Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-07-15

e sons Pecuniafy embaFrassmen;s and hi
wife's recent purchase, with both of whic
a Mrs. Barton took good care TO acquaint he
guests, with such Embellishments as tn
3 nature of the case would allow. II is sal,
that tea is promotive of talk, and am ratf
E er inclined to ceneede the fact. At an
rate, those who had seen Mrs. Barton
guests on their way to their respectiv
! homes that evening, al with their high
heeled shoes on,' might have safely conclu
ded that there was something more thai
: comson in the wind, and the reader, VIII
has been privileged with partial peep be
hinc the scenes, CT judge how long the a
4 legged events in the mechanics history, tina
bad been discussed that afternoon, xer
: likely to remain a secret from such Of tn
male population of the reighborhood q
were blessed with coununicativs wives :.
sss hoH wss III. Brown. the village mer
chant. who As yet had no wife to tell hin
the news, how wss he to be made acquaint
ed with the important matter! Why, Emil,
Barton knew very well that ii was FOR tn
interest Of young man just established il
business, to know when any of his custo
mers ceased to be trustworthy, and so
when she heard her mother assert that Mr.
Parsons was in failing circumstances, lik'
considerate girl, as she was, and as il
duty bound, she stepped scross' and tolt
him-a service which the reader may, o.
may not, care to learn. was requited it'll
coin that always passes current among
lovers.
AZ Mr.. Parsons went to his tea the mex
afternoon, his wife met him at the dooI
with perplexity aud alarm depicted on hel
countenance.
George said she, 'wbat on earth is the
matter? sent to the store for small trifle
this afternoon, and the child came back
half frightened out OF its wits, and said that
Mr.. Brown could not trust us any more
Sure enough! what was the matter! Mr..
Parsons could not divine. His credit had
never been questioned before, and be knew
OF no good reason why it should be now
And il occurred to him, also, that soma OF
his Leighbors whom he had met during the
day, had eyed him with an earneslness and
Pertinscity tnat he could not understand,
and very mnch as it they either saw, or ex.
pectsd to see, something unusual in his ap-
pearance. Once or twice he had been upon
the point of speaking Of this, but had final
y concluded to regard it merely as a ner-
vous illusion and dismiss the subject from
his mind accordingly. Now, however, it was
evident that there was a meaning to those
dubious glances, and he determined..at once
10 find out what it was. With this purpose
and with feelings somewhat exaspersted.
he proceeded to- the store of Mr.. Brown,
whom be accosted with some warmth.
Mr.. Brown said he, Il have come to set
tie my Account. md atsthe same tims will
give you word of advice that will do you
no harm, VIII ther you follow it or not, and
that is, when you no longer desire neigh
boris custom hereafter, Just tell so to his
face, like man, instead of meanly stab.
bing him in the back, by telling his chill
dren, who at best can have but an indiffer-
ent comprehension Of such things, that you
cannot trust their father any longer
'Thank you SIR returned the merchant
with equal warmth, 'snd as one good turn
is said to deserve another, allow me to ad.
wise you, when you next find yourself in
failing circumstances, to refrain from al! at
tempts TO increase an Indebtedness which
you know can only be wiped out in a cour,
of insolvency
when next find myself in failing cir
cumstances! What do you mean, si'! I
don't comprehend you.'
DO you deny, Mr.. Parsons, that you find
it impossible to meet your payments, and
that you have been talking of making an
assignment, if you have not already done
sol!
DO deny it! Tc be sure I do, most un-
equivocally. The idea of making an as
signment never entered into my head till
this moment, and you will permit me to say,
sir. that you have altogether the advantage
OF me in your knowledge of the necessity
of such a measure. | congratulate you, sir,
on your discovery. But let me tell you that
my creditors are not over-numerous, Mr..
Brown, and that none of them can say with
truth that they have ever been compelled to
make a second demand of their dues at my
hanGs!'
There must have been a strange mistake
then,' returned the merchant,
with tone and manner greatly subdued. Il
was told that you were pressed by debts
that you could not pay, and that you either
had made an assignment or was about ma.
king one. With this information, which
thought reliable.l did as you would doubtless
have done unier Similar circumstances-
declined to isyease the balance against
you on my ledger
Undoubtedly with such information,
should have done very nearly as you did
But who told you all tbis!'
Excuse me, sir, if you please; do not
feel at liberty to disclose the name of my
informant at present. replied Mr.. Brown,
naturally reluctant to compromise his be-
trothed, at least till he had satisfied himself
to the extent of her culpability.
THAT will never do, MIR. Brown, as you
will see yourself, after a moments refes-
ton. This business has assumed such
character as to give me the right to know
where this story sprung from, and it Is
right that shall insist upon.
The reasonableness: :Of this determination
on the part of the injured man, commended
itself to Mr.. Brown sober second thought.
He saw that Mr.. Parsons had a right to
know where the mischief originated, ard
that in insisting on this right he was doing
no more than any fair-minded man, keenly
sensitive to an unjust imputation upon his