The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1903-11-27
[ Z T will not be the least use for
him TO come, uncle, as / have
Npu1lv rauoI,.oJ mot 20 t,,o,.t.yy

firmly resolved not to marry
a rich man! That is, one
born such; If man get his wealth by
his own eXertions, it is quite another
thing"
MY dear, said Mr.. Bagstock, rather
dryly. IF you had said that you had re-
solved not to marry a man solely for
his riches, should call 1t very SEN
sible decision; but, as it is, l can't say
a great deal for its wisdom or justice
] happen TO know n number Of most
excellent men who have the misfor-
tune to be rich as we'll as some Of
quite the contrary description, who
don't own a hundred dollars worth of
property, and never will"
True, uncle; and l don't deny that
there are many worthy people among
our rich men. What l do say is that
the sons of rich men are generally the
most useless and worthless portion Of
the community. Just look around our
own circle, for instance, and tell me If
you can find one, cursed with a rich
father, who is not utterly bankrupt in
truth, energy, self-reliance in fact,
everything that constitutes true manly
WORTH
Kate Vernon's soft, dark eyes
sparkled, and the rich color in her
cheeks grew brighter as she uttered
these words.
Mr.. Bagstock smiled as he looked
upon her glowing countenance.
Unfortunately, there is too much
truth in what you say, Kate But,
though right in theory, you are wrong
in fact. John Armstrong has been
brought up to work His father put
him in his couuting-room as soon as he
left school, giving him the duties and
salary Of the lowest clerk in it; and,
though he was only promoted accord
ing merit, he worked himself up to the
position Of head-bookkeeper. Mr. Arm
strong then took him into the firm, Civ
ing him certain share of the profits.
He is young man Of excellent prin-
ciples."
l--''11 certainly ought to know that,
uncle, said Kate, turning her head
away, with an impatient gesture; 4
have had John Armstrong; manifold
PROJECTIONS dinned into my ears ever
since 1 can remember. am sorry that
you have to 80 away at this time; but
as Cousin Jane is with me, we shall
get along very well, l dare say"
Il hope that you will not only receive
him kindly. Kate, but do your best to
make his visit pleasant; if not for his
sake, out of respect to the memory Of
the father that so loved him. You know
he has never seen you, and may regard
the idea with as little favor as you
seem to do"
I On the evening Of the same day on
which the above conversation took
place, John Armstrong sat alone in his
counting-room. There was not sound
in the warehouse, so busy and active
through the day; his clerks had all
gone home, but he still fingered,
though it was considerably past his
usual hour for leaving.
He held a letter in his hand from Mr.,
Bagstock stating that his niece and
ward. Kate Vernon, had now reached
the age Of eighteen, and, as it had been
the wish of both his father and hers
that their meeting should not take
place before that time, he deemed ii
advisable, as an act Of justice to both
that it should not be delayed further.
John Armstrong; brow wore a
thoughtful and perplexed expression
He had loved and revered his father
above all human beings, and felt how
sacred was his dying wish that he
would form the acquaintance of his
friends daughter before committing
himself elsewhere. And yet his heart
reyolted ut the thought of being thu,
fettered in regard to>a step upon which
his lifelong happiness depended.
Nfotherless and sisterless, his hear
had often yearned for the JOY, the sym
pathy only to be found in the compan
ionship Of a loved and loving wife, bu
he had been so often smiled upon by
scheming mammas and ambitious
daughters, whose only lure was the re
port OF his great wealth, that he hal
grown a little cynical in regard t.
women. He wanted to be loved 70
himself alone-as what man does not
THE rich merchant may be received
gladly" he muttered. but would Johl
Armstrong; self meet with so mucl
:1yor in her sight? All, well we shall
see"
or. John Armstrong, I presume
80 "a infra1nea in
tAsEsN