The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-05-04

INTO nOtlce, anu renuer ninI PoPuiai Will
those who, to use his own expression
'could make it pay" He soon worked
his way into the Office of P. @. NJ, which
in his skillful hands became quite lucra'
tive. And thus commenced his career in
the race which he had purposed even
from his childhood to run. Circumstan-
ees favored his hopes. Sometimes the
homes of refugees-who were obliged te
sell in order to obtain the means of SUBJ
sistence-were bought for a trife. A
pure act of charity on the part OF the
kind-hearted Maj. Egan, who of course
could have no use for property in the
enemy's lines. Running the blockade D
too, became a fruitful source of gain to
the lucky worsAipper of mammon. But
it was when the war, the disastrous war
closed, and the tear-stained cheeks Of
bereaved mothers, wives and lisping
babes paled with sickening fear at the
gaunt features of a homeless poverty
that Maj. Egan gathered in his richest
harvest. More than one beautiful home
in the Sunny South under the hammer
of the auctioneer was knocked off" to
Maj. Egan for a song, and the lucky
speculator would perhaps after a few
days sell for FIVE times its cost to him the
sweet home, over whose loss some poor
martyred patriots wife was weeping and
recalling its departed joys. In almost
every Southern State Maj. Egan owned
property. Already men applauded, and
alas, it is too true women smiled sweetly
on the man, who they said had bravely
breasted the pillows of adversityl Maj
Egan's life was truly in fair way Of
being called grand success.
It was under such auspices that Rich
ard Egan made his first visit to Berkley
Hall as suitor for the hand of Marion
Maham. But let not the frank reader
suppose that the cautious and wary Lover
would make demonstrations so early ir
the campaign. His first object was tc
survey the position and take notes. Wig
liant and cunning as he was it was moi
strange that in very few days he
shrewdly suspected that strong riva
barred the door of the girls heart agains
his entrance. But this knowledge only
gave the excitement of opposition to hi
ardent desires and his determined will.
One night Richard Egan stood fol
hours gazing out into the cold moonlight
and before he sought his couch made s
memorandum of this resolve: "Resolved
That Marion Maham shall become tht
wife of Richard Egan. Money shall VIII
Harry Maham in despite of his heroics
The want of money shall win the poo
invalid mother to magnify its value
Harry won, her mother won, will wiz
Marion Maham if legion of Huber
Grays hold the citadel of her heart
Yes, gold, all-powerful gold, shall vii
the dayP'
Once fortnight, sometimes oftener
Maj. Egan repeated his visit to Berkle.
Hall. For few times, the pleasure the!
gave his hospitable entertainers was un
feianed and unalloyed, but Marion sooI
felt (for it was at first scarcely percepti
ble) that change had taken place il
her frank and cheerful brother. H
who, when forced to lay down his swori
to superior numbers, with moral ant
christian heroism unsurpassed even b.
his soldierly courage, had manfully ac
cepted his changed position, and cheer
fully determined in the great battle o
life to be conquering hero, was becom
ing moody and irritable misanthrope
And with woman's unerring instinct
she traced the sad change to the adven
of Maj. Egan at Berkley Hall. AM
then she bowed her head in humbl
prayer as she thought that she, too, hat
not escaped, unscathed the influence
his worldly spirit. His frequent quota
tion, "no6lessc o5lige" had not been with
out effect on the petted heiress of tn
once wealthy Mahams, who had ofteI
paused when engaged in some irksom
drudgery and petulantly exclaimed: "
was born for higher things! this shoul
be the work of menials." But quickl
was heard the low sweet voice of admo
milton, which whispers to all who Low
the Master, "It is Gods work. He put
teth down one and setteth up another.
The voice was heard and obeyed, for rails
ing her beautiful eyes to heaven, Mario
exclaimed: eyes, truly 'noblesss obHge
what nobler birthright can we claim
than children of Heavens glorious King
What higher work cansye desire than t
do His will?"
Thus, Marion was enabled to resist th
evil influence to which poor Harry
whose temptations we must admit wer
greater-was passively yielding.
1t was after one of these protracte
visits that Maj. Egan on returning to tn
city left an unpleasant blank in tn
home circle at the Hall. The Major ha
been cheerful even to gaiety, for jus
previous to his visit he had made luck
speculation in which, by brilliant cou
de main, he had acquired several thou
sand dollars. Of this 'sgreat luck" a
called it, he was never weary talking.
so happened that just about that tim
everything was going a tort ct traue'
with poor Harry; his greenbacks becam
fewer each day, while an almost empt