The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-01-01

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applied to labor, does not, somehow,
lead to. contented and happy service.
It is a law, when applied, which only al
lows people to be happy when it IS pro,
ken. A good many laws, moral. pohti-
cal and doctrinal, possess the same char-
acteristic. Nobody likes being bought
at the cheapest; we all want fancy
price to be put upon our work, especially
If we have grown gray in the service.
Now Mr.. John Stoke allowed no allu:
sions on this subject In his Office, and
had no respect for gray hairs or ior
length of service, or for. anything In the
world except his own interests.
He lay back in his chair and watched
the wreaths of smoke, listening to that
pleasant tune-the parable Of Dives
quite forgotten. Presently he began to
think. Mr.. John Stoke was one Of those
persons who are gifted with the power
Of thought. Out Of politeness we pre-
tend that everybody has this power.
Not 80; otherwise the majority OF man
kind would not be as sheep running
whithersover they are driven, and
bleating at their leaders command. But
let me continue to be polite. This man
had a little coup In his mind, q trife
that would probably bring him in
twenty thousand or 30, and he was turn
ing it over so as to get at the best points
Of handlin it. The warmth and COM
fort OF freside, lunch, and cigar send
some men into mental sleep. To this
man they. only gave the opportunity OF
uninterrupted thought.
Presently the door opened and q
young man stood in the door1'ay-a tall
and handsome young man-you lave
already seen him in the walk by the
river side.
+Come in, Harry, come in, : said the
chief, pleasantly; shut the door and
come in" <,... r.. .l,.
/, "You said you should want to speak
to me about half past two.
Yes, did. Well, my boy, I thought
that we might have a few words, per-
haps two or three, just to understand
each other. Sit down. Take a cigarp
No? Well, you are flve-and-twenty to-
day, are you not?"
1T is my birthday" The young man
looked anxious, yet expectant Of some.
pleasing announcement. One can only
be five-and-twenty once in life. Be-.
sides, things had been promised.
7 0S,
critically at the ash Of his cigar. Yes,
yes, fve-and-twenty. was partner
before that age-before we sank the
shop and became an office"
There was the shop, though, to be-
gin with, said the son.
Undoubtedly; and very good shop,
too. We mustn't forget the shop. Not
likely it will be forgotten. People talk
about it when they go home from my
dinner parties; when they have had
fortnight among my birds, with cham
pagne up to the eyes every night, they
Singer over the shop In the train going
home; when they have been on a cruise
in my yacht, with everything OF the very
best-oh, yes, the more you do for EN-
the better they remember it; the more
they sneer and snigger. Our friends,
dear boy, will notreadily forget the shop.
!, It is their only consolation when they
aconsider theprosperity of the firm. II
it wasn't for feeling how green they get
with envy I'd never have any old friends
in the place at all.
+ Il don't see why we should want to.
forgetit, father" ,5! 4, ., 4!
mo, there is no absolute necessity
for forgetting anything. However, we
are now, Harry, pretty high up the tree.
I don't think there can be many men in
the city likely to cut up better than your
father. Very good, then. He looked
OF his son for whole minute as II seek
ing for the best way to go on. Very
good, then." he repeated, I've always
promised and always intended to take
you into partnership at flve7 and-twenty,
and now, Harry, have sent for you to
say that am willing to carry out that
intention, and to give you q birthday
present worth having.
r -Oh," said Harry, with great sigh.
-On conditions, OF course. Hang 1t,
do you suppose that am going to admit
any one, even my own sons, into my
house-the house have made-to share
my income, except on my own terms?'
We'll, SIR" said Harry, I always
supposed you would have your own way
in everything, whether I am to be
partner or not" 5t 4
You are right, my boy. My own way
I mean to have. Yet these are not my
conditions. Now sit there, and don't
answer single word till I've done.
You've had your fling, Harry; that you
can't deny. You've lived in your own
chambers. and you'v had q good allow
ance, and nobody ever asked any nasty
ones what you did with your money.
Very we'll, then, now that's oil over. A
partner,i in my house has got to take his
place-his own place, mind-in society"
The young man turned pale. I've been
offered a baronetcy. Well. / won't have
It; T mean to be made'a peer. Do you
rL he It <,~1% Htv,ry yorrnx1
and you shall be the Honorable Harry.
Very well, then "-he marked his sen
tences with short pulls at his cigar
that's understood. Next thing, how is
that peerage to be advanced and made
take respectable place? Money? not
enough! Landf that isn't enough! Poll
tics? I'm too old and you are too stupid.
Your brother joe-the Honorable Joe he
will be, may take up politics in the fam
lily interest; not you. By marriage, my
boy"-the young man again changed
color, but this time he became crimson
IF you want to get any good out Of
your rank you must marry into the same
blood as that into which your children
will be born. By marriage, Harry.
That's my condition. AS to my having
my own way, Of course shall have my
own way. should like to see anybody in
this house. wanting to have any way that
wasn't mine. You will have to marry to
please me. DO that, and you shall have
whatever you like-you shall be part
ner to begin with; you shall have no
work to do; you shall have fashion, land,
and rank" N....
Harry made no reply. His color had
now gone back to pallor, and his hand
trembled.
Those are my condition" said his
fofbar 1Houa Won anvtbin1 IN Say2n