The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1881-08-03
A ROMANCE OF LABOR,

him to learn a trade.
"It will make a common man Of
me, father he said qusfpusIs; 81
shall be as dirty as blacksmilra and
have hands ike coal heayer.fsr )
"And if ffyou think, Fred, that
wearing fine clothes and having
white hands make you gentleman,
let me tell you, sir, that ycd are a
very common man to,begin With. "a
good trade might help soatotrder
notions of gentlemanhood.
Then l looked az the h1dsome
young fellow-for he was ,Handshme
land. ] thought just her Staye
fGaskill. Steve had mad his marx
now, but many years agolN lNheard just
such a talk between him and old 10.
siah Gaskill, relative to the young
man learning his fathers trade of a
wood stapler.
'It's dirty business, father" said
the splendid Steve, in full evening
dress, "and | hate the smell Of oil
and the sight of these men in blue
blouses. l hope that l shall have
something to do better for myself
than that"
every well, lad, what is it lhou'd
fain be?"
"a lawyer, father"
"The're nanght but a lazy, Quar-
relsome set, but thou shalt never say
that | stood in the gate. Be a law
yer, lad. I'll speak to Denham TO-
morrow about thee"
So young Steve was articled to
Denham & Duwnes to study law,
especial conveyaneing. He was an
only son, but had three sisters, and
over them and his mother he exer.
cised supreme influence.
Whatever Steve did was right,
whatever he said was beyond dis
pute. Even old Josiah, with his
sound sense, was in spite Of himself,
swayed by the und;sputed acknowl-
edgment of Steve's superiority. lie
would not advise his son to be law
yer, but seeing that Steve was not
afraid to lie one, he was rather proud
of the lads pluck and ambition.
ltcost them good DEAL Steve's
tastes were expensive and be fell
Itfdturafiy Anlonga d Class OF men who
led him into many Extravaganza
There were occasionally awkward
scenes, but Steve, supported by his
mother and sisters, always cleared
every scrape, and finally satisfied the
family pride by being regularly ad-
mitted upon the roll Of Her Majesty's
attorneys.
In the meantime his father had
been in failing health; soon after this
he died. Most of his savings had
been secured for the helpless women
of the Gaskil family, and Steve now
found himself with a profession and
a thousand pounds to give him u fair
start in it. People sail old Gaskill
had acted very wi'.eIy, and Steve had
sense enough TO acQucsce in public
opinion. he knew too, that as long
as his mother or sisters had shilling
they would share it with him.
So he hopefully opened an Office in
his native town Of Leeds, and waited
for clients. But Yorkshire men are
proverbially cautious; u young law
yer was not their ideal. Steve could
not look crafty and wise under any
circumstances, and that first year he
did not make enough to pay hisrent.
Nevertheless he did not in any
way curtail his expenses; and when
the summer holidays arrived, he
went as usual, to a fashionable wa.
tering'place. 1t happened that year
he saw the debut of Miss Elizabeth
Braithwaite, great heiress and a
very handsome girl. Steve was at.
tracted by her beauty, and her great
wealth was not q drawback in his
eye. In short time he perceived
that Miss Braithwaite favored him
above all other pretenders to her
hand, and he began to consider the
advantages of a rich wife.
His profession had hitherto been a
failure, his one thousand pounds was
nearly spent; his three sisters were
all on the point of marriage, a con.
dition which might seriously modify