Smyrna times., 1869-09-01
ella 10 eOUS.
THE LAST DAY OF GRACE.
BY JUDGE CLARK.

1t was the last day Cf grace on William Bar
ton S note for two thousand dollars.
He had borrowed that sum on friend en-
dorsement for the purpose of starting in busi |
ness, confidently expecting, before it fell due,
to receive from party indebted to himself an
amount more than sufficient to meet it.
A few days before the maturity of his note
he received letter containing in place of the
expected remittance from his debtor, a detailed
explanation of the writer's emharrassments,
coupled with an earnest request for further in
du gence. His vexation was extreme.
| The young merchant disiked exceedingly to
ask a renewal of his note The indor>er was
a gentleman to whom be had borne letter of
| introduction on first coming to the city, and
who had not only aided him with advice, but,
| as we have seen, In a more substantial manner.
The use of this gentleman S name, it is true,
had been proposed by himself; but this made
William Barton feel all the more delicacy in
asking the continuance of favor, In the first
instance unsolicited.
However, there was no help for it; and see
ing that was the case, it was very false feel
ing of delicacy that induced our young friend
O postpone till the last moment, simply be-
cause it was dsagreeable, what he knew to be
inevitable IL was not till the morning of the
last day of grace that he presented himself at
Mr.. Brinckley's Office, to ask renewal of that
gentleman's Endorsement
is Mr.. Brinckly in p he inquired some
what nervously.
No sir" the clerk answered; she sailed
for Europe yesterday" -
r The descent of thunderbolt could not more
completely have stunned William Barton, than
did for the moment this response.
Recovering himself as quickly as possible,
he hurried in very desperation, one after
" another, to the few friends to whom he felt ii
= the slightest degree at liberty to appeal in hi
extremity. 1t was astonishing what good ex
A cuses they all had. The reluctant wedding
guests in the parable, were not more fertile ii
4 that line. One had bound himself to his co
partners, under no circumstances, to becom
indorser or surety; another had given simila
= promise to his wife while third had takeI
a Bible oath to the like effect and he was Uer1
Conscientious man. E.. .--.
Trying to borrow, poor Barton found if pos
J sible, still worse. A sudden stringency scenes
!. to have seized the money market Men VIII
- would have considered the mildest intimatio
of the kind from another, an actIOnable slandeI
- had no hesitation in confdentially admittiD
~ ~ how desperately hard up they were. The
were sorry-ve'y sorry. Nothing could Civ
them more pleasure than to afford the request
ed accommodation; but really it was utterl
+, out of the question-just aOa0. A little later
%; oi might be different. Hoped it would. Couldn
az he call again? 1t was like inviting starvin
.e- mdn 10 uluDer-7IesEC lOceb.
sss Half distracted, Barton returned to his plat
of business, and, entering his private ofic
shut the door. Ruin stared him in the face
The protest of his first note would be dealt
rs, | blow to his credit, on which he was great
len dependent. But worst of all, the father of h
ei' to whom he was heart and soul devoted, wou
re- never consent to the union of his daught
to one whose name was tainted with mercanti
dishOnor. -.-. r."
=. The thought was maddening Fora mome
his mind averted to suicide That door of e
cape was easily accessible A loaded pistol Il
in drawer Of his desk. His name, it is tru
ma would not thereby be retrieved but there is
sort of dignity in death it can at least affo
and protection against contempt
all His hand had already grasped the weap
when it was arrested by another thought. w
|. not himself indorse the name of Edward Binc
. ley on the renewal note, which he had prepar
before calling at that gentIeman's Office, al
still had in his possession He was an exp,
:. penman, and had for a guide specimen
rs, Mr.. Binckley's signature to a friendly note
ceived sometime before With such an
= dorsement, he would have no difficulty in
~. fecting the proposed renewal. True, the
contemplated was forgery; but within the
ditional time he would probably be able to ia
. up the note, In which event no one would
the wiser, and his reputation would be saw,
IF things went adversely, the other remedy '
still within his reach, and 1t would only be
crime the more.
He laid down the pistol, and, after bl
- search, succeeded in finding the billet VIII
bore Mr. Binekey's signature, which, for so
moments, he closely scrutinized Then tax
10 from his pocket the unindorsed note, he lai,
D., on its face and took up the pen. His hi
trembled violently. and he was compelled
wait for the work he was about requi
steadiness.
uo,u ,,rao;o,s xuaa that yooynant of dal
Fg It was then that voice, which he seer
ia. rather to- feel than to hear, in the same ge
'"'0' and earnest tone which his mother had u
: in teaching him to pray, gave utterance to tf
ell words, OF whose help man stands IN ever