Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1892-08-04


about thirty-flve years Of age, cOmely
and Of good address, and had, it was
said. an ample private income
His wife was beautiful. accom-
plished. and refined, and so were his
two charming sisters; and as for
his stately high-bred, aristOcratic
brother, he was one to shine and
dazzle in the proudest society,-tO be
the envy of men and the admiration
Of women.
Such a family as this, living in
fine style, keeping horses. carriages,
and a host of servants, and giving
grand entertainments, could not long
be ignored by the most exclusive of
the old families, and the ice once
broken, the footing once secured in
society, everything rolled along as
smoothly as if they had lived in the
town for generations
Having myself entered society at
the top, in the manner have shown,
I naturally came in contact with the
M'Lysaghts; and after closely study
ing each member of the family for a
while. I allowed myself to become in
fatuated with the bewitching sisters,
without designating either as my
choice.
1 talked with them, rode with
them, sang and played with them,
and had the vanity to believe that 1
had become the favorite Of both, and
that 1 was equally preferred by the
stately >dark-eyed NOrah and the
sweet-voiced, blue-eYed Mary. But
then l was figuring as a millionaire.
Was I losing sight all this time Of
the business that called me to town?
I did not think so myself, though it
might have had that appearance to
another.
One day, when riding out with the
two ladies, we passed a fine mansion
half mile from the town, the owner
of which I shall call Mr.. Kerwick.
The Kerwicks, besides being the
Oldest family in the locality, were
also known to be very wealthy.
They had been the victims Of the
robbers about year previous, and
had lost in money, plate and jewels
to the amount Of close upon seven
hundred pounds.
Experience with some people goes
for nothing" remarked. looking to-
ward the house, which stood IN the
center Of grounds of considerable ex-
tent, and was surrounded by lofty
trees; ''the more they learn the less
they seem to know, and 1 sometimes
wonder how they manage to keep
out of the fire."
"What is the matter now. Mr..
Cynic?" inquired Norah, with a
laugh.
''Why, 1 was just thinking of this
stupid Kerwick."
'What of him?"
sin my estimation, he lacks good
sense
Most people do, in your estima-
tion," Joined in Mary. ''YOu seldom
have an approving word for anybody"
''Then you ladies should appreciate
what say of you all the more.''
what we hear, we do" said Nora;
@'but we tremble to think what may
be said by so sarcastic a judge when
we are absent"
''Oh, if I only dared to speak as
rapturously in your presence"'
Faint heart never won fair lady, -
quoted Nora
81 shall remember that axiom, 1"
returned /.
forget your stupid Mr.. berwick, - said
Mary, with slight pout, as if from a
touch of jealousy.
''Ahl Mr. Kerwick-true. Well,
now see if you do not agree with me
as state the case. About year ago
he was robbed. as you probably have
heard, and lost property to the
amount of s70O, as he himself told
me. Now, what do you think? With
that experience so fresh in his mem
orY, you would hardly suppose he
would want to tempt tate again. But
he does, or will, in spite of my adj
vice to the contrary. This. morning
he received 60, 600 from his son, an
extensive pork-curer in Chicago, to
be invested in good securities He
intended going to Belfast to-day to
consult stockbroker but something
came in the way. Having called to
see me on some business, he incl
dentally mentioned these facts.
'''But this large sum of money you
have, of course, deposited in the bank
in the meantime?' SAID I.
Ono he answered.; 4 merely
locked it up in my desk. 1t will be
quite safe there
a. Not if your servants know about
it. or someone breaks in, as happened
to you before, replied.
MY servants know nothing about
it, he returned; and as for burglars
well, lightning never strikes twice
in the same place you know
''NOw," 1 observed to the ladies,
81 should feel ashamed of risking so
much in so reckless a manner"
AS l concluded, the two charming
girls exchanged glances; and then
Norah said with a half-concealed
Yawn,
IF people will be so stupid they
ought to lose their money; but in this
case, if Mr.. Kerwick has not men-
toned the matter to anybody except
you, of course his money is just as
safe in his desk as it would be in the
bank"