The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-05-27
ROTHA'S HONEYMOON.

Eaxneo DIS elQeriy Cashier dS AS SeI-NAAAo"~ w
leave the inner Office. . -
,a,!4I suppose young Chesters marriage
takes ttaaiszeesspe!aes place tomorrow. Do you know
anything of the connection that lie g
forming"
.4Only good, sir. The bride, Miss
Glyn, is daughter of my oldest friends.
A truer-hearted girl than Rotha never
lived; and the praise, or blame, OF
Chester's introduction to her rests with
me-" -, a..
aThat should indicate" " said Mr.. Fres-
ton, smiling, 4that you estimate his
character highly"
2 u have every reason for doing So"
GThank you, Mr.. Gasccygne. Kindly
tell Chester that I wish to see Sim."
Rodney Chester, being junior cashier
to Messrs, Finch & Preston, bankers,
seldom entered, their private Office.
Therefore it was with qnickened pulses
he obeyed Mr.. Freston's summons. That
gentleman greeted him pleasantly, albeit
he sighed half enviously, as he contrasted
his own gray hairs and declining vigor
with the stalwart proportions and hand
some features of the honest-eyed young
fellow awaiting his commands, every flber
Of whose being was tense with fullness OF
life, power, and joyous anticipation.
$50 you propose visiting the Riviera, I"
Mr.. Preston said, concluding 4 few words
of congratulation and inquiry. us Nice
included in your route?'
"Probably we may see it; but Cannes
is our destination, a relative resident
there having offered us his villa while
absent on yachting cruise"
@Then will you execute q small COM
mission for the firm? My request may
seem somewhat unreasonable at such
tire, but it can only be entrusted to a
confidential agent. Several years ago
a man named Warren became under
peculiar circumstances, our debtor for
considerable sum- thereupon disappear
ing. Quite recently we have learned
that he now resides at Monaco, under
the alias of Duval. To recover that loan
will be your object. This paper" hand
ing to Rodney an envelope, contains all
necessary directions, a sum for extra ex-
penses, and cheque of which MIR.
Finch and beg your acceptance, with
our good wishes for happiness in your
new state"
So ended the momentous interview.
But as he recalled it during his home
ward walk, Rodney Chester's whole de-
meanor underwent a change. The pleas
ure-flush faded from cheek and brow,
introspective thought filmed his eyes,
the glad anticipation of marital dignity
dropped from him like mantle.
Why should the name Of Monaco, a
place he had never visited, ring in his
ears such warning knell, and chill his
veins with terror vaguely apprehended?
Why? Because, as at the invocation of
Endor's witch the semblance of a dead
prophet rose from vacuity, so the ghost
of a past believed by Rodney to be dead
indeed, rising at an unexpected word,
confronted him in the guise Of a living
possibility. :. -, -, -, -
When Rodney entered Finch & Fres-
toms bank in Glastonbury, his parents,
Sondly soIcitous for his preservation
from the dissipation of city life, placed
him with widow who boarded small,
7but select, number of youths. These she
Aermed Sher boys" and labored. under
ashe desusion that she so surrounded them
with home attractions, influences, and
rehnements, as, to erect an impalpable
but adamantine barrier between them
and icoaser6 allurements. Deficient in
Judgment, and governed by impulse,
both by and in her "boys" she was con
stantly deceived. One Of them, several
years Rodney's senior, Mark Eames by
name, .unscrupulous and unprincipled,
was yet possessed of singularly attractive
and persuasive power. His tolls were
spun with q spiders perseverance and
success. Subtly he enmeshed Rodney,
initiating him. into the mysteries of
billiards, betting, cards and dice. Still,
not easily. 4 country wears son, trained
to wholesome prejudice against games
of chance, it needed nicely adjusted
pressure, and much sarcastic ridicule, to
accomplish his object.
A night came when Rodney staggered
to his lodgings weighted with gambling
debts amounting to what he deemed a
small fortune, granted by Eames but a
weeks grace, and possessed of no posi-
bic means of payment.
Stay! was he not? Involuntarily his
hand ciutched an inner pocket of his
coat, where, unremembered till now, lay
by strange coincidence the sum he re-
quired. 1t had been intrusted to him by
an old parishioner of his fathers for the
purpose Of depositing in the Glastonbury
bank. Even in that moment of supreme
temptation, Rodney thanked God he had
so far forgotten it. He had just returned
from O visit to his father, who was seri-
ously ill. Eames met him at the station,
and, seeing his dependency, under pre-
text of cheering his spirits, invited him
to restaurant dinner, supplemented by
wine and cards. The results to Rodney
we already know.