The Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1854-1855, 1855-03-16
A BLESSING IN DISGUISE.

But you are rlch enough, LausOn Let US
leave this great city, and seek some more quiet
home.
NO, no, Lydia. Business is my very life. l
must make a little more money before give it
up
VIII 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 easily,
how sumptuously, we could live upon the inter
est 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 l can see
what you cannot see. You are undermining
your constitution, and your health is fast leaving
you
'Pshaw, Lydia, you croak like raven. L
should lose my health were to leave my busi-
ness. Don't say any more now, for you see am
busy
As the husband spoke, he turned to the little
ebony cscritoire which he kept in his paror, and
commenced overhaulng and studying the various
papers which lay there.
Lauson Watkins had seen his thirtieth year,
and, young as he was, he had become what the
the world calls rich. At early age he had
entered 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 of those which will not bear
great mental excitement His brain was large
and active, his exctability intense. and his mind
easily 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 without taking
any respite, and the faster money came in upon
him the more anxious and nervous 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 felt. He laughed at
her for her fears and yet, while he laughed he
felt the disease gnawng at his vitals. 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
startngly out upon his high white brow and
temples. His eyes were large and brilliant, but
their brilliancy was not natural-it was false.
nervous light that cleaned there. As he pored
a complicated invoice. reducing to his own
currency large amounts of foreign money his
long, white fingers worked nerveously through
his hair, and his wife heard him breathe hard.
0 she knew that he could not live long
When, at a late hour. Watkins from his
task he complained Of headache. but he had
cleared ten thousand dollars by the cargo he had
been dsposing of, and he was pleased. That
ten thousand dollars did not help to give him con-
TENT only served to spur him on to renewed
exer,ions.
Lydia said Mr. Watkins, after he had closed
his eseritoire. have you seen your Uncle Lam
grave o-day?'
No
i am afraid he is going rather deeply into
dangerous specuations For week past have
been endorsing paper for him to considerable
amount He helped me without stint when
commenced business, and l suppose must help
him now; but 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 Watkins;
and here the conversation dropped. for the young
mans mind became again buried in his bust
ness.
Adam Langrave was not an old man, and had
been the foster father of Lydia. The girl had
been left orphan at an early age. and her uncle
had commenced his career as Langrave's clerk,
and thus had he become acquitted with the fair,
virtuous girl whom he had made his wife. Ian
grave had lately entertained great project for
making money, and it in pursuance of this
that he called on Watkins for assistance
On the day following the scene described
above. Mr.. Langrave called At Watkins store,
and opened 70 the young merchant fully
his PROJECT. 1t was vast one, but it promised
sgolden harvest. and after much deliberation,
Lauson entered into it. 1t looked feasible TO him,
and he promised himself rich return for his
venture.