Millionaire Benson sat in his library after the departure of his nephew. He wanted his daughter sorely, was willing to forgive her all, even her husband, if she would but return, but there was an evil influence at work about him, and many times George Benson would spend hours in telling him of Annie’s sin.
As he sat there this morning and his nephew had gone, another young man just out of college ran up the stairs and burst into the library.
“Uncle,” said he lightly, “how are you to-day?”
“Pretty well, my boy, pretty well. How are you?”
“Oh, more than well, and I do like my work so much. They say at the bank that I am going to be able soon to take a better position.”
“Bravo, Tom,” cried the old man; “you shall have any position in that bank you can earn; and labor, boy, labor; that is the secret of success.”
“So it is, uncle, and you shall be proud of your boy some day.”
The old gentleman sighed.
“I believe that, Tom,” replied he, “and I would be satisfied with all my children if I could only see my girl. One would think so sweet a character as Annie would forgive her old stubborn father, would they not?”