The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-01-10
LORD STEWART.
William Washburn, in Cleveland Sun.l

WHtam WdSnOufn, iu OleVcl9uo oun.l
 A. T. Stewart awoke one bright spring morning. After a short prayer he rose and dressed himself with more than his usual dispatch. He then drew up the curtain of his window and looked out at the huge marble palace which had just been finished at the corner of Thirty fourth street and Fifth avenue.
 As he stood looking at the gorgeous dwelling which he intended to make his home the next day, three ideas impressed his mind with increasing intensity.
 He thought of the marble contractor whom his own close figuring had driven to suicide. Pshawl it was but the for tune of war. He dismissed the thought with shrug of his shoulders.
 The second mental picture was more persistent It had long been his august custom, on entering his store on rainy day, to lean against the nearest pillar, and lit his foot in silence. This was the signal for fierce competition between his partners and employees for the priv ilege of taking of his lordship's rubbers. The day before it had so happened that western newcomer had been first on the spot. Instead, however, of deftly re- moving the dripping rubber, the novice had jerked his masters heel higher than his head had seated him on a more secure but less digni6ed foundation than single foot. The deep frown upon Stewards brow augured i'll for the un- couth barbarian should he ever fall into his former employers power.
 But this thought was driven away by third far more annoying The best of the girls who ran his heavier sewing machines had been offered S. week higher wages by another firm.
 "The ingrate l" he muttered. "To try and blackmail me out of two dollars a week. She must go. The house is bleeding at every pore"
 But the sight of his marble palace glittering in the morning sunlight drew even this thorn from his memory, and he gave free scope to his joyous anticipa- tions. His keen mind knew the effect of marble and money on mems imagina- tions, and he already saw his palace the Mecca of the aristocrats of the whole country. In a happy reverie he went down stairs, breakfasted and drove to church.
 His day-dream was rudely broken by his clergyman's text.
 "But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee then whose shall those things be which theu hast provided?'"
 The great merchant fixed his eyes upon the preacher, who was an orator of no mean ability. The man of God painted the state of the rich man, who fared deli. cately every day and whose only care at length grew to be the question what to do with his overf lowing wealth.
 "And he said, This will do; l will pull down my barns and build greater. And will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink and be merry
 But God said unto him: 'Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee.'"
 Stewart trembled: he was seized with superstitious presentiment that the day he went to live ia his palace would be his last day on earth. He forgave the sewing machine girl; and in that same hour began to think out those great schemes of philanthropy, that alter his death were frustrated by his executors. This was the real reason why Stewards palace remained so long vacant.