Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-09-18
4rettp Stories,
THE REWARD OF MERIT.

Annie naQ arrived al IHe Udture aye VI
(dosnot start, reader, } twenty-seven, and was
YET in the state of single blesseGness. Some
how or other she had not even fallen in love
as yet. HHad she no offers ?" What a
simple question Did you ever know half a
million dollars to gobegging? Offers =? Yes,
scores Of them! 1t may be accounted as
one of her oddities, perhaps, but whenever
the subject happened to be touched upon by
her father, Annie would say she wanted some
onesHho could love her for herself, and she
must have assurance of this, and how could
she in her present position Thus matters
stood, when Annie was led to form and exc
cute what will appear very strange resolu-
ton; but she was a resolute girl. We must
now 60 back six years.
One dark, rainy morning in November, as
our old friend was looking composedly at
the cheerful fire in the CRATE of his counting
room, really indulging in some serious re-
.fectioRs> Of the past and future, the far fu-
ture, too, a gentleman presented himself,
and inquired for Mr.. Bremen. The old
man uttered not word, but merely bowed.
There was that in his looks which said ~
am he"
The stranger nigh have been some thirty
years or so of age. He was dressed in black,
mourning weed was on his hat, and there
was something in his appearance which
seemed to indicate that the friend whose
loss he deplored had recently departed The
letter of introduction which he presented to
Mr.. B. was quickly yet carefully perused,
and as it was somewhat unique, we shall
take the liberty of submitting it to the in
spection of the reader:
C., IL mo-, lS-.
FRIEND PAUL This will introduce to
thee, friend Charles Copeland. He has come
to thy city in pursuit of business. have
known him from youth up. Thou mayest
depend upon him for aught that he can do,
and shalt notlean on him as on broken reed.
Ifthou canst do anything for him, thou mayest
peradventure bene6tthyself, and cause to re-
joics, thy former and present friend,
MICAH LOOMS"
'It is not every one who can get old Mi
cab Loomis' endorsement on his character"
said Paul Bremen to himself, as he folded
up the letter of well-known associate of
former days. "Old Micah is good for a
quarter of million, or anything else-it
will dol want him-getting old, business
increasing-mu have some more help-now
as we'll as any time"
The old gentleman looked at all this, as
he stood gazing in perfect silence on the man
before him. At length he opened his lips
"Mr. Copeland, you know all about
books ?"
81 have had some years experience"
"Any objection to place here ?-pretty
close work-thousand year,
"None in the world"
"When can you begin ?"
sNow."
A real smile shone upon the old mans
face. 1t fingered there like the rays of the
setting sun among clouds of evening, light
ing up those seeming hard, dark features.
A stool was pushed to the new conner,
books were opened, matters explained, direc-
tions given, the pen was dipped in the ink,
and in short, before an hour had passed away,
you would have thought that the old man
and the young man had known each other
for years.
In reference to our new friend it will be
sufficient to remark, that he had been liber-
ally educated, as the phrase goes, and though
he had entered early into business, be had
not neglected the cultivation of his mind and
heart. He had found time to cherish gen.
eral acquaintance with the most noteworthy
authors Of the day, both literary and reli-
gious, and with many of past times. After
few years of success in the pursuits to
which he had devoted himself, misfortunes
came thick and fast upon him. He found
himself left with scarcely any property, and
alone in the world, save his two lovely sis
ters.
AS year after year passed away, he grew
steadily in the confidence of his employer,
who felt, though he said it not, that in him
he possessed treasure.
Very little, indeed, was said by either of
them not connected with the routine of bu-
siness, and there had been no intercourse
whatever between them, save in the count
ing-room. Thus six years went by, towards
the close of which period old Mr.. Bremen