Year: 1876




So


ROKIANCE OF HARD WORK


Raymond Thurston, I believe you
are insane"


AS Amabel spoke her voice had a
sharp quiver of pain as well as anger
She was very proud of her brother
proud of his handsome face, proud OF
his talents-and she considered he
was about to degrade himself socially
if not morally by the stand he had
announced himself to have taken
Seeing that her passionate outcry had
not moved him, she said pleadingly:


"Have you no pride left? You
who had all the old Thurston pride
once?"


q have just so much pride left
Amabel," he answ cred, " that | can.
not sit here eating the bread of idle
ness another day"


"You know that you are more than
welcome here"


81 do know it. appreciate your
husbands kindness at its full value,
Amabel. l hope the day will come
when / can prove it. And, Sis, | am
only too thankful that you have his
true love and strong arm now, when
we have lost so much. Now, darl.
ing, don't try to hold me back from
honest employment"


"But, Raymond, you can surely
obtain some gentlemanly position:


q have been trying faithfully fol
six months, you know with what sue
cess. There, don't look at me so pit
iful, it will come right one OF these
days.


Il wonder what Bertha Haines
will say when she sees you pcrched
upon the drivers seat Of an express
cart"


/ For the first time the forced com
posure Of Raymond's face was stirred
4 dark red flush crept to his very
hair, and he arose and walked up and
down the room. Glad to have moved
him ut East, his sister said:


"With her aristocratic ideas and
the pride that is inborn in her family,
she will never recognize you again,
Raymond.'


"Then I must lose the honor of
her friendship" Raymond said,
hoarsely. "Don't say any more.
Amabel?" And unable to bear any
further remonstrance he left the room,
and little later the house.


The Thurston pride, Of which Am
abel had spoken, was singing him
sorely, in spite Of the brave face he
carried to cover it. He was man
of 28, and his life had held only the
pleasures of wealth, the opportunities
money gives for the development of
intelligence, for twenty-seven years
! His parents died when he was boy,
and AmabeI, his only sister, Is years
his senior, married before she was 90
and give her brother home, when
ever he was not travelling, or in some
Seminary or College. While he con,
sidered himself rich man, Raymond
had accepted this hospitality as freely
as it was offered, and Amabel's jewel
case, her husbands library, and her
children's play-room bore witness of
her brothers generosity. But sud
denly, without warning, there swept
over the country one Of the devastat-
ing financial crashes so overwhelm.
ing in this land of speculation, and
Raymond was recalled from Europe
by his brother-in-law, informing him
that his entire patrimony had been
swept away. Investment that had
seemed to the young man, ignorant
in all business details, as secure as
they were fattermg, had fallen to
ruin, and few hundred dollars only
were left of what had been noble
fortune.


AT first Raymond did not realize
the extent Of his misfortune. He was
still young, well educated, in perfect
health, and certainly the world had
some niche where he could earn an
honest living. But weeks Of seeking
for employment gave him keener
knowledge Of his misfortune. Friends
who had been willing to smoke his
cigars and drink his wine, who were
yet willing to extend every social
greetings, shook their heads when
asked to confde any portion Of their
business into his keeping.


Brought up to study, to live life
Of elegant leisure, Raymond Thurs
ton at % knew absolutely nothing OF
business, nor had he studied any
branch sufficient to qualify himself
for teacher. He tried faithfully to
find some employment, spending what
little remained of his fortune with
the lavish land that had not yet learn.
ed Of economy,


Society welcomed him home after
two years of wandering, for Amabel
Barclay kept open house for her
friends, and Raymond was favorite
in her circle. Her husband, many
years older than herself, had long
retired from business with large in
come, and while he gave Raymond
cordial welcome, had no opportunity
to aid in finding occupation.


And Bertha Haines, the friend from
whom Raymond parted two years be.
fore, in this renewed intercourse be.
came to him more than ever was
friend before. They had not thought
of love in the days when the girl was
a debutante in society, and Raymond
one of its favoritc beaux, but when
they met, after the long parting, some
new emotion stirred both hearts,
They did not know what made the
hours pass so quickly when they were
together, nor recognize the subtle
charm that dwelt for each in the 9TH
cr's presence, for many q week.


Raymond was the first to awaken
to the knowledge that love was the
charm that bound him to Bertha's
side, whenever she was present; that
it was love that made her eyes, the
dark, sparkling eyes, so beautiful in
their expression; that love tuned her
voice so musically; that love made
bor tho 1ooroc+ of oil Uop,on in hic