Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1898-08-11
HAD MISJUDGED HER.

Tho falhbility of human judgment is .
deplorable reality but the trend of ones
decisions is largely matter OF habit. That
| habit, with many people, is either to be
| lined up among the pillars of optimism, or
else to be enrolled in letters of red on the
books of the opposing party. The cast iron
fnality with which most people settle every
thing from moral complications to coffee
grounds would make a United States chief
Justice turn pale with awe.
There are kindly souls whose heart
strings are so sweetly tuned that nothing
can strike a harsh chord from them, but
in this world they are like sweet dreams
born of a stormy highland their judg-
ment is not very valuable for the exacting
business of life. Then there are people who
appear to be put upon a solid steel frame
work Their mentality is razor-edged, and
their hearts are hard but the best judges
are those who draw one premise from the
head and one from the heart for their con-
clusions. However, there is nothing that
so affects the courage of ones opinions as
that tickle and elastic word "crcum-
stances
OF all the subjects varously shot at, there
is probably not one that could collect a
more variegated and elaborate set of opin-
| IONS expressed ABOUT lLSell, lIdD llt 81 -
ciety girl" By many people she is inva-
riably put down as flimsy combination Of
late hours, gauzy gowns and gossip. But
to judge her singly, and to put her down in
the concrete under such a head, is about as
Just as to say that because one Smith was
a pirate, therefore lock up your silver when
anybody by the name of Smith happens in.
The society girl is various as the figures
on a government salary list, and, like 1t,
includes most every kind of combination
However, in appearance, she is but
slightly individualized variation of a con
ventional pattern, and it is because of this
that errors in judgment regarding her 50
often occur.
Miss Thornby was a veritable butterfly
(so every one said),) with a fortune at the
command of her own capricous fancy
Judson had never seen her, but he had
heard of her. for the humSle cottage that
treasured all he had in the world belonged
to her The usual Kindly light had long
since died out of Judson's eyes, and the
only sparkle that ever came from them
glanced from silent tear. The winter was
not yet over, but the poor commissioners
funds were exhausted There was no work
to be had no one to look to for help; and
three tiny babies and an invalid wife to care
for.
One of the children had just opened the
stove door and had put something in. Jud-
son looked away from it to his wife. Their
eyes met in silent converse. 1t was the
last stick of wood and they were both
thinking of it.
Never mind, John" said his wife, in
faint, broken voice. perhaps something
will come to us before the day is over"
Suddenly he got up from his chair and
left the house-leaving no word as to where
he was going. He was frenzed with grief,
and, laboring under excessive energy of
strained emotion, walked briskly and fast.
Finally reached his destination-the Thorn
by home-a magnificent stone structure at
the sides of which the splendid lawn
stretched away for hundreds of feet.
Judson's frenzy hardened into anger as
he realized the unjust fate that had made
her an heress, and him, the guardian of
many tender, innocent dependents,
pauper!
ut is useless" he said to himself despair
ingly, 'to ask help here, but it is my last
chance" He even thought the echo of
his footsteps Knocked him as he mounted
to the door, and us he pressed the bell he
wished that it might be the kneil that
would summon her and all like her to
another world.
Ii was nine O'Clock. Miss Thornby had