The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1876-09-08
yHE EDEv or WILDWOOD.

Fer once ~ his life he was aroused to
something like consideration Of the
subject in hand.
Paul was four and twenty. At the
age Of eighteen he had been left an
orphan, and heir to an estate worth q
million; and his uucle-his mothers
brother-had been appointed his guar
dian. This uncle was Arson Better
man, an euterprising merchant and n
true-hearted man. After Paul came
of age and became master Of his prop
erty, through the advice of his uncle
he employed lawyer named Lovett
10 act as his agent-to look after rents
and so on--and gradually this Lovett,
who proved to be an apt and ready
man Of business, had gained into his
hands the entire property; and so i'm
plicidy had Paul trusted him that he
had not even demanded vouchers for
his bank transactions.
In fact, Paul Renford had deeener-
ated into lisiless and aiml,ss being.
His natural abilities, Of the very high
est order, had been prostituted by the
mostnseless Of all pursuits-the mere
seeking of pleasure for the purpose of
killing time. At first he had lived
moderately; his youthful vigor had
held him aloof from the need of slim
ulants; but of late, a long continued
round of dissipation-parties, balls,
clubs and billiards, in which night
was appropriated to wakefhlness ard
the day to sleep-had so reduced his
physical vim that without stimulants
he found no comfort.
And now Arson Betterman had
come to inform him that Porter Low
EFT had left the country with every
available scrap of his money.
"Do you mean," gaspcd Paul, when
he could breathe, "that he has taken
all?"
"Yes, every thing. You had al
lowed him such unlimited sway that
he found no difficulty in getting every
dollar into his hands"
"And l am penniless?"
"You know best whether you had
any Of your property invested in bu-
siness."
"Not pernyl'
Then fear you have little at hand
which you can call your own"
I'm Heavens name, uncle Arson,
what shall do?"
Really, Paul, see but two ways
open to you. You can lie down aud
wither and die under the stroke, or
you can do as thousands OF Others
have done in misfortune-arouse your
self, put on the armor of true man
hood, and fight the battle bravely."
II must earn my own living?"
1T would seem So"
"And how?'
II can give you place in my
store"
mo, no; l can not commence the
battle here-not here in the city where
have led the van of folly and dissi-
patton. Let me have time to think"
"All right, my boy; and meantime
/ will be thinking too"
On the following day, Mr.. Better
man called again; but Paul had not
thought what he would do.
"What have you thought, uncle?'
81 tell you what ! have thought my
boy. Back in the country, and not
very far from the city, are the mills
owned by my friend Sargent. They
are in a quiet, secluded village, the
inhabitants of which are mostly his
own operatives. Mr.. Sargent will
give you a clerkship there, and the
pay will be ample for your own sup
port
"But," said Paul, "may we not find
Lovetn"
"As yet, we have been able to find
no clue to his whe reabouts. He is a
man not easily to be entrapped. But
we can try further if you wish"
~ will 60 up and look at the mills"
And so Paul Renford went up to
Wildwood, as Mr.. Sargent had named
his settlement, and he found it rural
and retired enough. But it was a
beautiful spot nevertheless, and he
had strong inclination to accept the
profiered situation. lie returned to
the city on the evening of the day of
Mrs. spuitenstinger's grand party. He
was wondering if he had better 60,
when he learned from a servant of
the house, that no invitation had been
sent him. On that very afternoon he
met the Misses Spuitenstinger on the
avenue, and they did not acknowledge
his salu,ation.
$50, sol" he muttered. "And that
is all am worth to them"
For a little time his heart sunk.
But he rallied.
"Come, come, my boy!" he eyclaim-
ed, shifting himself upon the breast,
"there may be something in life yet.
n. l....lO