Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-02-08
A QUEER RACE.
BY WILLIAM WESTALL.

The calling took mp was not of my own
choosing. Had my father lived little
longer, or left rs better off, should have
gone into the army / did subsequently,
Join the volunteers. and after serving for
awhile in the artillery. became first lieu
tenant anil then captain in rife regiment.
In the circumstances, however, was glad
to accept the offer of Mr.. Combie, OF the
firm of Conbie, Nelson 81 Co, ship and
insurance brokers. to take me into his Of
flee and push me forward, IF / showed
myself smart" as he was sure would.
justified his confidence, and he kept his
word Although | would much rather
have been soldier, had sense enough to
give my mind to the insurance business,
and in a comparatively short time ! be
came familiar with all the intricacies OF
general average and particular average,
the draughting Of policies, and the rest;
and If did not, as Captain Peyton had
told Tom Bolsover, know IlOyd's Regis
ter off by heart, there was not a sea-going
ship belonging to the port of Liverpool
whose age, classification and character
(Which meant, in many instances, the CHAR
ncter Of her owners / could not tell with
out referring to the book.
The partners often consulted me as to
the premiums they ought to charge and
She risks which it was prudent for them 10
take; they gave me IA salary which made
my mother and myself very comfortable,
and had been patient and waited n few
years, should doubtless have become q
member OF the firm. But was ambitious;
and when the newly constituted Oriental
and Occ. dental Marine Insurance Company
invited me to become their underwater, |
accepted the offer without either hesitation
or misgiying.
But cautious Mr. Combie shook his head.
"ft's very fine thing" he said, 'fOr a
young man Of two and-twenty to get the
writership Of "A company, and, though |
say it that should not say ito our firm.
But you are taking n great responsibility
on yourself, and yOu will need to be very
prudent. Fifty thousand pounds is not TOO
much capital for an insurance company,
and this is Il time Of imitation, and the
shareholders will expect you to earn them
big dividends. Between you and me, /
have no great confidence in these new con-
Germs. They are going up like rockets,
and some of them, fear, will come down
like sticks. But you are young, and II the
Oriental and Occidental does not answer
your eHpeCiutioHS, you VIII SUN nave LIle
world before you, and have always said
that you are one OF those chaps VINO Will
either make spoon or spoil horn"
The senior meant kindly. and thanked
him warmly; but was too much elated by
my advancement to give due attention to
his warnings although had good reason
to remember them aftcrWard. My elaton
did not however, arise solely, or even
chiefly, from professional pride and graft
fled ambition. The fact is, Ind lost my
heart TO Amy Mafnwaring, n charming
girl Of eighteen, with peach-Ilke cheeks
soft brown eyes, and gotten hhir; and be
Ing MS ImpetuouS III love as was dlligen'
In business aud Amy loving me as much
~ loved her, had made up my nina tt
marry at the earliest possible moment
TINT is To- say, rs soon as the father gave
his consent and could afford to keep 1
wife. Thought the salary which / was
now beginning to earn would enable me Il
do this easily But Mr.. Mainwaring die