The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-09-01
CHAPTER XVII.
Continued.

THAT fellow Price" continued uncle
Sam, not noticing me. "was specially
trained to uphold and disseminate all
virtuous principles as we'll by example
as precept. In the way of precept. I
should think he has performed his
part. but I never had the misfortune
to hear him in circumstances where
was not privileged to reply. AS for
his example-well. he is hypocrisy.
cowardice. meanness and ingratitude
personified."
Twas no match for him in argument,
and besides, if had been, this was
an inopportune moment in which to
cross him. l chose rather to turn the
conversation by asking my uncle If
he had in any way notified Mr.. Price
of his displeasure.
What do you think?" asked uncle
Sam in a contemptuous tone, as If he
regarded the question as absurdly un-
necessary. Had him promptly thrown
out of the Investors Guide Office: am
pressing him by the quickest methods
for repayment of money advanced;
moved Rosenberg to do ditto in respect
Of the value of diamond he was fool
enough to let him have on credit, and
have the reverend gentleman under
surveillance Of two of Pinkerton's
smartest detectives. so that should he
attempt to leave the State before he
has given full satisfaction for the
claims upon him he will be instantly
laid by the heels
Where is Mr.. Price now? I in
quired.
Staying at boarding house some
will inform me tomorrow whether he
is likely to square accounts or not. I
am sure l sincerely hope he may be
unable to do so. for in that case may
perhaps succeed in fixing him here
long enough to spoil him of that cure
Of souls your neighbor has offered
him. By-the-by, how long can the old
lady keep the job open for Price?'
! confessed my complete ignorance
Of the subject.
/ did not join in the laugh with
which uncle Sam preeted his own
thoughts. but rose as If about to leave.
though with no fixed intention. The
unexpected aspect of affairs in New
York had greatly disconnected me. and
seriously deranged my plans. Uncle
Sam-perceived my disquietude and ir-
resolution. and somewhat unnecessa-
rily. thought inquired the cause of it.
Il shall be very anxious until have
seen Constance" was the only expla-
nation l could offer.
Until you die. you mean," corrected
uncle Sam. "At present it seems to
you that when you possess your dear
Connie and her dollars there will be
no desire in your nature left ungrati
fed. My dear sir. don't abuse your in
telligence by believing any such non.
sense, and pray don't contradict me.
for l know more about you than you
know about yourself. The only way
to escape anxiety is toavoid knowledge.
for that is the poison Of which it is
made. Take a Suffolk agricultural la
borer, who has never been ten miles !
from the hovel in which he was born
he is generally the father Of ten chill
dren, and his weekly income is rarely |
more than ten shillings, and that he
has to earn with his muscles. As he |
anxious? Never a bit! He whistles |
and sings. Or rather he makes strange |
noises which he believes to be such.
which is quite as good: for, as we
have just seen. faith Is a very useful
thing Contentment Is compatible |
only with illiteracy and isolation. Now
look on the other side of the picture. |
] have a wife not much older than
your young lady, quite as beautiful as
she. and the possessor of precisely as
many dollars. while as for myself,
there are not more than seven men in
this great country whose means ex-
ceed mine But can't escape anxiety.
On the contrary have had rather
large doses of it the last few days"
But you would have avoided your
anxieties if"
IF 1 had not done the things
which have incurred them. Precisely.
But there are matters of which no man
ever estimates the consequence, and
when those matters go smoothly he
must always refer the gratifying re-
suit to his luck and never to his judg-
ment."
Il hope you have no objection to my
calling upon my aunt and Miss Marsh
tomorrow" "~S~-r
Not the least in the world, and you
can take to your aunt special mes
sage from me. l have actually accom-
plished that which she insisted upon,
and now. according to her own terms.
she is willing to return to me. To
morrow. or next day at fCrtEest. l
shall be in a position to offer you the
use of my own house. Meantime, you
can't do better than remain here with