From that time, for some years, I was intimate with the young man. I found that he set no true value upon money. He spent it freely with every one; and every one spoke well of him. "What a generous, whole-souled fellow he is!" or, "What a noble heart he has!" were the expressions constantly made in regard to him. While "Mean, stingy fellow!" and other such epithets, were unsparingly used in speaking of a quiet, thoughtful young man, named Merwin, who was clerk with him in the same store. Merwin appeared to set a due value upon time and money. He rarely indulged himself in any way, and it was with difficulty that he could ever be induced to join in any pleasures that involved much expense. But I always observed that when he did so, he was exact about paying his proportion. About two years after my acquaintance with Peyton began, an incident let me deeper into the character and quality of his generosity. I called one day at the house of a poor widow woman who washed for me, to ask her to do up some clothes, extra to the usual weekly washing. I thought she looked as if she were in trouble about something, and said so to her. "It's very hard, at best," she replied, "for a poor woman, with four children to provide for, to get along, if she has to depend upon washing and ironing for a living. But when so many neglect to pay her regularly"-- "Neglect to pay their washerwoman!" I said, in a tone of surprise, interrupting her. "Oh, yes. Many do that!" "Who?" "Dashing young men, who spend their money freely, are too apt to neglect these little matters, as they call them." "And do young men for whom you work really neglect to pay you?" "Some do. There are at least fifteen dollars now owed to me, and I don't know which way to turn to get my last month's rent for my landlord, who has been after it three times this week already. Mr. Peyton owes me ten dollars and I can't"-- "Mr. Peyton? It can't be possible!" "Yes, it is though. He used to be one of the most punctual young men for whom I washed. But lately he never has any money." "He's a very generous-hearted young man." "Yes, I know he is," she replied. "But something is wrong with him. He looks worried whenever I ask him for money; and sometimes speaks as if half angry with me for troubling him. There's Mr. Merwin--I wish all were like him. I have never yet taken home his clothes, that I didn't find the money waiting for me, exact to a cent. He counts every piece when he lays out his washing for me, and knows exactly what it will come to; and then, if he happens to be out, the change is always left with the chambermaid. It's a pleasure to do anything for him." "He isn't liked generally so well as Mr. Peyton is," said I. "Isn't he? It's strange!" the poor woman returned, innocently. On the very next day, I saw Peyton riding out with an acquaintance in a buggy. "Who paid for your ride yesterday?" I said to the latter, with whom I was quite familiar, when next we met.