The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-03-15

"a MAN IS BETTER DEAD THAN BANKRUPT
the result Of improved management
All the men among them eventually
went to work and found another abode.
The old maids and widows remained
and one young girl named Sylvia
Mayne, who was very distantly related
to the Dennings.
| In Barlock there lived an engaging
young man named Arthur Tyrrell. He
was a great student in a cheerful, hap
hazard fashion, and his conversation
was adorned with bright blossoms
gathered from among the wild weeds
which the world calls knowledge He
extracted sense from philosophy and
human nature from history. He was a
cultivated musician who loved melody
He had written a novel as whimsical
as life.
Tyrrell had small property, and his
various artistic occupations yielded him
some income, yet he was always in pc
cuniary trouble His name would al
ways be turning up on a bit Of paper,
and he would be asked to pay money
which he did not have.
A note Of TyrrelPs went to protest at
the bank one day, and, though he made
the amount good at a great sacrifice,
he could not re-establish his credit with
Sir Robert, wherefore all whom he
owed began to press him most unmerci-
fully.
He grew to be a typical sinner whose
name was serviceable for illustration
when Sir Robert addressed the old
maids and widows and Sylvia Mayne
upon the proper conduct of life. Sylvia
was then eighteen, and she knew no
more about money matters than the
bushmen know about the geometry of
< dimensions. She knew Tyrrell, how
ever, and thought him the most agree
able man in Barlock. Her ideals of per-
sonal beauty were thoroughly satisfied
by Tyrrell's bright blue eyes and yell
low hair, by his grace and manliness
and courtly bearing. 1t was a great
surprise to her to learn that he was not
a good man. Her notions Of evil were
based chiefly upon the dishonesty Of
two servants in the house who had
stolen silverware and had been sent to
prison and upon her observation of Ger.
tain shifty eyed tricksters who kept lit
tie stores in Barlock. Certainly Mr..
Tyrrell was not like these.
Sylvia's moral training had savOred
Of Puritanism, and she had been taught
that evil is attractive and good repel-
lent. Her own experience had not
seemed to Justify this doctrine until the
case Of Arthur Tyrrell offered proof
conclusive that the gloOmier view Of the
world was the true one. She confessed
to herself that she would never have
known that Mr.. Tyrrell was a whited
sepulcher or a red apple offered by the
old serpent that tempted Eve She had
entertained some foolish dreams about
him, and she reprOached herself for
them, for she loved honor and honesty
and especially the moral strength which
is superior to all temptation.
1t was her doubt of TyrrelPs strength
which probably turned her away from
him. Sir Robert was keen enough to
see this, and no doubt he was sincerely
glad that Sylvia should have begun to
find out what sort Of man this fellow
Tyrrell really was. It is always easy TO
accuse an amiable person of weakness
and to carry conviction to the mind Of
a girl who has been taught (and verify
believes) that all the virtues are hard
as iron.
About this time there was a fever in
Barlock and its vicinity for investment
In a certain gigantic enterprise. Per-
sons Of distinction visited Sir Robert
in the interests Of this project, and
H they used his bank in various ways
that were profitable to the institution.
Personally Sir Robert made a small In
vestment, and upon learning Of this all
Barloek stood ready to risk it's savings.
DepOsitors began to withdraw their
money from the bank in order to in
--o-A - THE mas Ii.