The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-02-07
rHE wArCHMAN AND soUTHRoN. FEBRUARY ?, 1900

WOuutIlt SWlltltSS duu SeuC Il mes
senger to call DR.. Bruce. She had then
insisted on seeing her husband In spite
OF Felicia, she had compelled Clara and
the housemaid. terrified and trembling.
to support her while she crossed the
hall and entered the room where her
husband lay. She had looked upon him
with fearless face. had gone back into
her own room. was laid on the bed. and
as Dr. Bruce and the bishop entered the
house she with prayer of forgiveness
for herself and her husband on her
quivering lips, had died, with Felicia
bending over her and Rose still lying
senseless at her feet
So great and swift had been the en-
trance of grim death into that palace
Of luxury that Sunday night. bu. the
full cause Of his coming was not known
until the facts in regard to Mr.. Ster-
ipg's business affairs were finally dis
closed.
Then it was learned that for some
time he had been facing financial ruin
owing to certain speculations that had
in months time swept his supposed
wealth into complete destruction. With
the cunning and desperation Of a man
who battles for his very life. when he
saw his money. which was all the life
he ever valued, slipping from him he
had put off the evil day to the last mo-
ment. Sunday afternoon, however, he
had received news that proved to him
beyond doubt the fact of his utter
ruin. The very house that he called his,
the chairs in which he sat. his carriage,
the dishes from which he ate. had all
been bought by money for which he
himself had never really done an honest
stroke of pure labor
1t had all rested on q tissue of deceit
and speculation that had no foundation
in real values He knew the fact better
than any one else. but he had hoped.
with the hope that such men always
have, that the same methods that
brought him the money would also pre-
vent its loss. He had been deceived in
this, as many others have been. AS
soon as the truth that he was practical.
ly beggar had dawned upon him he
saw no escape from suicide. 1t was the
irresistible result of such life as he
had lived. He had made money his god.
AS soon as that god had gone out of his
little world there was nothing more tc
worship, and when mans object of
worship is gone he has no more to live
for Thus died the great millionaire.
Charles R. Sterling and. verify. he died
as the fool dieth. for what is the gain
or the loss Of money compared with the
unsearchable riches of eternal life. which
are far beyond the reach of worldly
speculation, loss or changer
Mrs Sterling's death was the result
Of shock. She had not been taken into
her husbands confidence for years, but
che knew that the source of his wealth
was precarious Her life for several
years had been death i'll life. The
Rolfes always gave the impression that
they could endure more disaster un.
moved than any one else. Mrs. Sterling
illustrated the old family tradition
when she was carried into the room
where her husband lay. but the feeble
tenement could not hold the spirit. and
1t gave up the ghost. torn and weakened
by long years Of suffering and disap-
pointment
The effect of this triple blow. the
death Of father and mother and the loss
of property. was instantly apparent in
the sisters The horror of events stupe-
fled Rose for weeks She lay unmoved
by sympathy or any effort to rally She
did not seem yet to realize that the
money which had been SO large part
Of her very existence was gone Even
when she was told that she and Felicia
must leave the house and be dependent
upon relatives and friends she did not
seem to understand what it meant.
Felicia. however. was fully conscious
Of the facts. She knew just what had
happened and why She was talking
over her future plans with her cousin
Rachel a few days after the funerals.
Mrs Winslow and Rachel had left Ray.
mond and come to Chicago at once as
soon as the terrible news had reached
them, and with other friends of the
family they were planning for the fu-
ture Of Rose and Felicia
"Felicia. You and Rose must come to
Raymond with us. That is settled.
Mother will not hear of any other plan
at present, Rachel had said. while her
beautiful face glowed with love for her
cousin. . love that had deepened day
by day and was intensified by the
knowledge that they both belonged to
the new discipleship
"Unless l could find something to do
here" answered Felicia. She looked
wistfully ut Rachel. and Rachel said
gently:
"What. could you do. dear?"
Nothing was never taught to do
anything except u little music. and /
do not know enough about it to teach
1t or earn my living at it. Ihave learned
to cook little. Felicia answered, with
a slight smile.
'Then you can cook for us. Mother
ia n olxuo ho1 two, l, Al 4. 80