The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-03-22
CHAPTER III.
AN AWFUL AWAKENING.

AN AWFUL AWAKENING.
This is our home," said Mr.. st. Cyr.
as with hospitsble wave of the hand he
ushered his guest into the drawing-room.
And such home! The young man had
expected to see elegance, but the rlch-
ness of the scene quite astonished him, and
bespoke wealth with which he had never
before been brought in contact.
Let us 90 to the library, father, sug..
gested -Berenice. ITS far coz1er there.
Straws are SAID to show from which
direction the wind is blowing, and the
alacrity with which the father acquiesced
was sufficient to convince the young man
that the daughter was the ruler Of the
mansion.
Assuming the Office of guide, the beau
tiful girl led the way through number
of large apartments luxuriantly furnished,
and glowing with the richest hues Of art,
to the apartment she had suggested.
It was indeed cozy place. Two sides
of the room were covered with books,
and on the third an open fire burned
brightly.
Berenice, as she pointed to revolving
desk and steel safe, which stood beside
it. II can't make him give up business.
Now, daughter" said the old gentle
man reproachfully.
AT least not quite" corrected she.
You shall decide the matter, Mr.
Winters" spoke up the young man as
the other paused; Cole Winters. l
should have mentioned my name before.
NO, you shouldn't" declared pretty
Berenice. The fault was ours-we never
gave you chance"
Its not yet too late to be polite, said
the host, smiling. BE seated, please,
and favor us with more complete intro
duction, Mr.. Winters"
Il can add but little to what ! have
said. remarked the young man, as he ac-
cepted the proffered easy-cheir. My
life has been uneventful. have nothing
besides my name"
"A name-that is, a good name-is
fortune in itself" said the old man, en-
couragingly."
Just twenty-five" Cole went on. My
parents both died wnen was quite
Young, leaving me some little property as
an inheritance. All Of this was expended
on my education. About three morths
ago 1 completed my college course, and
came to Chicago to seek an opening in
life."
And have been successful" queried
Mr.. st. Cyr.
"On the contrary, have failed at ev-
ery turn. had contemplated following
the law, and sought place in the Office
of an attorney. This could have readily
secured, but no one would pay me any
salary with which to support myself.
Then I sought mercantile position, but
was unable to secure one, as had had
no experience as q clerk. After this
aspired to no particular line, but sought
any kind of honorable employment.
And failed at all points?"
"Something worse. A private banker
hired me for year. I grew suspicious
of him and his methods; and discovering
him to be engaged in dishonorable
business, Quilted him after working
month, for which received no compen-
sation."
And besides losing your salary you
have made an enemy?"
Exactly"
What is his lame?'
.Ha!" calculated MI. St. Cyr. -The
friend and former partner Of Alm"n
Sears!"
aThe same. I've often seen Mr.. Seas
N his private Office"
This Almon Sears is the son OF an oil
and.valued friend, who died years age,
leaving him penniless. loved him for
his father, gave him every educational
advantage, started him in business, and,
had he proved in all respects worthy, ]
had even designed"
The speaker paused as he caught
glimpse of his daughters pale face.
He contemplated marrying him to his
daughter, was Coles mental comment.
Enough of him!" said the old man,
with slight show Of petulance. Pardon
the interruption" .
"l.have no more to tell. My stock of
money being exhausted, supported my
self by doing copying at a beggarly price.
Tonight visited the Exposition, in the
hope Of securing place. Failing in that,
I ascended to the observatory, where I
had the good fortune to be OF some small
service"
"A service which nothing can repay"
cried the old man with fond look at his
rescued child. Il like you, Mr.. Winters
Like your honest face and the integrity OF
your heart and mind, as revealed in your
frank, open story"
You tiatter me, Sir, faltered Cole, hls
embarrassment heightened by the look OF
pleasure beamlng on Berenice's admiring
Face.
Not q particle. You have told your
story; let me reciprocate in kind. For
half my life have been an active busi-
ness man of Chicago. This is my daugh-
ter's eighteenth birthday. Some time
ago promised her that when this day
came I would abandon all business and
devote the remaining years of my wild
owed life to her, my only child.
This have only been able to accom-
| plish in part. I have withdrawn from
two firms in which was interested, and
the proceeds. $500, 900 in bonds, are now
! in that safe.
| The enormous sum mentioned, to-
gether with its unexpected proximity TO
him, caused Cole Winters sudden start
| of surprise.
In this action he was. not nlone. The
curious glance ne cast ut the cube OF
| polished steel, which held secure behind
It's bolts and bars and massive locks more
than kings ransom, was duplicated oy
pair of dark sinister eyes when
| cleaned at the lower part of one OF the
windows behind the backs of the inter-
ested trio.
Il have fully twice as much more safe.
| ly invested in lood paying real estate.