South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1877-03-23

For once in his life be VAS aroused 70
something like consideration Of q subject
In hand. ti
Paul was four ant.twcuty. At the
age OF eighteen he had been LEFT m or
phap. and heir to IN estate worth mil.
lion; and his uucle-his mothers broth.
er--had been appointed his guardian.
This uncle WAS Arson Bettcrman, an
enterprising merchant and true heart
ed man. After Paul came OF age. ana
became master OF his property. through
the advice Of his uncle he employed .
lawyer named Lovett 10 act as agent
TO look after rents, and 90 on-and
gradually this Lovett, who proved to be
| an apt and ready man OF business had
! gained into his hands the cutirc control
Of the whole property aud 90 implicitly
had Paul trusted him that he haA mot
even demanded vouchers for his bank
transactions.
In fact. Paul Renford had generated
into listless, aimless being. His nat
ural abilities. OF the very highest order
had been prostituted to the most useless
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 stl.nulants but Of late o
long continued round Of dissipation
parties, balls. clubs. and billiards, in
which night was appropriated to wake.
fulness and 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 Loyett had
left the country with every available
scrap OF his property.
| do YOU mean," gasped Paul, when
he could breathe, "tha. he has taken
all2' eo
"Ycs-everything. You had allowed
him such unlimited sway chat he found
no difficulty in getting every dollar into
| his hands"
"You know best whether you had any
OF your property invested in business or
not"
Not a penny"
"'rhen fear that you have little at
hand which you can call your own
''In heavens name, Uncle Arson, what
shall dop''
Really, Paul, see but two ways O.
pen TO you. You can lie down and with
er and die Under the stroke or you can
do rs thousands Of Others have done in
misiortunc-arouse yourself, put on the
armor OF true manhood and fight the
battle bravely."
81 must earn my own living7"
at would seem So"
/ "And how?''
81 can give you place in my store
mo, no, 1 cannot commence battle
liere-not here in the city. where have
led the van Of folly and dissipation
Let me have time to think"
"All right, my boy. and meantime ]
will he thinking too
On the following day Mr.. Bettermau
called; but Paul had not thought wha,
he would do.
'What have you thought uncle?"
"Pll tell you what have thought nv
boy. Back in the country-and vet
not very far from the city are the mills
owned by my friend Sargent. They arc
hi quiet secluded village. the inhab
tants Of which are mostly his own oper
atives. Mr.. Sargent will give you q
clerkship there, and the pay will he am
pie for Your support.
But" said Paul, ''may we not find
Lovett?"
"As yet we have been able TO gain nc
clue to his whereabouts. lie is a mar
not easy to be entrapped. But we can
try further. il you please"
81 will go up and look at the mills"
And so Paul Renford went up to Wild
wood, as Mr.. Sargent had named his
settlement, and lie found it rural and
retired enough. But it was beautiful
spot, nevertheless. nj he had a strong
inclination TO accept the profrered stu
alton. He returned to the city on the
evening of Mrs. Spitenstinger's grand
party. lie wondered il he had better
go when he learned from the servant OF
the house that no Invitation had been
sent him. On that very afternoon he
met the Misses Spitenstinger on the nv.
enue, and they did not acknowledge his
salutatlohs.
80, So" he muttered land that is
all | am worth TO themI'
For u little time his heart sank; bu.
he rallied.
Come, come, my boy" he exclaimed
shifting himself upon his breast there
may he something in life yet. BE brave 20
And on the very mex; day lie accept.
ed the clcrkslip at the Wildwood mills,
and entered at once upon his duties
For tire lie found IL dull. hard work ;
hut gradually his health improved, and
the yigor OF youth came back TO him,
and under simple living his muscles
grew and strengthened. and his whole
frame came into the perfect tune Of man.
~ beauty and elasticity And now his
duties became light and cheering, and
he sang and Whistled ut his work.
The oyersrer Of tile mills was Mr..
/ Grayson, and with him Paul found a
home.
MIR. Grayson's daughter Della vas A
beautiful. light-hearted, true-spirited
/ girl OF nineteen. She was one of those
blonde beauties whose whole presence
was sunshine, and her merry laugh rim.