Opening a Chestnut Burr

ain?" said Walter Gregory, with irritation

d thrift down town and good cheer on the avenue, he appears meagre and shrunken in contrast. He is tall and thin. His face is white and drawn, instead of being ruddy with health's rich, warm blood. There is scarcely anything remaining to remind one of the period of youth, so recently vanished; neither is th

ongs committed against it. Though his square jaw and the curve of his lip indicate firmness, one could not look upon his contracted brow and half-despairing expression, as he sits oblivious of all surroundings, without thinking of a ship drifting helplessly and in distress. There are encouraging possibilities in the fact that from those windows of the soul, his eyes, a troubled rather th

f being blase-fools that with conscious superiority smile disdainfully at those still possessing si

the dregs of evil life very bitter, and his face was

d interested look with which a young and healthy man would naturally enter on his business, he showed rather

each other; but perhaps if the wrongs and cruelties that people inflict o

rance of feebleness on the part of the young man. The unpleasant impression haunted him, for having looked over his letters he came out of his private offi

er so bitterly to heart. I admit myself that the operation promised well at first. You were misled, and so were we all, by downright deception. That the swindle was imposed on us through you was more your misfortune than your fault, and it will make you a keener business man in the futu

n. "I suppose I do need rest. In a fe

"drop everything. As soon as you finish that letter,

"Indeed, I believe it would be good economy, for if I don't

together. Now be off to the woods, and send me some game. I won't i

trip early the next morning. His purpose was to make a brief visit to th

rs-one who had married a Southern gentleman, and the other, much younger, living with her father. Gregory had been much abroad as the European agent of his house, and it was during such absence that Mr. Walton had retired from business and purchased the old Gregory homestead. The young man felt sure, however, that though a comparative stranger himself, he would, for his father's sake, be a welcome visitor at the home of

d place implicit confidence in Mr. Hunting, regarding him as a better man than himself. Hunting was an active member of a church, and his name figured on several charities, while Gregory had almost ceased to attend any place of worship, and spent his money selfishly upon himself, or foolishly upon others, giving only as prompted by impulse. Indeed, his friend h

lly lead him to desire such success he was incited by

of goodness, as well as beauty and grace, for did she not repress his tendencies to be a little fast? Did she not, with more than sisterly solicitude, counsel him to shun certain florid youth whose premature blossoming indicated that they might early run to seed? and did he not, in consequence, cut Guy Bonner, the jolliest fellow he had ever known? Indeed, more than all, had she not ventured to talk religion to him, so that for a tim

he had been led to feel that they with their riper experience and knowledge of life knew what was best for her, and therefore she had yielded to their wishes and accepted the offer." She was beginning to add, in a sentimental tone, that "had she only followed the impulses of her heart"-when Gregory, at first too stunned and bewildered

ings with Mr. Grobb did not wear the aspect in which they had been presented by her friends. But her little world so confidently and continually reiterated the statement that she was makin

heart and truth assert themselves among those who all their life have seen wealth practically worshipped, and worth, ungilded, generally ignored. From ultra-fashionable circles a girl is often seen developing into the noblest womanhood; while narrow, mercenary natures are often found where far better things might have been e

very atmosphere of truth, and his tendency to sincerity ever remained the best element of his character. His was one of those fine-fibred natures most susceptible to injury. Up to this time his indiscretions had only been those of foolish, thoughtless youth, while aiming at the standard of manliness and style in vogue among his city

prompts the act. In common parlance, Walter was as good-hearted a fello

e manhood; but she was only an adept at pretty seeming with him, and when Mr. Grobb offered her

purpose to yield to the wishes of her friends. Gregory had often seen Mr. Grobb, but had given him no thought, supposing him some elderly relative of the family. That this was the accepted suitor of the girl who had, with tender, meaning glances, sung for him sentimental ballads, who had sweetly talke

tent in making or marring him. A kind refusal, where no false encouragement has been given, often does a man good, and leaves his faith intact; but an e

d its good influences. During the first two or three years he occasionally had periods of passionate remorse, and made spasmodic efforts toward better things. But they were made in human strength, and in view of the penalties of evil, rather than because he was enamored of the right

because his nature revolted at it, and also on account of his purpose to permit nothing to interfere with his prospects of advancement in business. He meant to show Miss Bently that she had made a bad business speculation after all. Thus ambition became the controlling element in his character; and he might have had

e day and in that which would advance his ambitious schemes. His scepticism was not intellectual and in reference to the Bible and its teachings, but practical and in reference to humanity itself. He believed that with few exceptions men and women lived for their own profit and pleasure, and that religion and creeds were matters of custom and fashion, or an accident of birth. Only the reverence in which religion had been held in his early home kept him from sharing fully in the contempt which the gentlemen he met abroad seemed to have for it. He could not altogether despise his mother's faith, but he regarded her as a gentle enthusi

earied of certain things. Stronger excitements were needed to spur his jaded senses. His bets, his stakes at cards grew heavier, his pleasures more gros

he excitements of the mind could he hope to find continued enjoyment. His ambition to accumulate wealth and become a brilliant business man most accorded with his tastes and

did so effectually that at last he was made a partner in the business, and, with a sense of something mo

is friend was as keen on the track of fortune as himself, and that he had apparently been much more successful. Mr. Hunting intimated that after one reached the charmed inner circle Wall Street was a perfect Eldora

me very strong that he might share in some of the splendi

but one evening in May he came into Gregory's rooms in

imed, "I am going t

e! You are as ric

thing. I've struck a mi

your friends could no

d to let a few intimates go in with me. Only all must keep very quiet about it;

s investment in the firm, and also obtained permission to interest h

ett took Gregory aside and said: "After all, we must place a great deal of confiden

case," said Gregory, eagerly, "and I pled

l of genius Mr. Hunting adroitly, within the limits of the law, swindled them all, and made a vast profit out of their lo

if it had not been for their lenience and aid the firm would have failed. As

st his private means by Hunting's treachery, and insisted on making over to them all his right and title to the property he

gnalized his entrance on his new and responsible position by being overreached and swindled in a transaction that had impoverished himself and almost ruined his partners. He grew very misanthropic, and was quit

cope with feeling and prejudice. Because of his own misguided life and the wrong he had received from others, Walter Gregory was no more able to form a correct estimate of society than one color-blind i

ly see what the firm had lost through him made good, he did not care what became of himself. Why should he? There was little in the present to interest him, and the

gue way that something was wrong. Reason, or, more correctly speaking, instinct, condemned his life as a wretched

office on a sultry September day, the thought occu

said, bitterly. "W

iled utterly. Therefore it was with a certain melancholy pleasure that he found himself at liberty, through the kindness of his partner