The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1920-09-16
Waking Up
By ALDEN CHAPMAN



Q clcrk IN the store 81 Seth Gray lie
had saved several hundred dollars and
both his employer and his daughter
Ruth. who hrlp.d 10 the stcrc. liked
hin and admired his thrifty ways
Ruth had been almost uucunsciousiy
an important element IN forming III.
character of III. Young man. hut store.
Ruth. thrift and humble contsntm~n,
s.ui all to the winds one day. when
letter mriV-i informing Morton that
q. had fallen heir 10 n small fortune.
lie resigned his position In the stos.
~ telephone. half Wild With the I'm
mediate p.ss.ssiuu 81 several thou
Sud dollars representing nccumuia'
lions on Investments. the principal of
which was io become his further on
Then few days later he appeared
Il a.. store. respondent ms to at'ir.
aud jcw.lry adjournment
I've been 80 rusy getting used Ia
being rich" N. declared, that !
'ouldn't get around before. Mr. Gray.
II YOU need any money, I've got II
thousand or two you can have to ~.
gand your business"
You're a eno,l hearted fellow
Gr.s spoke n, stor,kespsr. hut
slow aud sur. l. my motto. and never
borrow. Ruth j. upstairs In the living
ruuus."
4 think III speak n word or 'wo Ia
her II you don't object"
Il won't. aud neither will Ruth. w
miss YOU tee much for that
Morton suush, out Ruth. A. his
EYES fell upon her neatly CARRIED form
and oppressive face "a vague s.ns. ~
abandoning go.-i old friends assaulted
him. hut the emotion was only tenn
pwary Glare aud glitter had already
fascinated him and h. was eager To
get back iu comrades who were indul
gently helping him to spend his newly
acquired wealth. She greeted him IN
n friendly. familiar way. rs was her
custom with him. but there was GER
tain shyuess. he quickly noticed.
which h. attributed 10 n realization
on her part II changed.
Il went shopping yesterday. Ruth. :
b. said brightly. Ito get my cousin n
sunburst pin. and I've bought you one.
too" aud he extended a little velvet
ease exposing pretty hauble with
half n dozen diamonds In II.
Il can't accept such an expensive
present from you. Greg" spoke Ruth
In nbdus,l tone. but give me that
rosebud In your bu'tonhole."
N Greg followed an impulse. h.
would have gathered her into his arms
and told her what he thought Of her.
Already. however. the wiles OF new
social influence had cnveloped him.
The idle and pleasure seeking had
claimed him as their own. particularly
for his money. There was a group Of
newly made comrndes who hung about
him daily. There was Miss Vera
Burgnyu. Ia whom he had been Intro
duc-d his senior by n few years. hut
ar''nclally conc-aling the fact. Sh.
had set her cnp Ia capture young
man hardly her equal socially, hut
with promising PROSPECTS. AZ heart
u co.luette. she had dnzxled Morton
quite. and his mai. friends had mad.
him believe that "A match with Miss
Burgoyn- would put him up In the
world materially. They Toasted on his
generous bounty and iiat'ered and ca.
joled him. lie was In for jollity. and
when one day he appeared on the
sir-.t with hat controlled by a tiny
wire. and shot II NJ from his head In
greeting acquaintance. his chums
noted him 80 original" When again
Merton drew mock revolver from
his pocket snapped IL and landed a
cigar between his teeth. II was de-
nominated 9Th. classisst hit 81 IN. sea
son" He was courted like a King. but
on. day
Merton never forgot II. He had dis
covered that b. had used w his entire
cash. even ov.rdrnwing nj bank. IN
top ~ this came word that the con
Germ In which his capital was invested
had failed aud his entire principal was
swept away.
Lat. nights. excitement. his loss
brought on natural reaction.
Deserted by his friends. In debt and
hnra .ssed with new troubles. he fell
m and lay Ia fever and delirium for
over a week.
Queer" was his first word. family
spoken. ms he opened his eyes To nor
NAL coh.rency.
"Ah. h.tteri That's good" spoke
a.. hun. hearty tones of Seth Gray.
"w. thought you would be- better
cared for here than nj IN. hotel. on.
good thing. We haven't been pes,.red
with ihos. new friends of yours Miss
Burgoyne s.ut a servant To inquire af-
ter you, once. only"
That's more than expected" said
Morton. for she dropped me IN n fash
when she heard IL my loss. Not tina,
I am sorry. False. selfish humanity.
And you took me In. Well III be able
To ct about In day or two and re-
i.ye you II my charge. ] suppose
you feel "a bit hard at me leaving you
n. way ! did"
"Oh. yes" observed Mr.. Gray sat.
tircally. 80 much so that Ruth and !
quarr.led over which should sit up