The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-01-01

Congress, and always continued in
the same honest, Industrious course
until they had made me their Gov
ernor.
I had heard but very little in oil
that time from Linton Hall. I had
heard that General Linton had died,
Arthur St. John and Helen had mar
ried, and that the old place had been
sold, and that was all.
AS for my part, / was still q bache.
lor. Many a time, amid the thunders
of applause that had surrounded me,
fair hands had thrown me beautiful
flowers, and ruby lips had smiled,
and bright eyes had glistened when !
was near; but I thought Of cold,
cruel, naughty Helen Linton, and had
Judged them oil alike and had turned
away.
One winter evening, shortly after ]
had been elected Governor, when the
wind was bowling outside, and I was
enjoying the comforts Of my room
within, and wondering if my house
less wretch were out in that storm, ia
my great establishment the servant
ushered in lady. TWAS something
unusual; but I spoke to her as po'
litely as I could, and offered her q
seat, when the light fell upon hel
features, and Notwithstanding the
sunken eye and hollow cheeks, to my
CONSERVATION I recognized the face Of
Helen Linton.
To my relief, however, I found that
she had failed to recognize me. No,
she would as soon have looked for q
form from the tomb as have looked fol
me at that place.
She had come, she said, on painful
business. Her father had been very
wealthy man, and left her a large
property, but her husband had been
very dissipated, and, having run
through with it all, and finding the
family in want, in an unlucky moment
had committed forgery, for which
he had been tried and found guilty,
and she had come to me to plead for
his pardon. She told me all this
amid sobs and tears, and finally con.
Guided by prostrating herself at my
feet.
Great God! This woman, who once
thought me not good enough to wipe
her shoes upon, kneeling and grovel.
ing at my feet!
begged her to rise and be seated,
and I then inquired her fathers name.
She said it was John Linton. I then
asked her if she remembered the old
widow and her son, that once lived
in the cabin on the Forest road, near
Linton Hall.
She replied, with some surprise,
that she did.
Then I stood up.
"That boy" said I, "wretched,
homeless outcast that he once was,
now stands before you"
She turned ashen white, arose and
staggered toward the door. I told
her to stop, I had something to say to
her.
''Let me co." said she; II showed
no mercy to you, and expect none."
Then my heart was touched.
''Mrs. st. john" I said, II will
pardon your husband, but on one con.
dition only"
1T is this," said I, "that you will
teach your children the folly and the
evil consequences of pride; that you
will guard them against its wicked
and nefarious influences through life,
and that your husband will likewise
reclaim and lead a different life."
She readily assented to my require.
ments, and in few moments more
she was on her way home, bearing
the joyful tidings to her little chill.
dren.
The lesson that I taught her I hope
may be benefit to them through
life.
She and her husband moved to a
distant city, where he reformed, and
became a useful and respectable
citizen, and often speaks of me, I un.
derstand, with profound gratitude.
I am a bachelor yet, and there is
but one woman to whose memory I
ever drop tear.
And that lis to the memory of my
mother.
Omar Th1noo I'm,