The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-04-19
THEHEART OF ROBT. HAMMOND

|
A cold, hard man, whose blood might
have been ice water, and whose heart was
only machine to keep mis- brain in
working order. For Ralph was one of
those workers " no ate his bread in the
sweat of other mems brows; and he
rather prided himself on the fact.
He had married simple, llliterate wo-
man for her money, and she quietly slip
ped out of life after giving birth to son
and daughter, leaving all her property to
her husband. He was not disposed to
consider his marriage an unwise specula.
ton.
How the children grew 1 suppose their
good angels knew. He gave them food
and clothing and shelter and sent them TO
school. But every year he became con-
sciouS that they were growing to an age
when 1t would be impossible longer to ig-
more their existence. And this fact struck
him not unpleasantly one fine summer
evening when they had returned together
for the long vacation.
Robert, the eldest, had became really
handsome fellow, and the father ac-
knowledged this the Lore readily, as, in
appearances he
"Stood beside him like his own youth"
But here the resemblance ceased; NOR
ally and me ptslly no two men could be
more unlike.
Lucy Hammond was brighter, fairer
copy of her mother, q pretty, gentle
girl,
"Not too bright and good
| For human natures daily food"
So Ralph, coming one night to the dull,
silent house, which he called "home,
found there new element which he
scarcely knew how to manage. For
though he acknowledged little love for
his children, be was very sensitive rs to
whatever touched his own pride or COM
fort; and it gave him new sensation of
pleasure TO consider this fine, manly
youth as his son, and the bright, pretty
| girl rs a bond to his wishes and COM
mands.
However, he did not hing on impulse,
he thought over every circumstance
which might effect his welfare; and then
resolved to take Robert into his office and
make Lucy the manager OF home
which he refurnished with Ostentatious
but grudging extravaganza.
At first Roberts share in the business
was contl ed to its most legitimate as
poets, and being apt and clever, he won
his way very rapidly in his fathers favor
But, as he became more familiar with the
secrets of the business, and iosnd honor,
integrity, friendship, only so much stock
in trade, bitter disputes occurred between
them.
Not for this, however, had the elder
Hammond any idea of disolving the
business relationship he had formed with
his son. Unwittingly to Robert, his open
ceuntenance and free, gentlemanly nun
ners were useful IN allurlng that conf
dence which his own crafty face would
never have won.
In the second year of their alliance,
however, these disputes grew every day
more determined IN character and
Robert finally summed up all his faults
by romantic and improvident marriage
with girl whom old Ralph declared, in
a passion OF anger, 'was not worth pen
n.y. For youth, beauty, love and virtue
were not marketable assets to man VINO
knew no standard but cash.
The Jesuit of this marriage was total
arrangement between father and son,
and the erasure of the latter's name from
the business.
This did not trouble Robert much, for
he had long spoken in indignant terms
of the principles on which 1t was con-
Quoted. Besides, the girl he loved was
his wife; he had one thousand dollars IN
hard cash, and unlimited funds IN the
Bank of Hope and Energy. -, ;,
Hope told him many agolden tale, ana
urged him westward, with promises
which were we'll seconded by his neces-
sites.
Only one thing held him in New York
the face Of his pretty, gentle sister;
but she with the unseifshness OF true
affection, forgot her own loneliness IN ms
welfare, and urged his departure. n
Before leaving he sought his fathers
presence to win from him some KIND woru
of promise or forgiveness; but the oid
man was very bitter in his anger and
disappointment.
al have no time, SIR" he replied to
Roberts petition for forgiveness; IL have
no time for such fooleries. II you are
really sorry, come back TO your desk
| again; if YOU can't do that, shall under
stand my forgiveness to mean q share OIL
nv few thousand dollars when l die"
Father, l cannot do business in the
way that YOU propose; ! should lose my
seli.rcspect; and l cannot sell myself,
even if your thousands were millions.
"Nobody wants to buy you, sir, be-
lieve, ut any prioel am sorry that l
have no more time at your disposal" So
saving, he dropped his eyes on the inter
est table, and Robert went away with u
swelling heart and mist of tears in his
eyes.
Westward the young couple started
next day, their whole personal possessions
in enc not very large trunk. just for
half an hour they stopped, on their way
to the depot, to kiss the sad little face OF
Lucy and arrange for some method OF
communication with her.
lls"The West" was then even wider
term than now; it meant anything be-
tween Cleveland and the gates OF sunset.
Robert Hammond pushed forward until
he reached little city of shanties stand
ing on the low, swsmpy shores Of Lake
Michigsn-the embryo of the future
Chicago. There he rested, not so much
from choice Is necessity, his funds beng
greatly reduced and his wife sick with a
low fever.
Very hard, indeed, were the first two
years 10 the adventurers; poverty, suffer-
! ing, and pititul sense Of the incongrI-
Gus clements among which theJ had tAl.