Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-08-16

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4 respect you, Mr.. Spence, but 90 not
think should eUer lOpe you"
I felt knew what he was about TO
say, and was not mistaken. The ques-
ton with most young people, he SAID,
was how to find the means upon which
to marry; but in his case those means
were already provided, and difficulty
of a precisely opposite character stood
between him and me. l must have per-
cieved by this time his intense devotion
to the system of philosophy OF which he
was the chief advocate. He had sacrl-
feed everything in life to that one end,
and he was prepared to do so so long as
he was spared to labor. To practice in
every way, so far as possible, the princi
pies he professed was the only escape, in
his opinion, from that worst stigma OF
wonld-be ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. Among
the leading obstacles, in his Judgment,
20 a we'll ordered life was the accumula-
tion of property beyond enough to salts
fy the common needs and comforts OF
life. He had taken the VOW OF approx
mate poverty-not the extreme Oollga-
ton OF the clerical orders, but limited,
moderate view in accordance with the
views justly expressed.
In seeking a partner to aid him with
her support and sympathy in the great
up hill struggle TO which he had conSe-
Grated his powers he had wished to
make choice of woman with but small
means, If any; but fate had willed 9TH
erwise. Once already he said that he
desired to conceal nothing; he had Of
fered himself to young lady OF large
property, for whom he felt a deep at
tachment. He had asked her, as he was
about to ask me, to give herself to him
in return for his love, without her fort
une. With that she was free to do what
she wished; it would be easy to dispose
of it. After debate she refused him.
This was six years ago, and until he saw
me, no thought of love had refreshed
his heart On that night at Miss Kings
ley's, when he saw me for the first time
and before he knew of my fathers
wealth, he loved me, he said, almost
without knowing it; but from the mo-
megt of hearing the words that warned
him of the barrier between us he had
striven to drive my image from his
thoughts.
Ever since, with all the might and
resolution Of which he was capable, he
had struggled against his love, but in
vain. He had tried to avoid my pres
ence; he had resisted the temptation TO
become my teacher at the time l con-
suited him on the subject, and SUISSE
ouently, when we were brought into
constant contact at the rooms OF the So
ciety, he had offended his own sense OF
politeness by the reserve of his behavior
toward me. But, despite all this, he
had felt the ground gradually slipping
from beneath his feet. A chance look
or smile nulihed in an instant the self
denial of weeks. He had been many
times already on the verge OF an avowal.
He had seen and heard from others of
the intimacy between Mr.. Barr and me,
and been tortured by the pangS OF 1eal-
ousy. But the events Of yesterday had
made it impossible for him to remain
silent any longer. He loved me with all
the fervor of his heart, and it was vain
for him to deny it.
He paused, but 1 remained silent.
Spoken in his soft, melodiouS voice, his
words seemed to soothe me, 6y way OF
contrast to the storm Of passion L had
listened to so recently. did not try TO
think. felt that he had not finished,
and wished to hear him to the end.
Perhaps | was conscious, too, that 1t
would be impossible for me to come to
decision on the spot.
One circumS lance, he continued, had
given him hope that might feel ready
to make the sacrifice he asked, provided
that | returned his love, anf that was
the earnest spirit Of interest l had shown
in the work he had undertaken. There
was no one among his followers who
seemed so completely Jealous, and who
had so unreservedly labored for the
cause OF moderation, as l.
If, then, my heart by chance were in
terested in the founder as we'll as In the
system, 1t might seem no very serious
matter to declaim the wealth l should
inherit from my father. 1t appeared to
him that a nature like mine might lind
a higher and more entire happiness in
the pursuit OF ideal truth than in the
endowment of an access OF money con-
trary to the whispers of sensitive con-
science. And If at the same time this
remuneration Of that which less en-
lightened souls esteemed as a chief good
should be abetted by the sympathy OF a
companion soul, what bliss might not be
in store for two lives so welded to prog
resS and to love.
Such was the substance OF Mr.. Spence's
communication, and when he ceased my
feelings were still so doubtful that / sat
looking into space as though to find
counsel elsewhere than from my own
heart. He bad spoken-deemed it only
right to speak, he said-before closing,
of the criticism to which so unusual an
act would expose me. l should be called
eccentric, and doubtless by many crazy,
and the terms Of contempt and ridicule
already cast at him would be visited in
equal degree upon his wife. 1t was this
idea Of martyrdom, Joined to the deep
interest had in the doctrines OF moder-
alton, that now took possession OF my
fancy and made me incline to accede to
his REQUEST. Not that sought ostracism
and abuse-far from 1t; the very men
tion of these things oppressed me with
dread. But there was to me an inspiring
sense OF nobility In the thought Of a