 have not always been reduced to
this necessity, madam. In happier days,
not far distant, | was at the head of a
successful business in fourishing city.
had a good bank account l was in
the enjoyment of excellent health, my
domestic relations were pleasant, and
My troubles began with tho death of
my grandfather.
He pulled out once red bandana
handkerchief, wiped corner of each
eye, and resumed:
"He was good man, and was much
attached to him. His loss moved me
deeply. Then my only great-uncle died.
To lose ones only great-uncle, madam"
he continued, in broken voice, brings
pang that trust you may never
know"
'What next?" inquired the lady.
''Tho next affection that befell me
was a fire that destroyed the home of
my wife's aunt. She was most estima-
BILE lady. The loss was total, and there
was no insurance. sympathized deeply
with her, and she-she came to spend
the winter with me. She brought her
whole family with her"
He paused as if to note the effect of
this, coughed behind his hand again,
and wiped his eyes with the bandana
"reminiscences as before.
"Well?'
well, madam, I bore up as we'll as
could until my boy-my eldest-the CEN
ter of my fondest hopes excuse this
emotion, madam"
Certainly"
81 bore up until my boy began to
chew tobacco. Then my health failed
"You don't look like sickly man."
81 am aware oft, madam. My trouble
is one of-'of nerves, madam-of nerves.
The doctors advised me to travel. l
could not follow their advice then, ow-
ing to business complications. In the
troubles that came upon me our stock
of goods had run down to some extent.
Then came the passage of the Mckinley
bill, and
What had that to do with it?'
SIT was the final blow. We had ex-
pected, of course, to mark our goods up
and realize handsomely, but"
"Well?'
'We-we have no goods to mark up"
"And then?"
And then I took to the-that is, l be-
gan to travel. 1t was the doctors ad-
vice. Then /"
"Well?"
Then /"
Eyes, then you--''
"I-'
why don't you go ahead?"
madam" said the traveller, straight
ening himself up, Il see it is useless. l
have not awakened your sympathies."
Not cents worth"
'Not even to the extent of''--he sug-
gested, with another laborious cough be-
hind his hand-"of cold collation?"
NO"
81 might have known it, he ex-
claimed, putting on his hat and turning
away. I'm telling my story, madam, |
am usually interrupted at the great-un-
Gle part of it by the offer of substantial
sympathy. To the fact that you per-
mitted me to proceed until l became
tangled up in the Mckinley bill, mad
am" he added with bitter reproach in
his tone, II attribute this ignoble fail
ure. 1 have not fallen in my own es-
TEEN, madam, but my faith in human
nature has received terrible shock"
He thrust one hand in the breast of
what had once been black cloth coat,
waved a majestic farewell with the
other, and was gone.-Chicago Tribune.