The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-01-03
PAUL'S AWAKENING.

terS of which you are probably as We'll /
aware as we, that we will not need you |
any longer. AS soon as you can secure |
employment elsewhere we shall expect you
tc resign your position with US. -
Il really don't-don' [ understand you," |
was the reply. Have you discovered any
errors in the books?''
None at all-none at all. We would be
perfectly willing to indorse a certificate of |
your honesty and proficiency as an ac-
countant What refer to is an entirely
different thing.
The fact is, we have found that you
nre heavily indebted in various parts of
the city, much more than we desire any
one in our employ to be- Several firms
where you have considerable accounts
standing for some time have applied to US
to secure them. This we cannot do.''
Il think that this thing has-has been
exaggerated, - stammered the young man.
:: But as you may have other reasons for
Wishing to discharge me will go at once.''
And then Paul Williams, telling, as
people always do who have met with the
penalty of their indiscretion, that he had
been dealt with unjustly, walked away.
. Almost uncOnsciously he bent his steps
toward distant hill, wherein lay the city
cemetery, and half an hour later he was
walking up the hill with long, sweeping
srrides, totally Indifferent to the fact that
the dust of tho road was destroying the
polish of his shapely shoes which that very
morning he had put on with SO much
care
Paul Williams was a man of five and
twenty, and for four years had held the
position from which hehad now been SO
suddenly dismissed.
Though he had no habits which could
have been called really bad, he unfortu-
nately possessed traits of character which
kept him from succeeding as his friends
had just reasons to expect. He was one of
the members of band of young men who,
though not dissipated, had formed the
dangerous habit of spending money as fast
or faster than they earned it,
Some two years before he had begun to
pay his attentions to a young lady, who
was now his betrothed, and wishing most
of all not to appear mean in the eyes of the
woman he loved he had often made pres
ents and spent money upon her when she
would have respected him just as much,
Perhaps more, if he had kept his purse
closed.
The young man might not have come to
| erief had it not been for another habit
Iiore seductive and. infinitely more dan
aerous than all the others-the practice OF
running into debt heedIessly and without
thought 1t had always been a failing
with him, but within a year it had grown
/ stronger than ever.
| All these things presented them selves to
! Paul Williams in their true light for the
| first time as he sat alone in the silent
| cemetery. After time he came to feel
that the action of his employers, harsh as
! It might seem, was not without cause.
First of all he would draw what money
ne had in the bank, and far possible
| pay what money he owed, and then he
would go away from Johnsport and try to
/ find something to do which would enable
him to pay the rest.
Two hours later Paul Williams sat in
his room with package of bills, on each
of which was the Ominous letters Or. .
ON one hand and on the other roll of
! banknotcs. All told, he was in debt $500.
Then he turned and counted the bills
! before him. There was less than $500, g
little more than half what he owed.
After a hasty dinner he once more sailed
out on the street, and visiting each of his
creditors paid what he could, until not a
dollar remained in his pocket
paul, said the junior member of the
firm as he handed him check, I'm con-
fOundedly sorry about this thing It's O
wrctched business from beginning to end,
and if 1 could have had my way about it,
old boy, it would not have happened. I
wired friend up in Wisconsin, who wrote
me some time since that he wanted a
good bookkeeper, that if the place was not
already filled 1 could find q capital man
for him. I have just received an answer,
which says, Let him come at once So if
you want to go you are not out all around.
What say yOu?'
Il will go at once-tonight, " was the
prompt reply.
Paul's hardest task still lay before him
Ito see his intended wife and TO tell her
all. The young man told his story openly
and frankly, emitting nothing and con-
ceaIing nothing
He told of tho opportunities that lay be-
fore him and of tho sacrifices he was de-
terJnined to mako until he had paid every
cent, but there would be q stain upon his
name, and if she wished she was free to
break the engagement between them at
once.
But If he had thought that she would
take such a step he was destined to be
happily disappointed, for her reply was:
Paul although have feared for a long
time that something like this was going
to happen, don want to be free from
you, becaGse-because 1 love you. Go
| away, do the best you car and, come what
may, know that there is one who trusts
you and is waiting for you
When year had passed, he had paid
everything and was beginning to save.
Besides he had dropped all of his foolish
airs and habits and become in every way
more manly and independent.
One day near the close of his second
year the young book keeper and his en-
ployer were talking together when the lat
ter said:
Paul, am thinking of taking in a
partner. My business is growing so fast
that it needs two to attend to it, and I
want some one that thoroughly under
stands it. Have you been able to save
much since you came out here? You must,
for you haven't any expensive habits. y
At first the young man blushed and
seemed slightly confused, but recovering
himself he told his employer in a few
! words how he had come to leave Johns
port and in what way the most of his
money had been spent since that time.
: This is a surprise to me-" was the re-
ply, yet l nm not sorry to hear it, for it