The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1900-02-08
90 CENTS A YEAR:
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 nc
quaintances on the east side said II
could not lead to happiness. She was
nearly twice his age, and he, scarcely
more than a boy, 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 n
daughter nearly eleven year old--mcn n
have clutched at straw on slighter
provocation; and nobody could say
that Mrs. Klingman 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 word to
him beyond what ordinary civility re-
quired.
One day Barnay received n letter
from his mother calling him home. 1t
was now six years since he had left
Budapest, Hungary, by the stern de-
cree of his father, who had grown
tired Of paying debts and squaring
Bcrapes 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 pauper and discovered,
just as she was getting ready for a
life OF drudgery that he was a prince.
Esther, too, was overwhelmed with
surprise. and began to regard her step
father in a much more favorable light.
Again two years elapsed, when who
should loom up in New York but Osas
Barnay. He was haggard and pale. and
seemed to be laboring under some
great worry.
ON" day shortly after his arrival he
said 10 his friend, Andrew Mundcr, 4
lawyer:
81 need your help. Can 1 rely upon
yon.
"To the drop of the flag. Just tell
tit how | can be Of service"
II want n divorce. l 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 no! 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 / was, after all,
not 'beggar's brat she became more
respectful, and in time we got to be
quite chummy. 50
"One night about a month ago, when.
we returned home from a concert, the
carriage collided with a wagon and
was wrecked. l was the only one in
jurcd. 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 vague, un-
defined yearning for her when she
was away.
"Once, when my bruises gave me
intense pain and I moaned, Esther
bent over me and, clasping her arms
about ME, exclaimed:
'Oh, IL could only suffer instead
OF you! l love you son
And then l knew that I loved her,
too; loved her witt, a boundless love
that consumed me, tormented me- TO
check it was too late. The only saliva
ton lay in fight, and fee 1 did as soon
MS 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 aud
Esther had also come from Hungary
to look for him, alarmed by his long
silence. Rut although he knew they
were here he did not 60 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 a
mere shadow.
One day he did not appear at break
fast And when his landlady, after
waiting an honr, went to see what was
the matter she smelled gas coming
from his ROOM.