Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1894-12-14
s twenty. and for four years he

He was the son OF widow, who had
boon able to give him a good educa-
tion, and who, dying, left him q small
legacy. Though he had no habits
which could have been called really
bad, he unfortunately possessed traits
of character which kept him from cue
ceoding as his friends had just reason
to expect. He was ono of the mem
bers OF band of young men who,
though not really dissipated, had
formed the dangerous habit Of spend
ing money rs fast or faster than they
earned it. His pride had again laid n
trap for him, and always Wishing not
to appear small, he spent his money
freely on the most trivial things.
Some two years before tho time of
which We write he had begun to pay
his attentions to young lady who
was now his betrothed; and wishing
most of all not to appear mean In the
eyes of tho woman ho loyod, no had
often medo her presents and spent
money upon her whom she would have
respected him just rs much, perhaps
more, ifhe had kept his purse closed.
But though in this way no had spent
nearly oil Of tho legacy left him by his
mother, tho young man might not
have como to grief had it not been for
another habit moro seductive and in
finitely moro dangerous than oil the
others-tho practice of running into
debt hocdlessly and without thought.
1t had always been n failing with him,
but within year it had grown strong
or than ever. His credit, borrowing
the common phrase, was good, and
whom anything in shop or store caught
his fancy he would order it done up,
and telling them to charge it, would
take it away with him. In this man
ner no had made bills which, could he
have known their proportions, would
have made him tremblc.
All these things presented themselves
to Paul Williams in their truo light
for tho first time, rs he sat alono in
the silent cemetery. After time he
came to feel that the action of his en-
ployers, harsh rs it might seem, was
not without cause; and then, though
what he was to do in tho future
seemed blank, ho began to lay plans
to extricato himself from bad matter
with an Independence and self-relinnce
ut which he himself was surprised.
First of all no would draw what money
he had in bank, and rs fur ne possible
pay what no owed; mud then he
would go away from Johnsport
and try to find something to do
which would cnablo him to pay the
rest. Acting upon this resolve he
drew out his motto book and noted the
names of his creditors; the list was n
long one, and with each succeeding
name his face grew graver. But when
his task WAS finished he shut the book
with determined mir, and thrusting
it into his pocket arose from his seat
and walked rapidly away. Two hours
later Paul Williams sat in his room
with package of bills, on each of
which was tho ominous letters CDR"
on ono hand and on the other n roll of
bank notes. All told he was in debt
seven hundred dollars Three times
he went over the figures in Devil
dered way. only to find each time that
he had made no mistake. Then he
turned and counted tho bills before
him; there WAS less than four hun
dred dollars, little moro than half
what he owed. But he felt resolved
to do the best he could and act tho
part of man. So, after hasty din
ner, he once more sailed out on the
street, and visiting each of his
creditors paid what he owed them I'M
til not n dollar remained in his poe
ket. Three things now remained for
him to do: to see his late employers
and obtain n settlement; to call upon
his betrothed and tell her oil that had
happened and all that might happen
and then to leave Johnsport and go he
knew not where. On visiting the Office
of Dodge & Co. he found but one
member of the firm in, son of tho
man with whom no talked in tho
morning, not present at that time.
"Paul," ho said, as he handed him
check, 81 am sorry about this thing.
It's wrctched business from begin
ming to end, and if could have had
my way about it, old boy, it would
not have happened. AS soon as I
learned the steps the governor Ind
taken, wired friend up in Wiscon-
sin, who wrote mo some time since
that ho wanted good bookkcoper,
that if tho place was not already filed
l could find n capital man for him. l
have just received IN answer which
says: Let him como at once. So if
You want to 60 you are not out oil
around. What say your"
81 will go at once, tonight" was
the prompt reply. During the next
hour the two men sat and talked over
the particulars of the place in question,
young Dodge imparting to his friend
that the mans mans was Rende, that
he was native of Pennsylvania, so
royal fellow, and n deucedly success
full business man." After which Paul
arose, and grnsping his friends hand,
thanked him in husky voice for the
kind turn ho had given him when he
most needed friends.
"Don't mention it; that's nothing,
old fellow. just brace up and face
the music, and all will come out right.
III II