The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-01-30
HER SISTERS HONOR.
A Tale of English Life.
BY Walter Besant-

now a man OF 90 or so. The kind o.
face and the expression upon it are not
uncommon In the city-they belong 10
certain type Of city men-and those VINO
have it are generally successful. IL IS
q masterful face. II any OF Mr.. john
Stokes servants fail in their duty they
know better than to ask for mercy from
such O face. Nelson himself did not
reckon more confidently than Mr.. John
Stoke on every man dong his duty. lie
was not exactly popular with his SER
wants, because he bought his labor as he
bought his goods-at the cheapest rate
and because he exacted from labor, as
from goods, the utmost profit. The law
Of political economy, which makes
rlan buy in the cheapest market, when
applied TO labor, does not, somehow,
lead to contented and happy service.
1t is law, when applied, which only al
lows people to he happy when it is bro
ken. A good many laws, moral, polit-
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 Tor
| 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 10
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 so; otherwise the majority OF man
kind would not lie rs sheep running
whithersover they are driven, and
| bleating at their leaders, command. But
let NE continue to lie polite. This man
had little coup in his mind, triile
that would probably bring him In
twenty thousand or so, and he Was turn
ing it over 60 as to get ut the best points
Of handling it. The warmth and com
fort Of fire aside, lunch, and cigar seno
come men into mental sleep. 10 this
man they only gave the opportunity Of
uninterrupted thought.
Presently the dcor opened ana 9
young man stood in the doorway tai
AMI handsome young man-you have
already seen him in the walk by the
river side.
i Come in, Harry, come in, said thu
chief, pleasantly; shut tho door an
come in.
you said You should want to spea.
to me about half past two.
Yes, did. Well, Ey boy, though
that we might have few words, per
haps two or thee, Just 10 understand
each other. Sit down. Take cigar
No? Well. you are five-and-twenty to
day, are you not:"
1T is my birthday" The young MAJ
, looked anxious, yet eZpectant OF som
| pleasing announcement. one can oni,
DO five and-twenty once in lie. BE
, sides, things had been promised.
Yes" his father continued, looklni
, critically at the ash OF his cigar. Yes
yes, five-and-twenty. L was partne
4 before that age-before we sank III
Shop and became an office.
{ There was the shop, though, to be
gin with" said the son.
Undoubtedly; AMI very good shoI
/ too. We mustn't forget the shop. Nc
likely it will be forgotten. People tai
!" about it when they go home from IL
{ dinner parties; when they have had
' fortnight among my birds, with chan
ragne up TO the eyes every night, the
@ snigger over the shop in the train goin
@ home; when they have been On cruis
II in my yacht, with everything OF the vel
y best-oh, YES, the mere yoa do for @
the better they remember it; the mol
they sheer and en- gger Our friend
dear boy will not readily forSetthe sho
IT ia their only consolation whtn the
u consider the prosperity of the firm.
D. it wasn't for feeling how green they g
l - hoy NM ffInnf
in the place at all.
II don't see why we should want
forget it, father.
mo, there is no absolute necessi
for forgetting anything. However, Y
are now, Harry. pretty high up the ire
don't think there cen be many men
the city likely to cut up better than 20
father. Very coed. then" He lcok
at his son fer whole minute as II see
, ing for the best way to go on. We
| gjod, tten." he repeated, I've alwa
I promised and always intended to tai
! you into partnership ut five-and-twent
and now, Harry, have sent for you
say that am willing to carry out tn
intention, and to give you birthd
present worth having"
"Oh," said Harry, with great sigh.
"On conditions, CT course. Hang
t. do YOU suppose that am going to adm
r any enc, even my own sons, into 1
10 house-tho house have rlade-to sha
ne nv income, except on my own terms:
a well, sir, said Harry, Il alwa
rs supposed you would have your own
re in everything, whether l am to be
u partner or not.
ce you are right, my boy. My own
lie / mean TO have. Yet these are not
v conditions. Now sit there, and do
OK answer a single word till I've do
OF You've had your fling, Harry; that
ut can't deny. You've lived i'll yoar =
'e. chambers. and you've had good ailt
l.s ance, and nobody ever asked any ma
I'd ones what you did with your mon
or Very well, then, now that's all oyer.
ly partner in my house has got TO take
On. place-his own place, iaind-in soclet
es The Young man turned pa,c. I've b
It. offered a baronetcy. Well. won't h
q. IL. / mean 10 be made peer. Do
,w hear that? l shall be Lord Thiu1al
10 and yon shall be the Honorable Hal
ho Very well, then Tho marked his
Iat fences with short pulls az his ciga
he athat's understood. Next thing, hoN
ell that peerage to be advanced and m
rst take respectable placer Money!
In tnoughl Land? that isn't enough! I
Ter tios? I'm too old and you are too stu
OF Your brother Joe-the Honorable Jo'
to will be, may take up politics in the 4
"a ily interest; not you. BY marriage,
~ | bsse,--fba younr man again Gran