Middletown transcript., 1873-09-20

self And so when Stephen Warner. then
= young man Of twenty live. came to him,
aud With many specious words besought
bis name 10 note for three thousand dol.
lars. he signed it unhcsitatingly. and
thought no moro Of it, Stephen wss a
rising young man. everybody said. and
Thorndale was rather proud Of him, and
prophesicd that he would be the richest
man in town in twenty years. lie had
bull. an elegant store in the centre Of the
town, whose handsome show windows Ia
new thing then iu Thsrndnle) we're a. once
the pride and attraction of the entire vii
lage The elder Warner had been noted
for his shrewdncss 10 trade. MS many a
hood winked purcha, or OF a '.Hus family
horse" could give sorrowful testimony.
But ono day he died. bequeathing. besides
his shrewdness. some four or I've thousand
dollars to his only son. Stephen Stephen
was no. Of the sort to bury his talcn, in
napkin. and straightway proceeded to pu,
it out where il should gain other talents.
There was no risk certainly in signing the
note Of such shrcwd. cp,rrprising young
fellow as Stephen Warner. and pencon
Stone was serenely happy To have i, in his
power to help lay tho foundatisn whereon
the proud surer.tructure which should one
day deligh. and honor Thorndalc, should
be built.
One, two and three months went by,
and the good nn.urcd deacon had nearly
forgotten the matter Of the note His son
aud daughter. Charles aud Glars, were
about being married and. like the prodi.
gal son in Scripture, insisted on having
the portion that belonged to them lie
had meant his two children should have
three thousand dollars each, and had long
ago carefully invested it for them l,
was accordingly Withdrawn aud handed
over TO them uu their wedding day, and a
week after both his children left Thorn
dale to try their fortunes in the world
Three more months went by, when n
startling rumor ran through Thorndale-
Stephen Warner had failed The elegant
new store was closed, and the man who
held the note for three thousand dollars
came pos, haste to Thorndalo to look after
his interests. But alas store and goods
had alike passed out Of the hands Of War
ner. and one Rnshton, a New York bro.
ker. held everything in his possession
The gentleman therefore. called at once
on Mr. Warmers endorser and presented
his claim.
Il shall pay it, Of course. but you
must give me few days" the Deacon
said, trying to speak cheerfully, yc, with
a strange sinking at his heart. for he
knew ,br old homestead and the farm he
had titled for nearly forty years must be
mor,gagca to raise the money lle had
less than fifteen hundred dollars u cash
from slow fever, beside. which promised
to leave him unable 10 do his spring work
aud labor was scarce and dear in Thorn.
dale that season
From the mortgage Of the farm dated
the decline Of Deacon Stones fortunes
His health was never firm again after that
fever and. after fifteen years Of anxie,y
and struggle, he gave up all hope Of re.
tanning the farm, though the pnng it COS,
him 10 see it pass into other hands no ons
but tiol mud his own heart knew II,
still retained the old homestead with Al,
acre Of ground. though both had rui
down. and were but ri,iful earraturc n
what they had once been A few year,
more and his wife died leaving him quit,
alone lie had long since ceased To b,
the deacon Of the Tbnrndalc parish though
the familiar title still elnng 10 him =
Younger aud wealthier men. imhurd will
more modern idcas. held the Offices and
controlled It's affairs, now.
About this time Stephen Warner cam,
back to Thorniale The twenty -one OF
two years of his absence had made
marked change in him, every way tn,
tall. slight young mnn. with the thin faei
and restless gray eyes, wa. hardly recog
nzable in the rather porty broad. .shoul
dered gentleman Of six an forty. whns,
fair, full face had tha, indescfikabe lool
of success aud satisfaction with itself M,
the world, which one sometimes sees Tn,
gray eyes. no longer restless. looked be
nignly through gold. mounted eye. glasses
and everything. from the heavy seal r't'
on tie little finger, to the malchless CLOS
Of hroadcloth and beaver. proclaimed hi
wealth and Importance. The prophecy o
, his youth was more than fulfilled. and al
Thorndalc took of It's hat and went dow
on its knees before him. II any ono re
membered the past they wisely refraine
, from speaking Of il, and Deacon Stsne. i
his poverty. and loneliness. and age. wa
conveniently forgotten. |, was bnsines
transaction. and il the deacon had chose
to take the risks. why. i, Us only his ow
, fault. And hero everybody coolly dis
missed the whole matter
. The deacon's children. in tbs meantime
had children Of their own. and were IN
J, crossed in their own families. and thei
!. personal wants and interests. Charlie,
> with fashionable wife and daughters an
!, speni,hrift sou. had enough 10 to look o.
for. he said to himself when be heard {
!. his fathers rcvcrscs. without burdenin
. himself with an old man who might II,
!. to be a great deal Of trouble. II his fa,l