schoolhouse the only temple of learning, reached the age of fourteen as utterly untainted by knowledge of the world as the birds that annually visited the old farm orchards. And then c

complete his education by a two ye

e his way to fame and fortune, but many a man succee

ercurial disposition. When the world and his associates seemed to smile, he soared

ugh the influence of his aunt, he obtained an easier berth as copy clerk in the office of Weston & Hill, whose business was the investing of other people's money, and while his hours of service were less, his pay was no better. Three years of

sleep and eat in without cost, urged him to attend church with her, cautioned him against evil associates; but beyond that she could not and did not go. So Winn drifted. He saved a little money, realizing that he must

rce upon him the realization that he was but a poorly paid bookkeeper, and not likely to beco

better he never met-a Mephistopheles in male garb, whose wit and ways of pleasure-taking are alluring, wh

se, Winn would not and did not; he merely admired him for his wit, felt half tempted to emulate his vices, absorbed his scepticism-for Jack Nickerson in addition to his vices was a cynic of the most implacable sort. With him all religion was hypocrisy, a

st when he uttered his sharpest sneers, was polish

deified such a man, and made hi

shafts of satire were gospel truths, and whose Sybarite sort of exist

, a beauty and a natural-born flirt, whose ideas of life and maternal training had convinced h

der sister, Grace, who had, in her estimation, wrecked her life by marrying a poor man. And when Winn Hardy, young, handsom

many good women, loved to dabble in match-making, and in her simple

r a year and spending half he earned on flowers and theatre tickets, his suit was

he a more bitter cynic than ever. For two years he was but a cipher in business and social life, a poorly paid bookke