Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1895-10-12
A GLITTERING
TEMPTATION.
IH MRS. NJ. l.. RAYNE.

IiN MRS. VI. l.. RAYNE.
Then Leander Clarke married Ma
bel Thorpe, he had no expectation Of
ever being Il rich man, but as his af-
fairs appear at the present time he is
on the broad highway TO future wealth.
II all aroeSc from the fact that he took
time by the forelock, the only way
poor mortals have OF ever getting even
with him Of the scyihe and had hour
glass
But it is this very thing that is caus-
ing him such a lot OF mental anguish
now, making his nights sleeples<, and
threatening to undermine his domestic
peace.
Mable Thrope laid no claims to So
cial distinction when Leander met her
first at some entertainment, met her
first III some entertainment, where she
rendered selections of classic music in
a mastery manner, that he. being a
lover Of music, was instantly attracted
10 her side, and stayed there during
the evening. For the rest she wore
glasses, being near-sighted, and, hav-
ing been graduated from an eastern
college, was rather stiff and pedantic
in her mahner-a grateful change
from the ordinary frisky young crea-
lures with whom Leander had been
associated.
1t takes all kind Of people to make
a world-mores the pity-and love
goes where it is sent. Mable had ex-
pected to become one of that noble
army OF martyrs, teachers, but when
Leandcr proposed she reconsidered
the matter and thought she heard the
voice Of duty bidding her answer Eyes, >
and without more ado she accepted
him.
Now, Nable Thorpe did not expect
her here 70 swim the Hellspont of life
with all his armor on. but she did de.
mand iro.l him -as she had Il right 10
do-a high moral standard, for she had
not married him until she had seen, as
she believed, his whole past life laid
open before her rs book There is
no time when Il man is as weekly SEN
timental and As religious as when he
is TRYING TO live up to the standard OF
a pure young girls ideal, and l.eander
became almost and angel.
There are very few OF Us capable oil
making human angels OF ourselves.
Good and evil are rs persistently pres
ent in our moral nature rs light and
darkness are in our atmosphere, and
one serves as the complement Of the
other. 10 Danish night we use the
light of science, to counteract wrong
we invoke Divine help but so largely
is our worldly nature in excess Of our
spiritual powers tha, We are constant
lv i'll danger II errug 10 be forgiven,
in other words. SHINING and repenting
Mabel Thorpe believed in an intlex
ible uprightness The command to do
evil that good may come was 10 her Il
perverted text. She was not aware
that there are sins Of omission, as we'll
as OF commission, and that her un-
righteous condemnation Of sinners,
and her severe judgments, we're in
themselves of sinful nature. The
selt-righteous are often harder to live
with than the sinner
Leander Clarke had been good
son, and he intended to he a good hus-
band He was both proud and fond
Of his wife, but certainly regretted
that he could not give her all the lux
uries that she could appreciate, not
even the grand piano that her musical
talent deserved. But he went to work
with will to make her happy, and
hoped in few years to be able to add
all other necdful things.
Among the wedding presents of the
young couple was one that far out
shone all The rest-a superb set of dia-
monds, sent by an uncle of Leander
who was near to death, and gave the
residue of Il large estate in this extrav-
agant present. Leander himself was
genuinely sorry that such an undesira-
bic gift had been made, but he argued
that his wife was sensible woman,
and would turn them into something
more suitable to their condition in lille
"a piano. for instance, which was a
necessity rather than II luxury. What
Was his surprise when his bride said
Il never was % pleased in my life.
Diamonds represent to me the crystal
li1ation Of everything beautiful in art
and nature never dreamed that |
should possess such magniiiccncc
But these have ~ associations,
said her husband they are not hei r
looms
They will be all diamonds were
new nj some time. And are they moi
associated with the dear old man whc
gave them =