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Parent Issue
Day
25
Month
June
Year
1880
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

il ivrr n young inun starled in Kfa wit I the i'all fVOT ot' the gods, Charlie BottsOl was tlio man. Bern witli a 'silvcr spoon in liis moutli," petted and painpered during childhoqd, and gifted, withal, with tulcnts and geuius, what wonder tliat a glorioun future was predictcd for him? Wlien he reswhed manliood the predio tious seemed more tlian ever likely to bc fulfilled ; and wlien he led the beautifu Kllen Winters to the altar, the highest hopea of his purents were nearly realizo!. He had but just complcted his twenty-fifth year, andalready his marked business ability had recured liini a partnership in the tinii of which his fathcr w;ia niember. His dutios were faithfully performed, and his foresight pecured many valuable suceesses to the firm. Added tohis fiuancia] prosperity, his home iil'e was au nueunimonly happy one, his beautiful wiie proving benelf worthy of hor apparent guod fortune. Two years passed, and an infant carne to bless their home ; and as the little i-trauger grew older she entwined herself around their hearts, binding theni together more closely than ever. But one day a serpent entered their houschold, in the guise of a young business acquaintanee named Harry Reynolds. The latter was a fine-looking man, possesscd nf all the easy graces of a uian of the world, and there was a sort of reckless, dashing charm about him which Charlie Benson could not help but adruire. And so the twain became inseparable friends and eompanions. It was not until young Benson was helplessly fascinated by his new friend that it dawned upon him that theacquaintance was a dangerous one. Reynolds was a member of a very congenial "club," whose rooms, ostensibly ütted up ior literary and like elevating amusement-, were in reality used for the purposes of gambling and drinking. Charlie soon came to enjoy his evenings at the club rooms with a zest whioh was keener ibr the newness to him ; and slowly, almost unconsciously, he was drawu into their pastimes. It was a dark, rainy, dreary November evening. Ellen Benson sat in her own little sitting-room, her face pressed against the cold, black window-pane, gazinu out Upon tbe dimly-lighted street. Lattle llosa had been put to bed an hour tifrit, and the fair young mother had come hither to think- to ponder upon the in¦iva-ing strangeness in the manner ol' her Charlie. And while her mind was dwelling upon the matter, the door opened, and tho obieot of her thoughts entered, ciad ia overcoat and overshoes ready for the street. " Whithertonight, Charlie?" Mrs. J'.cnson questioned, lifting hereyesto his hatidsome countenanue. There was just a suspicion of tcar-drops upon her check, but the young man did not observe them. l'p to tho club parlors, of course. lleynolds would not Iet mo say nay to him lo-nigbt, and he is such a pleasant wort of :'ellow, one bates to offend him. But I wilj return early, and we will have a game of clicss. Won t that do ?" He had made that same protnise the iight before, Imt had i'urgotten all about it. i Ie bent and kisod the upturnc.d li])H as hc spoke, and bei'ure a remunstrantíc could bc uttered he was gone. A littlo wav up the avenue he eneounercd Harry Hcynolds, and together they epaired to the elegant clubrooms. Reynolds seeuied in unusually good spirits thiit evening, and his compamon soon took the contagión, while both partioitated in the mad pleasuro which could only ie onjoyed when the brain was fired with wine. llours pafsed, and still tlie revelry went on, while, alas ! for Charlie, still unaccusimu:d to the power of the wine-cup, he won found himse4f in a state of drunken lewildennent, only conscious of a reckless exhilaration of spirits. l'resently a loud, thrilling cry from the treet catnc to his ears, and a moment later he door was ílung opeo and a policcmun intered and callcd the name of Charlie Jenson. In a dim sort of way he heard he man ,-ay : " It is your house, Mr. Benson, and it annot be saved. Come, everybody is wonering where you are !" The young man had heard the cry of firo upon the street, yetsomehow he could but ï.'ilf'onmprehend the meaningof theofficer. Jut Ilarry Reynolds grasped his arm and lalf dragged him from the room, placed his lat upon his head, and then led him out upoo the street. Tt was raining fast, and the cool drops ¦11 upon his flushed face and cooled the ever in bis veins. He could not walk alone without reeling, but his companion held on o his arm, and in five minutes they were t the scène of the conflagration. Thon, 'or the first time, hc rcalized that it was his alatial home that was burning, that it was lis beautiful wife whomhesaw borne hclpessly to an adjacent house. At the same noment ho thought of little Rosa, whoni ie liad lelt, .slumbering in hor crib several uiurs ugo, and a sudden agonized ery rOM to his lipa (luit tlirilled the spectators with horror. " My ehild ! my little Rosa! Have you eavod my clüld?" "What! a child in the house uowi" i liy did we Dot know of tlii.s sooncr ?" It was a firoman who spöké, and lie planeed sharply at the now white fái the youn.i; niiiti. Without a word of' reply, Cliarlie da toward the entrance, wboooa a unie ol'iiKike was pounufr. A. dosen fasndi vroro rjaclied out to restrain him, and with mingled teiror aod the effeets oi' his recent potations, he bcoume unconsoiaus, and was borne from the .¦pot. - 4 When ('liarlin Benson returned to sensibility, a fair, Bweet la r was bonding over liiuj, and wnicthiuc warm and ujoist lell upen his face. Slowltherooollectl inci'lontsof ili:it terrible nipli: i "Oh, Kllen, my dariillgt" he cricd, leebly. "iïu.sli, Chariic!" audakiss wasdroppod npon his tmehoad. " Yon h:w LtíCu very i], and niu-tiicit excite your.-cll." " Bul liosa- i.s blio " " Suvcd, thank lleaven! A Qromau heroica)]; enwred our buriiing hou.se ust in time, and rescued bec troyi a druadful tale." "(iod Le praisod! FAho, do you know that I was - ¦" " I know everylhing, :ind furgive ov'.rything, ' II'' lid ncnt r 'jily, but deep down in his nearl he made a vi.w. Jío pledge wat gigped, bui (jliarlii: Iien.son was pauyed.