Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-10-30
4 STORY OF THE PANIC OF '73.

4 STORY OF THE PANIC OF '73.
AsIooNIER morning had never clouded
down over the busy island of Manhattan,
and so thought not only Paul Berrian him
self, but hundreds of other fine fellows
who. like him. were Oh their way to Wall
street, dreading to come once more face
10 face with the fearful specter which had
SO alarmed them the day before. Not
only was the dull, persistent, noiseless
rain falling in way to have dampened
mems spirits at the best Of times, but it
was Friday, and that day OF the week has
snournful traditions Of its own for Wall
atrect as we'll as for that peculiar c,ass o
beings whose cOnsciences remind them at
.Tnes that if not vet hung they ought to be.
But Paul Berrian's thoughts were busy
With the specter Of the street. for he knew
nIy too well how surely he would come
mat day to the brokers' offices wherein he
earned his modest salary, and how other
saen would recognize the grizzly pres
eRce. and how friends and foes alike
wou.t mutter Bankruptcy" and turn
away for fear they might themselves look
she destroyer in the face
/ blue enough morning for Paul, in
epite Of all his brave little wife had said
10 cheer him before he left her, since he
thought, indeed that not even Poverty
himself, Bankruptcy's grim tWin-brOther,
would have power to Chill his courage,
acre it not for Madeline and their bright
eyed boy. He tried not TO think of them
as he sat there in the crowded car, but
GhGir faces came before him perpetually,
and with them came also an accusing
consciousness OF the selfish rashness with
which he had borne away his bride from
the home where the solid wealth and I'M
questionable credit OF her father had stood
between her and any possible approach of
want.
"Ah, .me,' thought Paul, ''The old gen
tIeman has held himself ripidly aloof
enough up to this time. viii he be at all
likely to relent-now the very thing he
has predicted is coming upon us? Will
ne be apt 10 do more for me-now [ am
out Of business and helplessly adrift-than
ne did when | seemed at least to have a
fair chance OF padding my own canoe?
should reckon not. He isn't that kind
ola man He will know all about it, too
before night, Just as everybody else will.
[ declare if that isn't old Buttons him
self!n
And true enough, there sat Madeline's
father, the great and prosperous banker,
only few seats ahead of him, apparently
absorbed in the perusal of his morning
paper. Paul took no note of the fact that
the paper was upside down, and bent his
head gloomlly forward a if he could take
8. prophetic view of futurity through the
bottom OF the car. He saw as he looked
along the narrow passage between the
seats, that the bankers left arm hung for
& moment loosely and listlessly down,
swaying little with the oscillations OF
the car, and thus that the fingers of his
hand opened in limp, nerveless sort of
way, letting fall half crumpled scrap of
paper upon the floor.
'Did he mean to throw it away Some
worthless memorandum"
Paul did not stop 10 guess, but as the
white scrap drifted by him, he reached
out and picked it up.
Not with any mean curiosity, for Paul
was the soul of honor in business affairs
but, nevertheless, he caught sight of a
gaggedly written column of well-known
business names, with what seemed to be
sum-totals of cash amounts carried out
opposite each one OF them, while all the
xest of the paper was covered closely with
penciled memoranda, figures, names, such
as any great banker might well be jOttng
down at such time, or at any other, but
into the meaning whereof Paul had no
earthly notion of prying.
Then he saw his father-in- laws hand
suddenly grip hard and open again, as if
sEstonished to find his clutch empty of
what it sought, and he knew that the
paper had been dropped Internationally.
0f course, therefore, when the banker
arose hastily to peer about him on the
seat and along the floor, Paul could do no
less than rise also, with all politeness, and
make an immediate tender of his crumpled
Rrize.
The old gentleman grasped for his
memorandum with an eagerness quite for
eign to his usually stately manner, while
she flush OF his withered face betokened
anything but pleasure at the idea of &C
cepting courtesy from his daughters
pauper husband. His Acknowledgements
we're every bit as crusty as Paul could
have anticipated, and he resumed his seat,
apparently only to bury himself in vet
profounder study of the news and of his
recovered manuscript
Hard as ever!' thought Paul sWell
If matters come to the worst I'll never 90
near him. I'll take Greeley's advice and
90 West before | ask him for one cent of
Reip''
Bravo for Paul's pluck, But when, a
few minutes later, the partner of his car
seat arose and went on into another car,
Vie young man was astonished by the Wis
son Of Madeline's father coming to take
his place He could hardly believe his
eyes, but there was no need of that, since
she bankers hand was now upon his arm
The flush was again upon his face, and
his hard, keen old features seemed trying
80 shape themselves into an expression OF
friendly and confidential interest.
Paul thought of Madeline and their
hoy, and Of the specter on the street.
fHe doesn't know our house is bank.
rupt vet" he almost said aloud. "But he
will before night He won't want any
thing more of me them
The old banker asked several questions
about his daughter, his grandson, the
news, and other matters, before he or Paul
became fairly accustomed to the situation,
and then he broke out suddenly with /:
paul, my dear boy, l know l can trust
your honor. I'll say that for you, any
how; but isn't there something [ can do