The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-04-29

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IL ARTH to earth, ash.
/ es to ashes, dust tc
! - dust" said Pau
Il Falmouth as he
J ! stood by the grave
Of Rufus Gordon.
I Here to await the
general resurrection in the last day and
the arnearins Of the Lord Jesus Christ
John Gordon, with his sister and
their aunt, Mrs. Hester Wayland, Ru-
fus Gordon's only sister, stood on the
ether side Of the grave. Mary was
heavily dressed in mourning and cluns
to John Gordon's arm sobbing. Fal-
mouth offered q brief prayer, pro-
uounced the benediction and then came
around to the three and shook hands
silently. The crowd of acqua1ntances
hat had known the distinguished hnan-
cier departed, discussing as they went
the future of the business invoked By
the death, and its relation to the SON.,
who was stranger to most Of the men
in the city, except as they had read OF
his eccentric career at Hope House.
Strange how man Of Gordon's eS-
act methods can neglect such thing.
I remember now there was Judge
Lewis OF the circuit court neglected. y
etc.
Gordon isn't the first man to put of
offending to q matter Of that sort.
suppose the estate goes in absence of
9 will to his SON." one Of the visiting
friends Of the broker questioned.
Yes, and the son is crank, I'm
told; been living in the slums for a
fad" The speaker got into his auto
mobile, and he and his friends were
soon speeding toward the city at the
rate Of thirty niles an hour. Cor
don's fad was q slum. The brokers
fad was racing machine. There are
fads and fads.
81 think could give guess at Cor
don's failure to make will" quietly
remarked another fnancier, who had
been present at the funeral.
His companion gave him a question
ing look.
"He didn't have much of anything to
WILL" was the answer
flows that?" The exclamation ex-
pressed great surprise. Gordon was
one OF the solid men Of the city,
'It may be. But, mark my prophecy,
the old man lost his cunning along to-
ward the last. Those who watched
him closest saw signs Of breaking
down in him more than 4 year ago.
He went too heavily into L. and D.
stock. Conway's deal last spring
turned out bad for Gordon. No one
knows how hard he was hit at the
time, but-you watch developments. II
the son gets the house and lots out OF
what's left, he will do we'll
He was not
s'The cd man was strictly honorable
in his relation ato all trusts. All he
lost was his own, so far as that goes.
But an much mistaken If he did not
lose just about everything"
During the week that followed Rufus
Gordons affairs gradually became
common material for gossip on the
street. Ten days after the body OF
the wealthy banker had been put in
the ground the business world knew
that, with the exception Of his home
and small annuity belonging to his
daughter. the wealth Of Rufus Gordon
had vanished, dissipated in that kind
OF speculation which borders on gam
cling so closely that the most conscien-
tiocs business men cannot always de-
eide where legitimate business ends
and the gamblers luck begins. =
Down at Hope House Paul Falmouth,
who had come. in to consult with Miss
Andrews about. some work his people
had volunteered for her, was talking
over John Gordon's affairs when be
came into the library. Miss Andrews
was called out, and the two men were
left together. Since Barton's death
Gordon had felt drawn toward Fal-
mouth. There was something very
wholesome and helpful about the man
when one came to know the real man
beneath the scholarly, refined, deeply
sensitive nature.
Then your fathers death will really
make little difference with your fu-
tureT'
VERY little if any Gordon answered
gravely. Mary is going abroad for q
year W.! Aunt Hester. Poor Mary
She is just about broken down with s.!
that has happened
Then you will keep on here:'
Yes. There is nothing else for me tC
do Fathers business passes into the
receivers hands. Practically all he
had, or all We supposed he had, is gone
Aunt Hester Will take Mary into hel
home when they return"
Falmouth was silent moment. IheI
he leaned over and put q hand on JohI
Gordon's arm.
do you know l have had q grea'
temptation Of late, especially since The
fre'-he was looking out OF the win
dow-'to give up my parish and como
down here with YOU
Gordon's face lighted up. THAT
would be great thing for rs! But.
But 4 .cowardiy thing for you t
DO You are right. Falmouth sale
quietly. Why should I run away from
! the hard work where i ;ln: Aud yet
Gordon, 10 man knows, unless he ha:
been in the ministry, the enormous de
/ mands cn the profession. | am no
speaking il boastfulness or complain
when I say that no profession require:
such constant and l.arieG exercise Of al