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

deavor to compose myself to sleep, and
when. after many weary hours. l at
last lost consciousness Of external OBJ
jects I had not even then escaped the
sense of oppression. so that when
arose in haste. surprised at the late
ness of the hour. 1t was with none OF
those delightful sensations Of refreshed
vitality which commonly attend the
awakening Of healthful youth. But the
thought that was this day to see
Constance Marsh acted as a stimulus
to my feeble will, and I dressed my.
self with much care. though hastily.
Needless to relate my uncle was up be-
fore me and had already breakfasted.
found him standing by window In
the room where he had received me
on the previous day. thoughtfully
twirling a cheque around his fingers.
An opened letter lay upon the table.
After the usual brief salutations my
uncle bade me to breakfast without
loss of time. command was not
slow to obey, as he informed me that
he was in receipt of an unsatisfactory
communication, the nature Of which
be would explain on my return.
When I re-entered the room about
fifteen minutes later, my uncle was
standing in the place where I had left
him, his hands clasped behind, and
staring vacantly at the carriages as
they swiftly passed up the avenue to-
wards Central Park. l was much
impressed by the evident change which
had been wrought in this extraordin-
ary man in but a few short weeks.
Two days ago, and 1 could not have
conceived any circumstances that
would have induced Samuel Truman
to remain quiet and pensive for so
long as a quarter Of an hour.
"Ahr' exclaimed uncle Sam, sudden
ly turning upon me in his old energetic
way; "read that letter, Ernest, and
tell me what you think of it."
I examined the contents Of the en-
velope to which my uncle pointed, and
found they consisted of a cheque on
DrexeTs Bank for four thousand
two hundred dollars, drawn by Evan
Price in favor of my uncle. accompan-
led by a few polite words from that
gentleman, stating that he forwarded
the said cheque in satisfaction of all
claims, and awaited Q receipt for the
same.
WELL" said, as replaced the let
ter and cheQue in their envelope, Il
think you are to be congratulated. Mr..
Price can't do you any further harm,
and you have recovered your money"
That's true" admitted uncle Sam;
"but I'm baked Of my revenge-for
the present. No matter; all things
come to those who wait If they be
furnished with watchful eyes. Mean
while it is pleasant to contemplate the
awful vacuity of that humbug's purse
now that he has disgorged those few
dollars"
L
to pay you," 1 suggested.
II don't think anybody would lend
him so much now he has no connection
with the Investors Guide; but l may
ascertain that later on. have sent
him q receipt, and the cheque l Will
give to you. 1t is an open cheque.
and when l have endorsed it you can
cash it at DreXePs, in Wall Street,
which is quite close to my office"
1 was about to thank my uncle for
his generous gift; but he would not
listen to me, and went on to say that
he was in momentary expectation OF
the arrival Of Mrs. Truman; that she
had promised to come to him at the
Windsor Hotel and to return with him
to their house in Thirty-fourth street.
Connie" he added, as he consulted
his watch, "is at Orange; and If you
start for that place within an hour
and bring her on at once to New York
you will find on your return your aunt
and me in our proper places, and all
things fixed comfortably"
This was delightful information, in
initely more pleasing to me than the
possession of the cheque which had
just placed in my wallet. Uncle Sam
noticed my satisfaction and remarked
upon it, bidding me never to needless
ly complicate my affairs, for that way
lies Perplexity, handmade to Madness.
but always to prefer simple courses,
and then small things would never
lose their power to please. Having
expressed himself thus, he reclined
upon a settee with his feet superposed
on the back of chair, and lit his first
cigar for that day.
II suppose l shall experience no diff
ficulty in finding Belle Vue Cottage
when I arrive at Orange"
"Not the least in the world" said
uncle Sam; everybody in Orange
knows it."
Then will start at once"
mo, don't go till your aunt comes;
she can't surely be many minutes"
said uncle Sam, consulting his watch