“‘What a pity it was you did not start there when your uncle first wrote requesting you to come!’
“‘What a pity it was that such a wretch as I was ever born!’
“‘Harry, don’t talk so; let us hope for brighter days.’
“‘Hope and I have long since parted company, and Misfortune rules the roost with me now. The goddess of fortune is supposed to be blind, but that is a grand mistake, else how could she throw her darts with such unerring aim at my poor carcass?’
“‘Harry, you have met with many disappointments, I admit, but you know the sun always shines brighter after a storm; and I believe if you will put your trust in God, do your duty with a brave heart, and command your passions, you will secure happiness yet.’
“‘Don’t lecture me, Ed--I can’t bear it; I have committed many errors, I confess, but it is too late to mend the matter now. The truth is, I am nothing but a walking bulk of errors anyway, and the sooner I die, the better it will be for the living.’
“‘Dear Harry, you distress me beyond measure by talking so; it shows a lack of courage--a disposition to shrink from trouble when it comes.’
“‘No doubt you think so; it is very easy to philosophize about other people’s troubles; but let the whirlwind sweep away all your hopes of happiness and dash you down to the very lowest pit of despair, then you would talk differently. You love Lottie, I know.’
“‘Ah, Harry, I adore her, I worship her--she is the light of my existence--the delight of my soul--my very heart’s idol--my angel, my Heaven, my all!’
“‘Very well; suppose she were to betray you, and sink into a slough of infamy as deep as that in which Viola has sunk--could you then lecture so eloquently on patience and hope?’
“‘I beseech you not to talk that way; it sounds like a sacrilege to me. You don’t state a supposable case. My Lottie is as pure as an angel in Heaven.’
“‘So I was foolish enough to think about Viola. I had as much faith in her as you have in Lottie. I loved her as well as it is possible for you to love my sister. I believe God has sent this awful curse upon me for worshiping one of his creatures instead of Him. Don’t talk to me about the honesty of women. How could you expect me to have faith in them, since Viola’s fall? Ed, I am not a murderer at heart, but that damnable villain, Bowles, must be punished. If he will fight me, he shall have a fair chance; if not, he must take the consequences. You know he first insulted Lottie, and I knocked him down with a stick for it. He then swore he would have revenge, if he took a life-time to get it. And when he found out that I loved Viola, he began to invent schemes to ruin her, and you know the result, alas! too well. He is a shrewd, calculating, cold-hearted villain, and I dare say no girl left like Viola, unprotected, could withstand his devilish plans. I will do Viola the justice to say that I still think she was virtuous; but what can a poor orphan girl do when such a cruel villain as Bowles arrays his plans for her destruction? Druggists will compound medicines for money that will steal away the thinking faculties of the brain, and when that is done, the victory is easily won. How is it that our laws will allow such a villain to march in triumph over the ruined hopes of honest men? But enough of this, Ed. I’ll settle with Mr. Bowles.’