Democratic Sentinel, Volume 22, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 April 1898 — PAYING THE PENALTY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

PAYING THE PENALTY

BY HESCOTT

CHAPTER I. Before the days of colossal fortunes in America the Great Western Bank of Chicago was tooted as one of the solid financial institutions of the country. Why should it not have been when its cash capital approximated five hundred thousand dollars? Stephen Z. Kellogg of the North Carolina Kellogg family, who had migrated West in the early thirties, was the trusted president of this bank from the day its doors were thrown open in the fall of 1842 until they were closed to business some fifteen years later. Stephen was the eldest of three brothers, the other two being Amos D., a cotton factor of Wilmington, North Carolina, and Andrew, who died in 1853, leaving a widow, his second wife, and a stepson, Earl. Andrew, in fact, had left little else, though Jacob Kellogg, the father of the three named, had left them joint heirs to his estate. Under tho management of Stephen and Amos, their inheritance had quadrupled, while Andrew was doomed tq see his snug fortune dwindle into insignificant proportions; so insignificent, in fact, that the appointment of an administrator was deemed unnecessary—there would have been nothing save a small amount of personal property for him to have administered upon. The one article that Andrew did leave behind that was prized above all others by his widow was a letter directed to Stephen, the Chicago banker, requesting him to look after the future of his wife and son. % “Stephen is a banker and very wealthy,” he had said to his wife not a week before his death, “and Earl will stand a better chance of advancement in the West than here in North Carolina. Amos, to be sure, would employ him and see that you did not come to want, but I would prefer that after I am laid in the grave, you go to Stephen and leave the scene of my misfortunes behind.” So it was that when the doorbell of the banker’s residence on Dearborn avenue was sounded on the evening of the ninth of August, 1853, Julia, the housemaid who answered its summons, ushered into the presence of the banker, who on this occasion was the only occupant of the spacious parlor of his residence, his sister-in-law and her son, neither of whom he had ever before beheld. Mr. Kellogg bade his guests be seated while he perused the letter the widow had handed him. He was aware that his younger brother was dead, Amos having written of his demise immediately after its occurrence; but he had received no intimation that the widow of this brother, together with her son, expected to visit Chicago with a view of becoming members of his household, or that Andrew had left a letter requesting him to look to their future. The widow had taken care that he should not. Amos was not made aware of the existence of this letter until the date of the departure of Mrs. Kellogg and her son for Chicago. The madam had decided that the most certain way to attain her object would be to present her letter in person. “If I write and send it,” she had thought, “I may not receive a satisfactory reply. Perhaps advice would be all. Perhaps a check for a hundred or two. Maybe the words, ‘I will see what can be done.’ Our course is to go and go quickly. Once there, something will be done. I will take no chances.” Tears filled the eyes of the banker as he perused the last words written by his younger brother, and if he felt annoyance over any part of the contents of the letter, appearances did not indicate it. For a moment he sat as though lost in thought, then, rising from his chair, he cordially extended a hand to each of his visitors.

“It will be a pleasure to me, madam,” he said “to fulfill the last request of poor Andrew. For the present, at least, your home shall be beneath my roof. I will see that Earl is established in business, and if he be of good habits, capable and economical, ere many years roll by he may offer you a home of his own.” “Oh, sir,” began the widow, rising to her feet, while with her left hand she raised a convenient handkerchief to her eyes, “we can never ” “There, there, my dear madam! Dry your eyes and give yourself no further annoyance. Earl will bo fully able to repay me for all I may do for you. I am engaged in a business that requires trustworthy men, and may be able to find a place for your son in my bank. How would you like to learn banking, my boy? No training as yet in that direction, I suppose; but I judge you are somewhat older than I thought.” “I have passed my twenty-second year,” replied Earl. “I was graduated from the North Carolina University two years ago. Since that time I have been engaged in trying to straighten out the tangled affairs of my father; but, alas, it was too late. We were able to save nothing from his estate.” “Amos wrote me to that effect,” said the banker. “It is many years sin£e I last saw my brother. He was a poor manager, I fear, for we inherited equal amounts from our father’s estate.” “I shall endeavor to do my duty in any position in which you may sec proper to place me,” observed the young man. “And ns to my competency, you can soon judge." “Yes, yes. Well, I will have you located in a week’s time. Why, here we are talking of matters that may well be deferred for a day or two, and you people fatigued from your long journey.” At this point Mr. Kellogg sounded the bell that stood on the center table, and Julia appeared. “You see,” continued the banker, “my wife is an invalid, so that you will not see her to-night. My son and daughters are out for the evening. Julia, however, will attend to your comfort. Why, you have not dined!” “Oh, yes,” exclaimed the widow. “We patronized the dining car before entering the city.” “Well, Julia, this lady is my sister-in-law, Mrs. Kellogg; this young man is my nephew. You will conduct Mrs. Kellogg to the room next my daughters’ on the second floor; Earl to the room opposite. Tell Aunt Eliza to prepare tea for them. See that their rooms are aired and made comfortable. I must go up aud inform my wife of your arrival. Ah, by the way, your baggage?” “At the depot as yet,” said the young man. “Hand me the checks and I will send for it at once.” The sable Julia conducted her charges to the floor above, calling Tom, the coach-, man, as she passed through the hall, to whom the banker gave the checks with instructions. “A remarkably well preserved woman is my sister-in-law,” quoth Mr. Kellogg as he ascended the stairs. “She mnst be all of forty. Humph! She hardly appears twenty-five. Yes, she is quite a beauty. “Let’s see—what was her name before Andrew married her? I have it —Newberry. Now the Widow Kellogg. Married twice. Ob, well, she may marry again. Poor Andrew —perhaps his second wife helped dissipate hjs fortune. “The young man looks bright and smart. He must be all right or rAmos would have written me about him. Sitrange he didn't mdStion their intention of coining berg.” Here the banker entered the room of bit wife. v "Ah, £b»llt, dear, reading? ¥oq

be feeling better to-night. We shall soon have you down stairs now. Oar family has suddenly increased by two, and I will venture a five-dollar bill you will never guess who the newcomers are.” “I will not try, Stephen—it is too much trouble. But stay! You say that oar family has increased by two —your brother Andrew left a widow and son.” “A step-son.” “They are the newcomers.” “The five dollars is yours, Thalia.” “Oh, I have more money now than I can spend, my dear husband; but neither this widow nor her son have claims on yon. I had supposed he was Andrew’s son.” “She was my brother’s wife, dear. He died insolvent. I can’t understand it. She brought a letter from Andrew requesting me to take them under my protection. We conld not do less. The poor woman is in great trouble. I am quite sure you will like her. The boy is of Robert’s age—dark complexion—hair and eyes the same. No resemblance to the Kelloggs there.” “I may be able to use the young man in the bank. If not, I can easily locate him somewhere. He is a college graduate, and I feel confident has no bad habits. He may have a good influence on Bob—you know Bob is a little wild at times, else he would be the cashier of the bank to-day, Instead of Lawrence Terry.” “Oh, Robert is so young, Stephen! I have no fears for Robert. And as for Lawrence Terry—if he is to be our future son-in-law, he should have the preference above all others. You know Lawrence is three years older than Robert.” “True; but I am as yet uncertain as to his becoming our son-in-law. I have not given my consent.” “Oh, but you will! Laura would die if yon should refuse to. But we have diverged from the subject. lam quite content with your receiving your brother’s widow and her son. Now remember that, and don’t refuse your sanction to the marriage of Lawrence and Laura.” “You don’t care to see our guests tonight?” “No, no, Stephen; I have talked too much now.” “Well, you will see them to-morrow. Of course their stay with us may be but temporary. After a time Earl will be able to provide a home for his mother. I will see about Lawrence and Laura.” “I knew you would, dear. Well, goodnight.” “Good-night, my dear wife. And may you look bright and fresh in the morning.” And imprinting a kiss on the lips of the one he had led to the altar thirty years before, the banker left the room and descended the stairs. j

CHAPTER 11. It was after eight o’clock when the widow and her son arrived at the banker’s residence. A half-hour later when Julia entered the madam’s room with a tea tray on which was an urn of tea and a dainty repast, she found Earl assisting his mother in the unpacking of one of the three trunks that had constituted her baggage. “Oh, that was entirely unnecessary, Julia,” said the madam. “I informed my brother-in-law that we had dined. And yet, I presume we shall be able to do justice to the repast. I find this northern air quite a stimulant to one’s appetite. Place your burden on that table beneath the chandelier.” “Is you from de Sous, Missus?” “Yes, Julia, we are from North Carolina; so you see we are accustomed to the attendance of colored people.” “Dar ain’t no colored people down Sous, Missus—da’s just niggers—poo’ misable nigger slaves —dat’s all da’ is. Da’s colored people up yere dow, fer true!” “Are there many colored people in Chicago, Julia?” “Lor, no, Missus! How could dar be when da’s all down Sous? But Mars Stephen say one of dese days da all gwine be free; den I spec da come up yere.” “Well, you need not wait for the tray, Julia. My son is assisting me to unpack, and we shall be quite busy for a time. Those rolls look excellent.” “Da’s de bes’ out. My mammy made dem, an’ Mars Stephen say she’s de bes’ cook goiu’. You see, Mars Stephen bied mammy an’ me in Balemore when I was ’bout seven year ol’. I spec I’s nigh ’bout twenty now.”

“He bought you South?” “He did dat, Missus; but we’s free as de air now. Mars Stephen say so, an’ he know. He pays mammy an’ me he good money.” “How much, Julia?” “Bress you soul, Missus, I ain’t know dat; but he pays us lots; I spec ’bout sebenteen dollars.” The madam smiled as she raised a roll of red ribbon from the tray of her trunk and handed it to Julia. “You may be able to use that,” she said; “and you may go now. Tell your mother we are much pleased with her tea. Good-night.” “Lordy! Dat red ribbon is des de ting I’s been wantin’, an’ mammy wouden let me buy none —she say it’s stravigant. Tank you, Missus, tank you! Won’t I cut de shine off on dat Larkins gal now? Wait till Pete Rollins sees me wid dis rop roun’ me. De nigger’ll nigh ’bout go crazy!” And Julia, with her eyes sparkling, dashed out of the room, forgetting to say good-night. The widow and her son for a moment could not restrain their mirth. “Africa’s children are the same the world over,” Mrs. Kellogg remarked presently. “Well, let us discuss the contents of the tray, aud at the same time hold a confabulation over the present aspect of our affairs.” “Agreed, mother,” said Earl, rising from his knees, in which position he had been at the side of the trunk. They were soon seated at the table with the tray between them, and the widow proceeded to pour the tea, while her son helped her to the wing of a chicken. “We are at last located where there is a desirable outlook,” the madam said after a little. “There is finally a prospect of some of my fond hopes being realized. As you are aware, my life’s ambition has been to be the possessor of great wealth, and to see you a wealthy man. It was with that end in view that I, six years ago, married Andrew Kellogg, believing him to be a man of fortune. I made a woeful mistake. He was worth but a paltry fifty thousand. Stimulated by me lie strove to increase his means by speculation, with what result you know. He lost all.” “All, mother?” “Well, nearly so. Certainly I saved something from the wreck, for Andrew had placed ten thousand to my credit the day I married him. For a time I speculated with it with varying success. Finally I invested it in such a manner that when, on the verge of bankruptcy, he wished to withdraw it from my hands, it was beyond my reach, whether or not we shall in the future realize on the investment, time alone can tell —you know how it is invested.” “Yes, I know, mother. But you never can—you ” “Wait! I am not so certain as to that. But the time is not yet. Now this banker is wealthy. He may be a millionaire. The position for you is that of cashier of his bank.” “I am well aware of that, my dear mother, and I may in time attain it.” “Nay! You must. Of course you may enter the bank in a subordinate position, and there you must perform every duty with au exactness not to be surpassed. Y’ou must please your uncle. No matter how particular he may be, you must not leave a stone unturned to court his favor.” “My uncle?” “Yes, henceforth yonr name is Earl Kellogg. You must drop the name of Newberry, I shall request Mr. Kellogg to introduce you as his nephew. You will receive more consideration from those you come in ooptact with if they believe you his nephew,” “Mother, there is ope very great obstacle &at ijjw it&nd la .y»f t -Far the

moment I had forgotten it. Stephen Kellogg has a abn, and that son may be cashier of the bank.” “I had thought of that. ‘Rome was not built in a day.’ There are ways, and then there are other ways! Yon must, and shall, become cashier of that bank. If Robert Kellogg occupies that place at this time, we must bring about the change.” “I am favorable; but how?” “We will let that rest for the present. He may not even hold a position in the bank. There are other matters. Yon are a good-looking young man, Earl, with your athletic figure, your dark complexion, your black hair, mustache and eyes. And remember, yon will soon be twentythree.” “Why, mother, what on earth are yon driving at now?” “You must marry—one of Banber Kellogg’s daughters.” “That would not be a bad scheme. But, mother, we can hardly plan until we have been here a week or so.” “True; but we must lose no time. There is another thing. Mr. Kellogg’s wife, it seems, is an invalid. I must be very attentive to her. She may die—l had not thought to marry again after having made two failures, but —ah, well, we shall see.” “Mother, you are a great schemer.’’ (To be continued.)