The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-04-09
Onr Gamily Story,
THE CAT MADE HIS FORTUNE.

IN" nnrtner of the great banking firm
Messrs. smith, Sillery u Tredgold
Enterprising in his operations, hones1
in nil his dealings, conslderate ano
oven generous in his treatment OF his
subordinates, he was to those ahou'
him the very ideal OF "hat ah hhgllsh u
business man should be.
His history was the best evidence
of his character ami capacity. Forty
years before ho had been taken lI'tc
ihc employment OF the firm as an act
of charity. He was then a lad Of seven
teen or SO, and having lately been left
a pcnniless orphan, and being dis
tant and humble relative OF the late
Mr.. Samuel Sillery, that munificent
gentleman thought proper to proVldc
Tor him by giving him junior clerk
shin i'm the cashiers department.. For
a considerable time his abilities and
industry attracted no attention.. Az
length, however, they brought him to
the notice of MIR. Smith, then the head
of the firm, who appointed him ms
confidential secretary. From that
moment Young TrcdgOld's rise was
ranid, MIR. Smiths respect for and
confidence in him grew stronger every
dav, and when, some years after,
breakdown in Mr.. Sillery's health Tin
duccd, it was said, by u too free con
sumption of alcohor led to his retire
mcpt from the active affairs OF the
partncrship, his place therein was
taken by young Tredgold.
Hitherto the bank had been West
End concern, with branch in the
CITY. This city branch now came
under young Tredgold's management,
and in his hands it rapidly developed
into the chief Office OF the firm. Later
on, when age compelled the retire
mont of Mr.. Smith, Tredgold succeed.
cd, as ~ matter of course, to the general
management, and to q share in the
partnership. Since then the bank
had steadily advanced in Importance
and reputation, until it was ranked
among tho greatest and most powerful
private banks in London.
The man who could make such q
position for his business or for himself
must obviously have been clear headed,
.resolutc and practical. Yet, strange
to say, he was the victim Of ono craze
which was ridiculous enough to excite
the dcrison Of child. This craze
was an unspcakablc and almost insane
devotion to.the memory of an old black
cat, with Il great, white, half-human
face. Where the cat originally came
from no one exactly knew. People
L
when he was u comparatively young
man remember it rs II pettcd cOmpan-
ion of his before his marriage. After
marriage he continued as fond OF it as
ever, and even his children did not
take his affection away from it. In
decd, in tho early years OF their
welded life, young Mrs. Trcdgold
frequently complained thai he cared
more for that cat than for his wife
and children put together.
Even when the cat was dead Mr.
Trcdgold could not bear TO part with
it. He had it preserved and placed il
a glass case in HIS private Office at the
bank. 1t ste IL pedestal, close II
his writir nd as he worked i
seemed with It's Dlg gra,
eyes Strangers. when
Visiting the De-. were startled an,
fascinated by the weird appearance O
the thing, and its presence there CAV
risc to the most fantastic legend
among the bank clerks and bank custo
mCrS.
AS Trcdgold grew older his infatua
tiOn seemed to increase. When 1T
received his buronctcy he chose as hi
crest IL black cat, with the mottt
Fortnum dcd. This motto appeared
TO express his firm belief. 70 his Sol
Francis, who had now joined him il
tho business, he constantly referred t,
the cat as the founder OF the family
fortunes, and charged him to preserve
IT when he was gone.
1t was IL chill November night. Sil
Philips inlirmitics had grown rapid,
OF late, and the approach Of wintc
hal greatly aggravated them. Th,
banker was now sitting in his cas-
chair before Il roaring lire and guarded
on all sides from every suspicion Of
draught. There was no one with hiI
but his son Francis.
Frank said Sir Philip, suddcnl,
"Pll never see another summcr.n
son, father, father, don't talk lik
that" answered Francis, in q SUI
priacd and shocked tone, 81 hop
you'll sec many more summers, ant
winters, too"
Yes, you hope it, but You don
believe it," said Sir Philip. No, m
ifc is practically ended.
Frank !" Sir Philip went on afte
moments reflection, "you know
under what circumstances | entered
the employment OF our firm. Coo
knows was glad to get any employ
ment at the time, though the bread
earned at the bank during the frs
live or six years was the bread OF bit
tcrncss and humiliation. | don't wan
To speak Ill OF Il dead man, but 70
truths sake, ! must say that Sillcry
who gave me the post was one of tn
incanchJ and most brutal creatures
has over been my misfortune to mee
How no and Charles Smith camc u
gethcr, | never could and can't TO tn
moment understand. Mr.. Smith ncy,
said or did Il cruel thing in his III,
Sillcry was never so happy ~ when !
was insulting his subordinatcs
being under an obligation to him, 81
being too poor to be able to resent a
treatment, WAS the favoritc object
his blackguurdism. Tho misery tn
man wantonly inflicted on mo is
fresh in my mind to-day as 1t was fiji
years ago.
You know you are called aftor !
younger brother whom you never sa
and who dicd years ago In Ind
When my father died, Frs.nk was
school. ccntrived, by starving n
self, to keep him there until he v
nearly eighteen. Tho only prosp
he had In life was to join me at
bank, and knowing tho agony ho wo,
have to suffer, kept him out OF it
long rs could, with a sort OF vap