Year: 1879




There is scarcely anything more un
fortunate for man than the absence O
loving women around his childhood ans
youth. Mark Ripon bad never know
such women, and offer this fact as somt
palliation for his want of faith in them


He was ignorant of his parentage; he
had been found one summer morning OIL
the steps of the Foundation School il
Baxtersgate, Ripon; and as it was on the
festival Of st. Mark, he had received the
name OF the saint and the name of hi1
native city, and been adopted by the
institution.


Wholesome food, stout clothing and
decent trade had been given him by
the Foundation, and in many respects
he was felt to have done it honor, for,
after fifty years of cre1itable citizen.
ship, he was one Of the cathedral vestry,
sat in the cannon council of the ancient
city which had adopted him, and was
said to be worth at least 950,000.


But there is success which the world
sees little of--that of the heart-and in
this respect Mark Rpon was the vericst
pauper. OF the nurses aud matrons
who had been around his earliest years
he had not one tender memory; none OF
them had fed the hunger of his heart.
He had no home, no mother and no sis-
ter. The school had been simply a
place in which to eat and to sleep and to
learn.


Unfortunately, when the lad foil in
love it was with pretty airt, infinitely
more heartless than himself. But Mark 8
love had been cruelty deceived and
Knocked, and he had come out of his
chagrin and sorrow with confirmed be-
lief in the general and natural unfaith-
fulness of women. Popular maxims and
jests confirmed him every day in his
idea, and like most Englishmen, having
once avowed this as his opinion, every
reiteration of his own idea was fresh
confirmation OF it.


But he had many friends among his
own sex. Men generally spoke of him
as a crusty old bachelor, but otherwise
a well.to-do, shrewd and honorable fell
low. Chief among these friends was
young George Downes, the child of the
only companion his boyhood had ever
known, and his own godson. If Mark
Ripon loved any human being it was
George Downes, though as the latter
grew up to manhood he gave him great
deal of anxiety. For George preferred
the society of women, and would not
credit Marks positive assurances OF their
universal falsepess and unworthiness.


One moonlight night, as Mark was
coming from q vestry meeting, he met
George in the cathedral close, and on
his arm was very beautiful girl. The
old man looked angrily and doubtfully
at the pretty face lifted to his favorite's,
The bright moonbeams touched her
long fair curls. and made the white vail
around them like glory. Mark remem-
bered just such lovely, innocent face
lifted to his, and he had no doubt what
ever that this girl would be just as false
to George as pretty Fanny Maltby had
been TO him.


George, however, would not be per-
suaded to doubt her. Then Mark offered
TO pay his expenSes il he would go
abroad and travel for two years; but
George said 'he had just got place in
Butter6eld's bank, and preferred q
home The young man, In Marks eyes,
was bent on running himself, and in a
few weeks he celebrated his Wedding
with an elaborate rejoicing that reused
the old mans bitterest contempt.


George fully expected that he would
now be ignored, and probably lose for
ever any chances he might have had Of
inheriting his godfather's wealth. But
Mark was unlike the generality of men
in many respects, and in none more than
in his behavior to the young man who
had so Aagrantly disregarded all his ad-
vices and entreaties.


He redoubled his care over him, and
watched all his movements with con
stantIy increasing interest In fact, he
did not blame George at all; he regarded
him as one who, in an unfortunate hour,
had fallen into the hands Of power
which was too great for him. He pitied
the happy bridegroom, and resolved a'
soon rs possible 10 release him from the
tolls Of the woman who had charmed ant
enslaved him.


In vain Georges wife smiled upoI
and entertained Mark Ripon. He visited
her house, indeed, for II wac necessar,