The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1903-12-25

"A. :
AK OF DESTINY. !
0soe~oaO0oSoSoOSoO6
harrow, prosperous appearing
q well-dehned scowl was left
spress flyer at Noonah station,
he waited. yalise In hand, he
bbOut him with the air of one
who S not altogether a stranger OBJ
serviiI public conveyance he beck
oned one accustomed to being obey
= ed to ihe man in charge, and manifest
ed no surprise when that individual
took his own time to respond. Moo
nah people were slow and Independent,
and the newcomer had not forgotten
that fact.
"You don't seem in any hurry to get
a fare he said peevishly, as he step
ped into the vehicle.
you didn't expect maybe that wuz
a-goin' to drive up on the platform,
now did ye?' drawled the driver,
. where might We be wantin' to stop
at?"
Take me to the best hotel"
"All right. I'll take We to the Co
lumbus Git up, jimmy, get up, Jack.
Say, eff you hev emmy baggidge the
express wagon will fetch it up"
! At the hotel-a fine new building
the landlord advanced with a flourish
ing air Of proprietorsnip to address
stranger, then started, and welcomed
his guest by both hands.
Mr. Arnold!" he said, effusively Il
knew you as soon as l laid eyes on
you! And-let me see-its 10 years
to a day since you left Noonah.'
"How-do, Ransom, how-do?" the
guest spoke fretfully and coldly. Time
hasn't stood still with either of us. You
know I live in Washington now"
Eyes, sir; yes, Mr.. Arnold and you
y have done us proud there. Why, sir,
you got us an appropriation for new
postofice to be built in the near fut-
ure-I hope to live till get my letters
there. Yes, sir, Congressman, Senator
and now"
I'm not in Office now, Ransom. My
private interests demand all my atten-
ton. Besides, you know, l am alone
in the world-neither wife nor child"
"Ah, yes, sir, I've heard. She was
fine woman, Mrs. Arnold was, and
very handsome, too-if you'll excuse
me for saying it."
"She was very extravagant," said
the widoWer, the scOwl on his face in
tensifying, "dreadfully reckless in her
expenditures-why, Ransom, she was
the most extensively dressed woman
in Washington, where all the women
dress like the dickens"
but, Mr. Arnold-beg pardon-h'm
hadn't your lady fortune of her
own?"
Eyes, Ransom, and l invested her
money to the best advantage, but she
\spent lot of it foolishly. However,
Shes gone now, and it can't be helped,
and with a cross, detected look Mr.
ARNOLD with the prefix of Hon" to his
name, followed his host to the best
room in the hotel.
Later when he had dined he asked
some questions about old-time friends
in Noonah and led the conversation
until he asked casually:
what has becomes of the Merritts
-, I suppose Agnes is married by this
time? The last l heard of them they
had gone abroad. Have they return
do"
Eyes, Mr. Arnold, and they're rich
= now-brought back heap of money
from an estate that fell to them in
the old country. They do say say Mr.
Merritt might have had a title but the
old mans true blue American-nc
Titles for him. And Miss Agnes has
never married, though we all know she
bad plenty Of chances" He looked sly.
at Mr. Arnold, who was disposed tt
e communicative
Eyes, Ransom, she came near beins
he first Mrs. Arnold. 1t was her owl
FAULT that she wasn't" lied Arnold
glibly.
Few of us know ourselves as we'll al
bother people know us know thy
self" remains Greek to the averag,
man. All Noonah knew that Rober
q Arnold had thrown Agnes Merritt oveI
for a richer girl. Ransom told of he
fathers interests in various flourish
ing enterprises, and of their improve,
Nstyle Of living. This was merely
confirmation of news Arnold had al
n. L l.. y 3 {.