Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-08-16
CHATTER XXVII.
Confined.

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."
was no match for him in argument,
and besides, ir | had been, this was
an inopportune moment in which to
cross him. | chose rather to turn the
conversation by asking my uncle if
he had in any way notified Mr.. Price
of his displeasurc.
"What do you think" asked uncle
Sam in a contemptuous tone, as IL he
regarded the question as absurdly I'M
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 q 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" 1 in
quired.
Staying at a boarding house some
where up town. PinkcrtOn'S people
will inform me tomorrow whether he
IS likely to square accounts or not. |
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 ncighbor has offered
him. Bytheby. how long can the old
lady keep the job open for Price?'
| confessed my complete ignorance
of the subject.
l did not join in the laugh with
which uncle Sam prectcd his own
thoughts, but rose as # about TO leave,
though with no fixed intention. The
unexpected aspect of affairs In New
York had greatly disconnected me. and
seriously dcranged 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 l 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 aud her dollars there will be
no desire in your nature left ungrati-
fed. Ny dear sir. don't abuse your in
tellisence by believing any such non
sense, and pray don't contradict me,
for | know more about YOU than YOU
know about yourself. Tho only way
to escape anxiety is to oavoidknowledGc
for that is the poison OF which it is
made. Take a Suffolk agricultural la
borer, who has never been ten miles
from the hOvci in which he was born;
he is generally the father o.f ten chill
dren, and his weekly income is rarely
more than ten shillingS, and that he
has to earn with his muscles. IS he
anxious? Never Il bit. He whistles
and sings, or rather he makes strange
noises which lie believes to be such,
which is quite rs good for, as we
have just seen, faith is Il very useful
thing COntentmcnt is compatible
only with illlteracy and isolation Now
look on the other side of the picture.
l have a wife not much Older than
your young lady. quite as beautiful as
she, and the possessOr of precisely rs
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 | 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 60 smoothly he
must always refer the gratifying re.
suit to his luck and never to his iudg-
ment."
II hope you have no objection to my
calling upon my aunt and Miss Marsh
Tomorrow
"Not the least in The world, and You
can take to your aunt special mos
sage from me. / have actually accom-,
plished that which she insisted upon,
and now, according to her own terms.
she is willing TO return to me. 70
morrow, or next day at furthest.
shall be in position to offer You tho
use of my own house. Meantime. YOU
cant do better than remain here with
me-
Supper was now announced, and my
uncle accompanied me tonne private
room where it awaited us, but he
would not eat anything, prcfering to
smoke another cigar and chat to me
while partool of some much-necded
refreshment
CHAPTER XVIII