The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1854-10-11
A Blessing in Disguise.

A Blessing in Disguise.
But you are rich enough, Lauson, let us
leave this great city, and seek some more quiet
| home
"No, no, LYDIA Business is my very life, ]
must make a little more money before | give ii
up
| Will you tell me, my husband, how much
you would have now, if you were to settle your
business all up?'
%, perhaps two hundred thousand dollars.
And think, Lauson, only think, how sump-
tuously we could live upon the interest of that
and have much, too, to bestow upon those who
need our charity. Come, tell me that you will
| leave your business at once. | can see what
you do not see. You are undermining your con-
stitution and your health is fast leaving you
'Pshaw, Lydia, you croak like raven [
should lose my health were to leave my bust
ness. Don't say any more now, for you see I
am busy
AS the husband spoke, he turned to the little
ebony escritoire which he keptin his parlor, and
commenced overhauling and studying the vari-
Gus papers which lay there.
Lauson Watkins had seen his 3Oth year, and,
as young as he was, he had become what the
world called rich. At an early age he had en-
tered the mercantile business and fortune had
smiled upon him. He had already amassed an
abundant competency; but while. he had been
doing this he had been losing his health. His
organization was one of those which will not
bear great mental excitement. His brain was
large and active, his exctability intense, and his
mind easy worried and tortured, and, on the
other hand, his physical constitution was slight,
and OF highly nervous temperament. For
years he had applied himself to business with
out taking any respite, and the faster money
came in upon him the more anxious and ner-
vous did he become in his labors. Night and
day he labored over his shipments and invoices
and gradually, but surely, the Joy of health
was departing from him.
Poor Lydia Watkins saw all this She saw
the fearful disease marks that were growing
upon her husbands countenance but she could
not persuade him to feel as she did. He laughed
cat her for her fears, and yet, while he laughed,
he felt disease gnawing at his yitals. AS the
merchant sat there at his work, his anxious wife
watched him with painful interest His face was
pale in the extreme, and the blue veins stood
startingly out upon his brow and temples. His
eyes were large and brilliant, and their brllian-
cy was not natural-it was a false, nervous
light that gleemed there. AS he pored over
complicated invoice, reducing to his own cur
rency large amounts of forci On money his long
white fingers worked nervousy through his hair
and his wife heard him breathe hard. O she
knew he could not live long So
When at late hour Watkins arose from his
task. he complained of a head ache, but he had
cleared ten thousand dollars by cargo he had
been disposing Of. and he was pleased. That
ten thousand dollars did not help to give him
content-it only served to spur him on to re-
newed exertions. \
LYDIA said Mr.. Watkins, after he had closed
his escrltoire, have you seen your uncle Ian
grave to day?
No did not
I'm afraid he is going rather deeply into
dangerous speculation. Fora week pastd have
been endorsing paper for him for considerable
amount. He helped me without stint when |
business, and I suppose must help
him now, but l hope he will be careful
Adam Langrave is careful man, returned
Lydia, and | am sure he would not do that
which would cause you to suffer-
% no. don't think he would, said Mr. Wat
kins, and here the conversation dropped, for
the young mans mind became again buried in
his business
Adam Langrave was now ano old man and
had been the foster-father of Lydia.
The girl had been left an orphan at an early
age, and her husband had commenced his ca
reer as Langraves clerk, and thus he had be-
come acquainted with the fair, virtuous girl
whom he had made his wife. Langrave had
lately entertained a great project for making
money, and it was in pursuance of this that he |
had called on Watkins for assistance
On the day following the scene above de-
scribed Mr.. Langrave called at Watkins store,
and opened to the young merchant more fully
bis project. 1t was vast one, but it promised
a golden harvest, and after much deliberation,
Lauson entered into it. 1t looked feasible to
him, and he promised himself rich return for
lis venture.
Lydia, am a ruined man.
This was the exclamation of Lauson Watkins
is he entefed his parlor one evening about
ortnight after his interview with Langrave. He
vas paler than usual, and every nesye was
shaken with agitation.
'Ruinedn repeated his Wife
Yes, Langrave has failed-he was entirely,
completely sunk. Every cent is gone!'
But you are not yet lost Something can be
aved
Not dollar. Fool that was, I went in
With him to the amount of two hundred thou
and dollars. | trusted to his hon
The young man did not finish the word. He
vas excited but he had Judgment enough not
o hurt the feelings of his wife by speaking
'arshly of her uncle. The blow had come
lpon him with crushing weight, and he felt
eenly.
The gentle wife moved to her husbands side
nd placed oher arm about his neck. She trem-
lied violently, ,andit was with difficulty that she
ould speak.
DO not blame my uncle too much, she muir
nured. Everything is not lost. lam leftyou
nd [ will do all | can to hel lp you now, but IN
our life trials you shall find that am not USE
ess. Do not despair, dear Lauson-somethlng
1ay turn up to assist you
The young man did not speak. He returned
is wlfe's embrace, and that moment she saw
lore Of real JOY in his eye, than she had seen
here for months.
At the end of week the young merchants