The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-05-17
"That hope blasted!" repeated the unhappy

"That hope BLASTED" !" repeated the unhappy
young man.
Aud what was this fondIy cherished hope,
the extinguiShment of which had moved him
So deeply? few words will explain. Mr..
Hartman was man of considerable wealth,
and had Just closed a large contract with the
State, for the erection Of certain public works,
to be commenced Immediately. On that very
day Westfield had learned the fact that he was
quietly in search Of a competent, confidential,
di>bursng clerk, whose salary would be double
what he was receiving; and it was his purpose
to see him Immediately, offer himself, and en-
deavor, if possible, to secure the situation. He
had called at his office twice during the day,
but failed to see him. The manner in which
AIR. Hartman met his advances in the evening,
satisfied him that to ask for the situation so
much desired, would be altogether vain.
WeStfeld was young man Of integrity
competent in business matters, and industr
Gus. He had his faults and his weaknesses, as
we all have; but these were greatly overha
anced by his virtues. Yet was he not above
temptation. Who is? Who has not some
easily beSetting sin?. Who can sly that he
'u,ay not fal7
To Mr.. Hartman, as a private clerk. West
field would have been invaluable. He was
Just the kind of man be was in search Of
Moreover, he was thinking OF him for this very
position of private clerk, when the poison of
i'll natured detraction eutered his mind, aud he
TUNED his thoughts away from him.
The more he br"udcd over his diSappoimt.
memt, and pondercd the unhappy condition IF
his affairs, the more deeply did the mind of
We>ttieId become disturbed
81 cannot bear these thoughts he said,
starting Up from chair in which he had been
sitting IN gloomy dependency, and in the ef
fort TO escape his troubled feelings, he went
toith upon the street. 1t was late in the even
ing. There WAS no purpose in the young mans
mind as he walked, square after square, with
hasty steps; and he was about returning. when
he was uiet by man with whom he had
slight acquaintance, and who seemed partlcu-
larly we'll plea ed tn see him.
"Thc very man was thinking about" said
Mr. Lee that wa, his name. "Qutite coin
c:demce Which way a,e you going"
"Homr," replied Westlie'd, somewhat in
differently.
"l1 eny particular hurry'"
s.No."
"Come with me then9 =
"Where are you g"ineF 9
",ru the Union House. There's to he a rattle
tiere, at ten o'clock, for six gold Watches
Glance IN each watch only one dollar. Eve
got five chauccS. They are splendid watches.
Come along aud try your luck"
81 don't Gaze if do," said Wes,field.
He was ready t" catch ut almost anything
that would div ert his mind. Under other CIR
cum -tauce>, this w"uld have been no temlta-
tom So'hc went to the Unim Hotel, ventur.
ed dollar. and most unexpectedly, became
III. owner ni gold watch. New thoughts
aud new feelings were stirring i'll his mind, as
he to"k his way h"luewa'd that night, excited
as we'll ny sone thug> seen and heard at the
Union House, rs b, the go"d fortune which
had attended his first venture of Il small SUN
of money in the hope Of gaining largely Oh the
deposit.
The effect of his cold treatment of West
field did not escape the observation of Mr.
Hartman. lie saw that the young nian was
both hurt and troubled that he kept a'oof
frou the rest of the company, and s''"n retired.
"Do Som know young " e>ttleld {" he inqulr
ed OF a gentleman, with whom, sometime al
terwnrds, he happened To be in conversations
'Verl we'll" Was the answer.
elias he good business caparity"
"Few youngsmen excel him."
"Do you know anything of his character"
1T stands fair
81 have heard that he did not treat his former
employer, Mr.. Green, very well"
Gle left him for Il higher salary; and, as he
has neither aud sister 10 support, lie was
bound, in my opinion, to seek the largest pos
>ibr return for his labor"
"Ilad Green no particular claim on him .
"Nn more than you or lave"
81 head the fact cf his leaving the employ.
uclt of Mr. Green Commented on in way
that left on my mind an uuiavorable in'pres.
sion of the young man."
"Some people are always more ready t"
suppose evil than good of anuther," was re-
piled to this.
81 AIN in search of a competent young man
as private rlerk, and thought of WestIieId {;
but these disparaging remarks caused nle to
decide against him.
"In my opinion" said the gentleman with
whom Mr. Hartman was conversng "y"u ill
search good while before finding any one so
we'll suited to yonr purpose, in every respect,
as young WestfeId.'
"You speak earnestly in regard to him.
81 do, and because know him well J."
4 very different impression of the young
man was now entertained by Mr.. Hartmann
1t was past eleven o'clock on that night as he
rode homeward, passing oil his way to the
Union House, and just at the moment when
Westfeld, in c. mpany with several young
men, came forth after the closing Of the raffl'.
They were ta king loud and hoiserously. MIR.
Hartman leaned from the carriage window, at
tracted by their voic $, and his eyes rested for
moment on West6eld. The form was ia