Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1900-11-16
OsIAs BARNAY

This story is true Of New York and
Hungary. Only the names are chang
ed:
When Osias Barnay became the hus-
band OF Sarah Klingman all their ac-
Quaintances on the east side said 1t
could not lead to happiness. She was
nearly twice his age, and he, scarcely
more than a hoy, was too handsome
and impulsive, they said, to be proof
against the temptations of the life he
had been leading.
But then, he had been virtually on
the brink OF starvation, and what
though the Widow Klingman had
daughter neaHy eleven year old-men
have clutched at straw on slighter
provocation; and nobody could say
that Mrs. Kllngman was not good-look-
ing, and her worst enemies had to con-
cede that she was rich.
Esther, the daughter, disliked her
stepfather, or, rather, she despised
him. 1t was plain to her that he had
married for money; and never once
in FIVE years did she address a word to
him beyond what ordinary civility re-
quired.
One day Barnay received a letter
from his mother calling him home. II
Budapest, Hungary, by the stern de-
cree of his father, who had grown
tired of paying debts and squaring
scrapes for him. But now the father
was dead, and the heart of the mother
yearned for her boy again.
Osias had never gone into details to
his wife concerning his antecedents.
When she saw the palace his mother
dwelt in, and saw the host of servants
bowling and scraping in greeting to
their long-absent young master, she
felt like the bride of the story who
had married a pauper and discovered,
iust as she was getting ready for a
life Of drudgery, that he was prince.
Esther, too, was overwhelmed with
surprise, and began to regard her step
father IN much more favorable light.
Again two years elapsed, when who
should loom up In New York but Osias
Barnay. He was haggard and pale, and
seemed to be laboring under some
great worry.
Ono day shortly after his arrival he
said 10 his friend, Andrew Munder, a
lawyer:
81 need your help. Can / rely upon
yon.
"To the drop of the flag. Just tell
nis how | can be of service"
'T want a divorce. / must have it."
Munder was thunderstruck.
"Why, your wife is in Hungary with
your mother. You never mentioned
any wrongdoing. Has your wife de-
ceived your
mo, a thousand times mol My wife
is the best, the kindest and the noblest
of women"
Before he left the office Barnay told
Munder this story:
my wife's daughter, Esther-you re-
member how gawky and ungainly she
was, and how she hated Newell she
is new eighteen, and accounted one Of
the most beautiful young ladies in
Budapest.
when she saw my mothers house,
and recognized that l was, after all,
not 'beggar's brat, she became more
respectful, and in time we got to be
quite chummy.
zone night about a month ago, when
we returned home from concert, the
carriage collided with wagon and
was wrecked. 1 was the only one in
jured. Not very seriously, but enough
to keep me in bed for two weeks. Dur
ing that time Esther was almost con-
stantly at my side. Her presence
made me happy. l had a vague, un-
defined yearning for her when she
was away.
"Once, when my bruises gave me
intense pain and l moaned, Esther
bent over me and, clasping her arms
about me, exclaimed:
oh, If could only suffer instead
Of youl l love you soP
I hoN I ha,.
too; loved her with a boundless love
that consumed me, tormented me. To
check 1t was too late. The only saliva
ton lay in flight, and fee did as soon
as my wounds permitted me. And
that's what brought me here"
Some weeks after this interview the
war with Spain broke out, and Barnay
was one of the first to respond to the
call for volunteers. He enlisted In the
Forty-seventh regiment, and served
with such distinction that he was pro
NOTED from the ranks to a lieutenancy
on the field of battle.
At the conclusion of the war he re.
turned to New York. His wife and
Esther bad also come from Hungary
to look for him, alarmed by his long
silence. But although he knew they
were here he did not go near them
His heart was still in turmoil, and he
felt that his love was too mad to be
trusted.
And so he pined away, each days
agony leaving him less and less
strength to battle with his passion, un
til at length he was worn away to O
mere shadow.
One day he did not appear at break
| fast. And when his landlady, after
waiting an hour, went TO see what was
the matter she smelled gas coming
| from his room.
When they forced the door they
found him dead. The gas burner was
/ turned on and the cracks in the dool
and window calked with paper.
Over his heart, In his clasped hands
was the picture Of beautiful girl
| Living u Dnnnn