Graham guardian., 1896-01-17
CHAPTER III.

Col. Henry Gregory was the third oi
his name. His grandfather was a Vir
ginia colonel in the revolutionary val
who had emigratcd after the war tc
lower middle Georgia and bought an
estate on which he had lived many
years, dying ut good old age and leav
ing his large possessions to his only son
the second Henry.
Henry Gregory, the second, served in
the Creek war under jackson, but with
that brief exception his whole life was
passed on his plantation, looking after
his crops, managing his negroes and
dispensing liberal hospitality. He
had two children, son and daughtcr,
the daughter dying in her teens; the
son, Henry the third, was appointed a
cadet at West Point, graduated fairly
well, served two years on the frontier,
and then, while at home on furlough,
becoming captivated by pretty Martha
Hollins, promptly resigned, married
and settled down. This third Henry
was strong, handsome man, very gen
erous and liberal, the soul of honor, in.
clined to be hasty in temper and totall,,,
lacking in those business qualities
which had enabled his grandfather and
father to accumulate the broad acres
and the two hundred slaves he had in
herited. He was an easc-loving man,
who was happiest when his spacious
mansion was well filled with his friends,
very proud in his way and with strong
prejudices, altogether type of the very
best planters of the old regime.
This third Henry had also two chill
dren, son and daughter. Henry, the
fourth, as he was commonly called, was
at the time our story opens student at
the Virginia military institute, and the
daughter Janet has already been men,
toned,
About a year before our story opens,
the colonel being one day in converse
tion with his head man, Uncle Jim, was
informed by that worthy that, owing to
the deterioration of the lands, and the
great increase in the working force on
the place, farming was no longer a
paying business. The colonel had him.
self, in hazy sort of way, had an idea
that his financial affairs were not flour
ishing, and Uncle Jim seemed SO much
disturbed over the state of affairs on
the plantation that he concluded to go
down to Savannah and see his factor.
He was received by his factor, bland
man, with the usual factorial CON
science, with much urbanity, because
had he not in twenty years made
handsome fortune out of Col. Gregory.
and there was not one Of his clients
more careless about settlements. The
colonel plunged at once into business.
BARLEY, how do stand financially
''Well, colonel, doyou know that was
ust thinking day or two since that
lad better speak to you. | am really
sfraid that your affairs need looking
nto closely"
"Will you make me up a statement
o-day?"
Now, as matter of fact, the willy
actor had for several days had that
IDENTICAL statement in his desk, and haG
'een studying it daily, with a view to
eciding whether the colonel had ar
ived at that point in the process of be-
ng plucked where ones friends discover
hat their necessities have become so
'reat that it is absolutely necessary to
ave immediate settlements. Mr.. Bart |
ey was shrewd man, but he made q
mistake at this point. The colonels |
isit and questions led him to believe |
hat he must have discovered himself |
0 be in desperate case and had come |
or further advances, so he answered.:
Well, now, colonel, TO tell you the |
ruth, l am pretty hard pressed just now,
nd have already had your statement |
,adeup with view to asking you to
lake me liberal payment"
This was the first time in his life any
ody had intimated to Henry Gregory
nat they wanted him to pay them
loney that was due and it had very
ocular effect on him. Though not a
lIsiness man he was not fool, aud by
sort of quick intuition he grasped the
hole situation in moment. He
lrncd red, then he turned pale and
'emed about to break out, but by
rong effort of the will he controlled
mself and said, quietly: 'Let me have
ne statement"
1t was handed to him and without
irther conversation he went TO hi
'tcl Getting TO his room, he opcne
the statement and looked Mt gre.
f ngnres which were as Greek