The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-09-11

! In this one ,trsnsaotion, (which will not
laffect yourleg Ultimate sbnsipess,I you will
secure astoiear profit Of $40, COO; more
than you will obtain in IA whole year,
through the old legalized channels. y
Eyes, or in two years either; for, as
you know, in our branch of trade, pro-
fits were never smaller than at present.
The merchant who saves himself this
year will do we'll"
"And you can be content to merely
save yourself, when you might have any
of the golden prizes that speculation
holds out to the adventurous?"
II dare say, those golden prizes do not
look half so bright to me as they do to
you; for SEQ them only under the sha-
dow of that dark cloud, markcd--'F FL
,,amcial Ruin, that ever overhangs the
haunts of speculation"
Goodbye, Will. Think it over any
how, old fellow; maybe you'll change
your mind, after all
''Success to you, Ralph. You have
taken, as one may say, the express train
to the land of af1luence; let mo beg Of
you, If your velocity permits, to glance
ut the mile stones on your route, and
read the inscriptions thereon, such as
He that hasteth to be rich, shall not be
innocent. He that lovcth silver, shall
not be satisfied with silver; nor lie that
loveth abundance, with increase.
''Thank you," said Ralph, smiling
good-humoredly; "let mo apply your
quotation by finishing the verse: This
is also ranuy.'"
With n pleasant smile for Ralph's
bright, sanguine disposition always chal-
lenged that, William Arnold saw his
friend depart; but his heart was not at
case.
Speculation That treacherous sen
which had engulfed 30 many! Would
Ralph tempt it? Yen, verify. Secure
in his strength and skill, he was eagcr
to try its stormy waters, utterly forget
ting how many noble wrecks slept
fathoms below.
Kalph Somers was the son Of n we'll
to-do merchant, who, by close attention
to business, and careful, frugal habits,
had brought up and educated q large
family. AS each of his children mar
ried, he gave portion, sufficient for
present competence, and means of
future independence. Ho carried his
business intact through the civil war,
and dying soon after, left it to Ralph,
you, reader, IN ex-Confederate officer,
and prosperous, but discontented mer-
chant, thirty-fve years old, and hand
some withal. Just before tho COM
mencement of the war, he had married O
young lady of great beauty and amiabili-
ty, whose supreme aim had even been to
make his home pleasant, and himself
happy. She had succeeded so far, that
he was as happy rs woman could make
him; but business men have life out
side OF the home circle, and in that life
he had grown restless and discontented
at the slow sales and small profits. He
fretted himself into n state of mind
which is ready to grasp at any hazard
that promises speedy and abundant
riches. He told himself his reason for
desiring wealth, was to place his family
above the reach of possible mischance;
but the true cause was, speculation was
then rampant, ns it is during. and for
some time after, all wars, and he saw
men rising from obscurity to places of
seemingly greater prosperity than that
occupied by himself This his ambi-
tions nature could not brook.
There was about town a man of appa-
rently large means, though where his
means were, no one had any definite
knowledge. He dressed handsomely,
lived profCsely, was always full-handed,
talked contemptuously of the paltry
sum Of n million, and was universally
considered q rich man. He was presi-
dent Or director of some half dozen
stock companies, mutual or otherwise;
and his friendly notice was an honor not
conferred on every one; therefore, the
moro felt by those whom he, in his con
descension, singled out to be the resci-
pients of it. Latterly ho had distin-
guished Ralph Somers, by many tokens
of his favor. His handsome carriage
was often seen before Ralph's door, and
Ralph was often seen in it, as it proudly
swept around The public drive.
This man, Weldon was his name, was
connecting grand project for making
money. The names of The old ring were
somewhat worn, and he wanted some
new ones to grace and strengthen his
new and darling scheme. Ralph Somers
was known to be solid man, sober, at
tentive to business, and not burdened
with debt. His name carried considera-
BILE weight in the community, and his
eager, ambitious disposition, made him
n ready tool of deeper and more design
ing men.
Weldon's great plan was for the de-
velopment Of some home enterprise, and,
cOnSeuucntly becama immnnselv ,opu