Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-12-15
The Stury Teller.
THE REWARD OF MERIT.

Annie had arrived at the mature age of
(do not start, reader,) twenty-seven, and was
vet in the state of single blessedness. Some
how or other she had not even fallen in love
as yet "Had she no ohers?' What sim
pie question! Did you ever know half
million dollars to 60 begging? Offers? Yes'
scores of them 1t may be accounted as one
of her oddities, perhaps. but whenever the
subject happened to be touched upon by her
father. Annie would say she wanted some
one who could love her for herself, and she
must have assurance of this, and how could
she in her present position Thus matters
stood, when Annie was led to form and exc
cute what will appear very strange resolu
ton but she was resolute girl. We must
now 60 back six years.
One dark, rainy morning in November,
as our old friend was looking composedly at
the cheerful fire in the CRATE of his counting
room, really indulging in some serious re.
Elections of the past and future. the far fu.
ture, too, a gentleman presented himself, and
inquired for Mr.. Bremen. The old man Ut
tered not word, but merely bowed. There
was that in his looks which said II am be-
The stranger might have been some thirty
years or so of age. He was dressed in black
q mourning weed was on his hat, and there
was something in his appearance which SEEM
ed to indicate that the friend whose loss ne
deplored had recently departed. The letter
of introduction which he presented to Mr.. b.
was quickly yet carefully perused, and as
it was somewhat unique, we shall take the
liberty of submitting it to the inspection OF
the reader:
--, II mo-, ls-.
FRIEND PAUL This will introduce to thee,
friend Charles Copeland. He has come to thy
city in pursuit of business. / have known him
from youth up. Thou mayest depend upon
him for aught that he can do, and shalt not lean
on him on broken reed. If thou canst 90
anything for him. thou mayest peradventure ben,
eft thysef, and cause to rejoice, thy former ana
present friend, M1cHA LOOMS.
"Itis not every one who can get old Micah
Loomis endorsement on his character" said
Paul Bremen to himself, as he folded up the
letter of a we'll known associate of former days.
"Old Micah is good for quarter of a million,
or ANYTHING else-it will dol want him
getting old-business increasing-must have
some more help-now as we'll as any time"
The old gentleman looked at all this. as be
stood gazing in perfect silence on the man
before him. At length be opened his lips.
"Mr. Copeland, you know all about
books?"
81 have some few years experience"
"Any objection to a place here ?-pretty
close hard work thousand year"
"None in the world"
"When can you begin ?"
snow"
A real smile shone upon the old mans
face. 1t fingered there like the rays of the
setting sun among clouds of evening, lighting
up those seeming hard, dark features.
A stool was pushed to the new conner,
books were opened, matters explained, direc-
tions given, the pen was dipped in the ink,
and in short, before an hour had passed away,
you would have thought that the old man
and the young man had known each other
for years.
In reference to our new friend it will be
sufficient to remark, that he had been liberal
ly educated, as the phrase goes, and though
he had entered early into business, he had
not neglected the cultivation Of his mind and
heart He had found time to cherish gen.
eral acquaintance with the most noteworthy
authors of the day, both literary and religi-
Gus, and with many of past times. After
few years of success in the pursuits to which
he had devoted himself misfortunes came
thick and fast upon him. He found himself
left with scarcely any property, and alone in
the world, save his two lovely sisters.
AS year after year passed away, he grew
steadily in the confidence Of his employer,
who felt, though he said it not. that in him
he possessed treasure
Very little, indeed, was said by either of
them not connected with the routine of bu
siness, and there had been no intercourse
whatever between them, save in the counting
room. Thus six years went by, towards the
close of which period old Mr.. Bremen was
found looking with much frequency and
earnestness at the young man before him.
Something was evidently brewing in that old
head. What could it be: And then, too,
at home he looked so curiously. The Irish
servant was puzzled. "Sure," said James,
Something's coming" Annie, too, was
somewhat perplexed, for those looks dwelt
much on her.
"What is it, father" she said to him one
morning at the breakfast table, as he sat
gazing steadfastly in her face; what is it
Do tell me"
II wish you'd have him. burst forth like
an avalanche. known him for six years
true as ledger-a gentleman-real sensible
man-dont talk much-regular as clock
prime for business-worth his weight in gold"
"Have who, father? what are you talking
about?"
my head clerk, Copeland--you don't
know him-I do-haven't seen anybody else
worth an old quill"
Annie was puzzled. She laughed, howev-
er. and said "Marry my fathers clerk
what would people say ?"
"Humbug, child, all humbug-worth forty
of your whiskered, lounging, lazy gentry
say what they please what do I care? what
do you care what's money after all got
enough of it-want sensible man-want
somebody to take care of it; all humbug."
whats all humbug, father?'
"Why, peoples notions on these matters.
Copeland is poor-so was | once-may be
again worlds full of changes-seen great
many of them in my day-can't stay here
long-got to leave you, Annie-wish you'd
like him."
Father, are you serious 2"
Serious, child p And he looked So
Annie was chip of the old block a
strong. minded. resolute girl. A new idea
seemed to strike her.
"Father, if you are really serious in this
matter, III see this Copeland Ill get &C.
quainted with him. If he likes me and |
like him, I'll have him. But he shall love
T