Wisconsin herald, and Grant County advertiser. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1844-1845, 1845-02-15

'Suu W iiiiS' Nv fou NV hhpN tbSiS
are visitors to dine with us? Mr.. Sim
minis and Mr.. Ridgly are already in
the parlor so do get up and let me
make you presentablc.'
'Thank you, Isabel, but | have a
dreadful headache, and beg you TO
make my excuse at dinner. My eyes
ache, and l am really not able to go
down to-day
We'll, how unfortunate But your
eyes do look horrid. Go TO sleep if you
can, and will excuse you TO the gen.
tIcmen.'
Again the tears burst forth as soon
as she was alone, but a gentle sleep at
length stole over her excited frame, and
when she awoke composure was in
some measure restored to her feeling.
From that time forth q veil was flung
over her heart that hid its bcatings
from every eye, and not even the pen
Grating Isabel could Eathom its depths,
though she strongly suspected some
thing unusual was therein concealed.
But Amy kept her own secret, and
continued TO busy herself among her
books and flowers, as was her wont,
only Withdrawing from society, and
showing a greater love for solitude. 1t
was observed, too, that when her father
would make her some costly present,
she would lock up the gift with a kind OF
loathing, and in her heart she dcnounc-
cd the wealth that surrounded her with
so many useless luxurics.
But a change was fastening that
was little anticipated. A few months
after Frederick Lovcl's departure, bu-
sincss among all classes began TO de-
cline most rapidly. The merchants OF
course shared most deeply in the gen.
cral rush into bankruptcy but when
the house of Dresden & Co. that had
so long stood firm amid several similar
shocks, was added to the list, the pub
lie fairly stood aghast. Mr.. Dresden
was half frantic at first, but as each
of his partners, with himself owned AN
ample property indepcndC ,G of their
business capitol, he hor that by uni
ting together, and yielding up all, they
might be able to meet the enormous
demands against them, and go OH with
their business. But the other gentle
men had no such old fashioned notions,
as they called them, and declared that
what the funds of the firm could not
meet must go unpaid. They had suf-
fercd from the failure of others and il
was but to be expected that some
should suffer through theirs.
In vain Mr.. Dreston entrcated them
to act more honorably. Their private
property was sufficient to retire upon,
and they had no idea of again entering
business. All he could get was a just
division of the debts, and after the
funds Of the firm had been fairly distri-
butcd among the creditors, he called
his own share of them together ant
without reserve yielded up all the pro
pcrty he possessed. Even the cost,
robes and jewels of his daughters, and
every thing that could be converted
into money, were freely relinquisllcd
Only few housc-hold articles allowed
by law, and the plaincst part of their
wardrobe, were retained. Too happy
were they when this sacrifice had been
made to find that every demand against
them was fair and honestly met and
Mr.. Dresden had the extreme satisGac.
ton of holding in his hand not a mere
discharge through the favor Of credit
ors, but receipt in full for every cent
he ever owed them. But the evening
ofthc day that gave him such honor
able testimony found him and his fam,
liz without shelter of their own in
which to lay their heads; and they were
obliged for a few days to accept the
rather cold invitation of one of their
former guests who according to the
world felt there was no need now oil
showing attention to the ruined family.
Their day of returning benefits was
over, and the sooner they sank into OBJ
liyion the better, said their fashionable
friends and acquaintanccs. Isabel and
Amy were no longer the two sweet
loves 'and the sooner they went about
getting their living the BETTER said
the silly but highly fashionable Mrs.
Upton, who used 10 think she could
not exist if she did not sec the 'lovely
blossoms every day. Oh! wealth how
potent thou art But one short month
IL l--..a.C.l Ill. ~ d.. l. 1