The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1872-12-14
everything this is passipg strange y

Lacy.
And you think your salary is not suf-
fcient to support wife brought up in the
manner in which Miss Stanely was reared?
| fear, Howard, you have made mistake.
81 have no fear, sir," said the young
man, confidently. "Graee Stanley is made
of the material of which every true woman
should be made; and, in her acceptance Of
me, she is fully acquainted with my situa-
ton and prospects in life. Yet / should
like to surprise her with few more com
forts than she has reason to expect.
"You are invaluable to me, Howard"
said Mr.. Lacy, "and without this incentive
| should have doubled your salary in the
Spring. Two months in advance cannot
break me. Consider that settled, then,
from this time, and God bless you
Mr.. Lacy shook Howard's hand and
bowed him out.
In the dimly lighted church--while al
most all the city sat around their nuts and
wine at well-flled boards--Grace Stanley's
was a solemn, aud sacred wedding Yet
there was no trace Of sadness upon the
young brides countenance-only the pure
and holy emotion which should fill
heart renounced to another; while in Oscar
Howards smile, when the few friends
around Oii,Eed their congratulations, there
was the triumph of happiness.
1t was something like a nine days won
der among the fashionable friends when
the announcement was made through the
city papers, and some refused positively to
credit the rumor
Impossible p said one and another
maneuvering mammas, women of the
world, marriageble daughters, and astute
fortune hunters. Mrs. Manning is far
too sagacious for thing of that kind to
happen within the range Of her power. As
long as Mr. Manning knows the value of
money, and has any regard for social po-
sition, such marriage could never take
place from his house"
Perhaps they wished to ged rid of her;
she was only an orphan niece, said lady
in whose bosom was very small share of
human kindness.
But an adopted child, said listener.
"From MIR. Manning's own lips have
heard he intended to make her his heir"
"And young Danton was said to be a
suitor"
Every incomprehensible--veryl' said
an old society hanger-on around drawing
rooms of the rich.
And so went the gossip of Grace STAN
leys quondam friends, while she busted
herself in turning to advantage all the
simple appointments on the third floor of a
plain but genteel clearinghouse.
At the displeasure of her adopted par.
ents she was deeply grieved but aside
from this, little recked she what the bab-
bling world outside babbled about. She
was happy in Oscar Howards love; she
was contented with her simple manner Of
living; and days passed into weeks, and
weeks into months, and months into years,
with no diminution to her contentment, no
diminution to her happiness.
But not long was Oscar Howard's $ a very
much "pent up Utica" With his doubled
salary he found at the end of the first six
months after marriage, he had no petty
sum laid by in the saving bank
AT the end of one year they were en-
abled to exchange their single third-foor
back room in their clearinghouse for a
suburban cottage. The exchange, by vir-
tue of the young 'olive branches" that
were springing up around their board, was
to suburban cottage more commodious.
A few judiciOus outside investments had
much decreased the young mans finances
and when physical and mental affliction
had rendered business burdensome to Mr..
Lacy, he offered partnership to his chief
clerk, which in short time became an
equal one, and the firm of Lacy & Howard
had the name Of one of the strongest in
the city.
By this time a great financial crisis was
making gigantic strides toward the very
heart of the money market. Men looked
pale and anxious, shook their heads doubt
fully, and gloomily watched the cloud that
continued to spread and blacken the finan-
cial armament, until it stood over the
great money mart, enveloping thousands
in its sombre pail
They say that the house of Manning
Il Danton, too, is likely to go down in the
vortex, said one to another, carelessly, as
Grace Howard stood on the curb-stone be.
fore her door, awaiting the coming of her
carriage around the corner. She had then
a house in one Of the principal avenues Of
the eity--her husbands duties not allow
ing a residence more remote.
"It cannot be, said the other. THAT
is one of the most reliable houses on the
street,
"But has been ruined by the reckless.
ness of the youngest partner. You viii
remember the firm is now Manning, Dan.
ton 4 Son. 1t has been only twelve
months since Danton, Jr. has been one Of
the firm; but they tell me he has not only
squandered money most fearfully in al
species Of dissipation, but he has made in.
judicious investments and more, he is
strongly suspected of fraud in more than Q
single instance
Il am sorry for the sake of Manning
that this is so. He is an old man, and,
hellpva an honacf man -