Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-06-23
L"l,rlI IiGFrom The People y Hl o. .ri I
TOO LATE; OR, NOTES AND GOLD,
AROMANOE OF TO4DAY.9 IS
BY KENWARD PHILIP


!; 'eYou'lT be back by Friday, CharleyP"
The words swere spoken by, Harry Eyer
ton, on whose arm was leaning his sister
Blanche, to his friend Charles Markham, as
the latter was stepping into the train for
Albany. m-.F Ia.F'.1 b" Ilfy
eyes; sure to be back by Friday, old fell
low,p answered his friend. ''Good-bye;
goodbye, Blanche" And away went the
train out Of the depot. II" -.'
Mr.. Charles Markham the only son of
one of the wealthiest merchants in New
York, was going to Albany on business.
OF late years he had had much to do with
the outside business of the great firm of
which he was junior partner, and people said
that his talent for business was widely eX-
tending the commerce relations of one of
the most wealthy and substantial houses in
the city. But with all this the real posi-
ton of the house, in financial sense, was
his fathers business alone, and although
Charles was junior partner he did not pos
sess sufficiently the confidence Of his father
to become intimately acquainted with the
private matters of the firm. This was so
well knownin the commercial world that
it was a common rem ,rk that old Mr.. Mark
ham was too fond of the busy life in which
he had made his fortune to relinquish even
part of it before he was obliged to do so. 70
As for his son, he was content to keep his
subordinate position, well satisfied with the
golden future which appeared to be in store
for him, and not caringtO enter too deeply
into the vortex of business before his time
A frank, light hearted young man, fond of
society, good company and the enjoyments
of life, without relapsing into the other ex-
treme of scapegrace or spendthTifLI He
was engaged to Blanche EgeTtOn, the sister
of his friend, and the daughter Of his faith
ers Oldest and most trusted Acquaintance
She was a beautiful girl, well qualified by
education and accomplishment to tlke her
position as the wife of a millionaire. Her
life had been one smooth, mvarying round
of pleasure. She had had hosts Of suitors,
but none whom she could love as she loved
Charles Markham. The thought of his
wealth never enteredher simple little head
her father was Tich-but she loved him
for his good nature, his handsomeness, his
frankness, and because she knew he loved
her. Even now, as she stepped into the
carriage with her brother, to return home,
she felt almost lonely because her lover
would be absent week; but then she look
ed forward to the Friday on which he was
to return with renewed pleasure. Girl
like, she had asked him to write to her
while be was away, even for these few days
but he had answered, "Why, my little wo-
man, you can spare me for one week with
out writing" And so she was obliged TO
content herselfwith the pleasure ofloOking
forward to his return. .,.f o. --.. gt#
Had she but known of the things that
were to happen, OF the dark future SO near
at hand, how impassiOned would have been
her leave stalking at the depot; with what
anguish she would have implored him not
to leave her. Fra wgglu1 .....g g,g.yl.s.
But neither Charles Markham nor hisbe-
trothed dreamed Of anything in the ilnfne-
diate future but the ordinary routine of
their daily life, and so they both looked
forward pleasantly to the day of their re-
I'union. AS for Harry EgertOn, he did not
| trouble himself at all about the matter, but
leaned 1azily back in the, luxurious car
riage, idly glancing at tile brilliant stores
| bv which they were rapidly whirled, until
| they reached home, when, having handed
| his sister out of the carriage, he babe the
c0achman drive to the stable, and entered
his fathers house. 9a ,Hglfsm.g, ,.lu. 9a,-..
Mr.. Egerton, senior, q .Widower, had
made large fortune by judicious specula-
| tions in gold during the troublous times
which ensued on the breaking out of the
war, and was generally regarded as a par
| ticularly solid man. He had very little OF
refinement himself, although, like most men
in his position, he had an exaggerated idea
| ofthe Importance of a good education, and
he had therefore given both his SON and
daughter the best education he could. He
prided himself upon his commercial posi-
| zion and Knowledge of the world, and in
consenting to the betrOthal ofhis daughter
to Young Markham he was actuated only
by the thought that the marriage would
increase his own Importance. lie loved
his daughter BECAUSE he admired her and
| he felt. by some curious process of reason-
ing, that her beauty and accomplishments
reelected great credit upon himself. .7
| When Blanche Egerton returned home
on this particular evening, she was sur
| prised and annoyed to hear that her father
was to have dinner party that evening.
She felt more in the mood to think OF her
lover than to listen to dreadfutly tedious
remarks on the value Of railroad shares or
coupons. But, resigiiingherselfto the will
OF her father with as much grace as posi-
BILE, she dressed for dinner, and arrived IN
the dining room just in time to receive her
fathers guests. As she had predicted, the
conversation at table was principally upon
commercial topics, and Blanche languidly
slipped her soup without, appearing to no
tice or take any interest in what was going
on around her, until the words ''old Mark
haln'r aroused her attention. p 9Itiwas Mr.
bBhckwell, a banker, who was speaking to
her father. sr,lsyr,.j, ..,...
WWhatl haven't you heard. the rtlmors,
then?" p. ''u '''.- .h9u Lii'' .aiHu
pm Mr.. Egertor had not heard any ru-
niors. He had had business at a directors
meeting that afternoon, and had left wall
HfaWeii that's singular, y rejoined Black
we'll 4'Rusher--you know Rusher---hears
everything; capital mapOf business. Rush
rer Was SAYING that there were some ugly
rumors, aiioat about the position of the
bfTm,p .ik.d
GBlanehe became more interested now
she became . little ipaleE too, and the sec
ohd course was removed untouched by
Mr.. Egerton could scarcely think ii; he
lhad known the MarkhaIhs so long that ht
should be sorry ito hear anything of the
hklpd. Butt happening to glance at n hi