Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-02-14
HOW A BANKER SAVED HIS WIFE.

young and very pretty woman debut ed as
the French says the other evening at the opera in
loge of the first rank. Many were the lorgnettes
directed towards her, and many were the inquiries
made by old hGbitues concerning her position, der
iyation, &C. She is very pretty, intensely so, ifyou
will allow me the expression, Colonel and attached
toher is quite romantic history, which my ever in
dustrious friend, Mons Qunot, has kindly placed
in print and with your permission l will briefly
relate it to YOU 1t appears tibet some twenty years
since there resided in the city Of Amsterdam
Dutch banker, who found himself in the flower of
his age at the head ola fiourishng financial establish
ment successful in his enterprises happy 10 his lot
and above all-the climax and danger of his pros
perity-the husband of a young and charming wo-
man.
Devotedly attached to his wife, the banker sur
rounded her with every comfort and luxury which
wealth could devise and procure; he dressed her in
the newest fashions brought from Paris at enormous
EXPENSE he accompanied her himselfin society, and
never refused to indulge her in her taste for hall or
spectacle The idol loved the toilette, the ball. the
spectacle, and even her husband; and thus they
dwelt together in the most amiabe manner in the
world After five or six years of unalloyed domes-
tic bliss, the husband believing himself secure defed
misfortune.
But brilliant fop-for Dutch tops exist as well
as Parisian-suddeny presented himself and offered
to the young and fascinating wife the most passion
ate homage The gallant had but recently inherited
a large property, and he had cunningly placed it
all in the hands of the banker. 1t was adroit
plan to facilitate his reception in the taire cour
to madame Young, handsome, rich and enter
tanning he rapidly made himsefa great favoritP
and though repulsed by superb and desperate
defence gained temporary place in the lady's
heart Her husband one bright unclouded NOR
ming intercepted letter which she had written to
her interchangeable sutton, and in every line he dis
covered the supreme efforts of virtue which it was
necessary to aid. But how to destroy this danger
Gus seducer who, having no other anxiety, could
employ his time and money in doing the amiable
while the unfortunate husband was out of the way,
attending to the affairs Of his pursuit in lfe2 How
was he to free himself and her from this enbar-
easements In a tempest, when the vessel is in
danger of laundering they throw the cargo into
the sea" reasoned the Dutchman; his safety lay in
like expedient his resolution was taken. He
hesitated not an instant. He sought and readily
found speculations of the most hazardous nature
often chances Of certain loss, and without fear or
remorse he boldly entered into them. But notunt
having previously and under divers pretexts hqui-
dated his accounts with all his clients preserving
only the funds Of his young friend, the intimate
associate of his family and the beguiler Of his wife
The speculation produced the anticipated results.
The fortune of the banker and the funds of the gal
liant were swallowed up in the large loss. The
banker failed but failed to all appearance honorable.
He had been unhappy in his operations, and moth
ing renamed to him. With what could the world
reproach him? Overwhelmed with his despair,
the young roae sought no longer the success of his
intrigue. Overthrown from his position, harrassed
by creditors, and ashamed, he disappeared from the
theatre of his eciipsed glory to seek other re-
sources, and submit to q more humble condition in
life
The rescued wife did not bend under the disaster;
she became, after the reverse of fortune, calm and
serene as in her most brilliant moments "Encour-
age me-" said her husband, Sustain me, and will
yet render you riches and station" And as he was
an honest man esteemed and loved, aid came to him
from every side. Credit and clients were again at
his disposal and by diligence, skill and good luck,
in few years he acquired handsome fortune-
Later, much later when the danger no longer exist
ed, and the lady had passed the age Of conquests,
the noble old chap discovered the obscure gallant,
and rendered him back large proportion of what
he had made him lose He retired at length from
all business occupation, and with his constant wife
passed happy life. They were blessed with chill
dren and the young and pretty female the opera
is their daughter, lately married to a rich and no.
BILE young man, who receives with her dowry
munifcent and honorably gained!