Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-11-13

shall sell the business and retire"
'Tndeed, sir!'
eyes, [ am about tired of CONNER
cial life; these transactions will be
through in three months, and then |
am going to be married"
"You surprise me, sir"
"Aye. life is full Of SURPRISES. You
know Miss Merrion, ] think!'
"Miss Merrion!"
eyes, Miss Merrion; but why in
that tone of voice? Don't you approve
of the lady?"
"This is no subject for jest, sir; you
know as well as 1 do that Miss Mer-
rion is my promised wife"
Indeed! 1t is my turn to be sur
prised. 1 certainly knew that you al
mired the lady, and L have no doubt
that you fostered hopes in that direc-
ton; but when you have the cool
9@F-"~t--,- 80 i..r>'..~ ,"" tf'"t Jo'. "r~
engaged to marry her can only mar
vel at your audacity."
"With all respect due to you, sir, as
my uncle and my employer, must
say that the statement you have just
made is not only untrue, but You know
it to be untrue, I was engaged to
marry Miss Merrion long before she
was an heiress, and we were merely
waiting until my position improved" /"
"And do you think you are likely to
improve your position by calling your
master liar? After this conduct you
cannot remain in my employ. l will
dispense with the three months no.
tice, and draw you check in lien of
it. BE prepared to leave in five min
utes. Co."
A few minutes later the bell rang
again, and Crawford, hat in hand and
coat thrown over his arm, entered the
sanctum.
"T am sorry to have to part with
you like this, Crawford, but there is
no other course opon to me. L have
just left Miss Merrion, and she has
complained to me of your fortune
hunting propensities, and asked me to
use my influence to put an end to your
persecution of her. Here is check
for G2OO, and I sincerely hope that
YOU will endeavor to cultivate more
gentlemanly manners in your future
career"
Quietly closing the door after him,
John Markam's nephew left the
Office.
The fckleness OF fortune as demon
strated by the events Of the last tif-
ten minutes caused al indescribable
feeling of dismay in the young mans
mind.
Charles Crawford as chief clerk to
John Markham & Co., with prospects
of partnership, was now Charles
Crawford, with f20O in his pocket
and a few more hundreds in the bank,
and prospects nil.
His first thought upon leaving the
office was of Norah. Could it be as
his uncle had declared. that she
looked upon him merely as fortune
hunter? No, he would not believe it,
and full of determination to ascertain
the truth from Norah herself, he made
his way to her homo.
The cry of JOY that fell from her
lips when he presented himself before
her soon banished all thoughts of her
Inconsistency from his mind.
In a few moments she had told him
all; the discriminating document,
signed by her brother Wilfred, the per-
secutions of John Markham, and the
extraordinary sacrifice demanded from
her in order to save Wilfred from
ruin.
"What can we do, Charlie? Poor
Wilfred is so happy with his wife and
child; is an error of the past to rise
up and ruin his life? I would give
my whole fortune to find way out Of
this trouble. I cannot give you up,
Charlie, and yet if we do not hit upon
some plan--"
you will marry John Markam?"
"No, no, 1 do not say that, Charlie,
but I must save Wilfred."
1t was striking 10 o'clock that night
when Crawford left Nora Merrion. As
he walked along plunged in thought
the rattle of q fire engine dashing
past reused him from his reverie, and
lurid glare in the sky told him that
vast conaagration was in progress.
Upon fastening to the spot he found
that the premises and store yards of a
large firm of coopers ~ere on fire. A
huge stack OF many thousands of newly
made barrels was we'll alight, and from
the inAammable nature of the mater
ials it was soon evident that all efforts
to hold the fire in check wore hope
less. In few hours the whole OF the
premises would be gutted.
As Crawford gazed upon the burn
ing pile, sudden thought surged
through his brain. After considering
a few moments he hastily retraced his
steps, and late as he was, sought an.
other interview with Nora.
They talked far into the night, and
it was late when he finally reached his
lodgings. Instead of retiring to rest,
however, he started to write. and wher
the dawn of the new day streamed
through the window, he was still busy
with his pen.
ElRuC CLOCK SuW ului "o viz 'SiS
graph office with sheaf of messages
in his hand addressed to all the prin
cipal coopers and barrel makers in the
kingdom. They were nearly oil OF the
same tenor, and ran as follows:
Contracts wanted for any part OF
500, 900 barrels to be delivered during
next three months. Wire price and
number you can undertake. Terms
Half cash on signing agreement,
balance on delivery. Bankers and
references. Paris, London-Merrion,
Crawford & Co.. Benger's Court, 10th
bury, London"
Half an hour later he had secured
the Offices and fixnres of bankrupt
firm in Benger's Court, and by 9o'clock
temporary sign hung outside of the
door bearing the legend, "Merrion,
Crawford Il Co."
The services of four lawyers clerks
were hastily secured and they were sci
...o,k 1u,,l 100 70 oouf &c