St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-06-10
uNDERA CLOUD.
The Difference Between Character
and Reputation illustrated.


~ ~
samuel Trenholm Roberts, ESQ., that is
the way the bankers letters were addressed.
When he was twentY-three years of age and
in the employ of a. railroad contractor he
was known as ''San, Roberts," Sam Roberts
was Industrious, Keen and economical, so
by the time he was thirty he was contrac-
tor himself in a small way, and he was known
as ''Mr. Roberts" OF; MR. sam Roberts"
At forty-five Mr.. Roberts was rich, and the
director of bank; at fifty he was president
of the same bankand very rich, and with
that alteration of wealth which so unfortu-
nateiy characteriles US Americans, his adj
mirers would have called him Honorable,
"Excellency," Judge" or General if they
could find the slightest pretext for so doing,
for in these days we worship the man of dol
lars rather than the of brains and char
acter. 1t is due Mr.. Roberts to say that he
was not bad man, Sbut his life had been so
absorbed in the making of money that, like
many others, he had come to believe that the
gathering in Of dollars was the chief end of
man.
Mr.. Roberts had several daughters and one
breviated into Wash. As men always yearn
for what they do not possess, Mr.. Roberts
was eager that his son should have college
education; but as Wash was as firmly re-
solved not to submit to the training of the
higher schools, his father yielded to what
could not be avoided, and comforting him
self with the belief that his son resembled
him, and was ''cut out only for business he
took him into the bank when he was eighteen
years OF age and gave him a salary of twenty
dollars week, which Wash's mother, who
had unlimited means at her disposal, in
creased five fold without her husbands
knowledge. rs,
Wash had horse, he belonged to boat
club, and before he was eighteen he had es-
tabished a reputation as a young man who
was to be very wealthy some day, and who in
the meantime had all the money that he
needed at his disposal, with disposition to
spend it in what is enormously called "see-
ing life"-it should mean "taking a look at
DEATH
But Wash Roberts wants grew greater
than his means for supplying them. His
salary at the bank did not keep him in cigar
cites, ties and gloves, and the money secretly
given him by his mother did not pay his wine
bills.
In the bank there was young man, or
rather a boy, for he was hardly seventeen,
named George Fleming. George Fleming's
father had formerly been the assistant teller
under Mr.. Roberts, but a stroke Of paralysis
the year before had made him confirmed
invalid, with no hope of recovery, and as his
salary had never enabled himto lay b. for
rainy day, he was poor, with his wife and
two younger children to care for, so by way
of helping, his son, who was forced to leave
school, was given a place in the bank at eight
dollars a week. and Mr.. Roberts, who fixed
the wages, said that he could have the work
done for six dollars, but the two dollars adj
ditional were added as sort of charity for
the sake of the poor man who had worn out
his life in the service of the bank.
George Fleming had ambition, character,
and that proper stand of pride that regards
all works as honorable and every duty as
matter of manhood. He, was under Wash
Roberts, and he soon discovered that he had
not only his own hard work to do, but also
that of the son of the president, who was
looked up to with alteration by all the other
clerks, for the son of rich. employer, no
matter his character, is apt to be regarded as
a superior kind of being by the less for
tunate who have no rich and Influential kins-
man.
George Fleming being wage earner-the
salaried clerks were paid by the month--got
his eight dollars every Saturday afternoon,
and as he always brought his lunch with him,
and walked two miles a day to save car fare,
he took home his weeks earnings to his
mother, and gave her a hearty kiss, that was
worth no end of money to the dear woman,
as he cheerfully dropped the bills into her
lap, and, boylike, he managed to get paid in
one dollar bills, SO as to make the sum look
very large as he counted it out.
Everything passed off smoothly for eight
months, George Fleming giving satisfaction
and winning the good opinion of his official
superiors. It was at the beginning of the
month, when one day about noon he was
surprised to receive an order to repor at
once to the president Of the bank Surprised,
for he had not spoken to Mr.. Roberts since
the day he took service with him, George
went to his private office at once, and found
the president in company with short, stout,
bald-headed man with a smooth-shaven face
and keen, gray eyes.
"Fleming," began Mr.. Roberts, ssdid you
get check cashed at this bank two weeks
ago?"
81 did, SIR" was the prompt reply, while
the stranger watched the boy as hawk does
kitten.
cit was for two hundred dollars, continued
Mr.. Roberts, 'and bore my name?"
eyes, sir.'' "
'tDid give you that check?"
"You did nots'' Cif
"But you gothic money?'
eyes, SIR ceU
"Who gave you the check?" Mr.. Roberts,
who had been toying with q pen, snapped
this out, and looked savagely at the boy.
IL promised, sir, to say nothing about
it." stammered George. Es';o
"Whom did you promise"
s'That can't tell"
Mr.. Roberts and the stranger, who was a
detective, whispered for few seconds; then
the latter said in a hoarse voice:
''See here, boy, if you don't tell me, I'll have
to arrest you for forgery
George staggered back as if struck, but
recovering himself in moment, he said:
II am not forger, but promised not to
tell till the end of the month who gave me the
check, and must keep my word"
George Jennings sense of honor was in
volved. That he was right is to be doubted,
but he had pledged his word, and forgetting
the injury to his own reputation, he deter
mined to keep it, and in 80 doing he showed
the loyalty of his character.
1t was not until he found himself in the