Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1873-02-07

up and the other down the street, leav.
ing Grace Howard to digest the un-
welcome news Of her uncle's business
condition as best she might. 81
The carriages so long delayed, now
stood before her. ......
"Drive to Mr.. Howard's store at
once," she nervously ordered the driv-
er.
Grace was still nervous and agitated
when she entered her husbands pres
ence. ..- -s
''Tell me, Oscar" she asked, with a
tremor in her voice, chow much mo-
ney I am now the possessor of, in my
own right?" -.-l'
'"Twenty-two thousand dollars"
"Can [ have the use of it t?'a a-
"Assuredly, my dear; it belongs to
you; but what do you wish to do with
Iit?" ...
81 have heard that my uncle was in
serious financial danger"
"And so have l." said her husband.
81 must see him, my few thousands
may be of some help to him"
"Grace!" said her. husband, sternly,
che has utterly ignored your existence,
since your marriage, and will you now
expose yourself to injury and insult?'
"My uncle is in trouble now, Oscar.
| cannot forget his more than father
kindness in my childhood and youth.
In marrying you, I disappointed all
the expectations they had reared, for
wealth, fashion, and worldly position
for me; and while [ can never blame
myself for obeying the dictates of my
own heart, [ dare not cherish a feeling
of. resentment toward them. If my
money-inconsiderable as it is-will
be of service to my uncle, he must now
have it." --.. .Ha...s
She held her lips up for her hus-
bands kiss, and, being driven rapidly,
soon was landed at the door Of her I'M
cle's office. r@ II .,-..'.:
Among the eager crowd that throng-
ed the doorsteps, each man with a GER
tifcate of deposit nervously clutehed
between his fingers, she. made her way
into his presence. His eyes glassed
over with tears, as they fell upon he1
pale face. Mr.. Manning had grown
'fald, weak and childish, within week
land he would fain have laid his silver
ed aaehing, eare-Eorn head upon the
bosom of his adopted child, and craved
forgiveness for all his cruelty and
neglect. The iron had entered his
soul, and he was a better man soft
ened man. ~ a..
"Can I see you a moment, uncle ?'
said Grace, beating back, with look
the crowd that pressed forward, in 81.
lent determination, to secure securities
before leaving the Office. "Can see
you? | must see you moment private
ly."
Leaving Danton, ST., to battle with
their creditors, her uncle led the way
into his private office and bolted the
door.
''How is it with you, uncle?" said
she. "Tell me all! Tell me the worst
Tell me quickly!" ..... ...--
"Another day, Gracie," said her un,
Gle, gloomily, "will end the struggle
and | shall be bankrupt. This would
not have been, even now, but William
Danton has been a defaulter for large
amount, disappearing with the greater
portion Of the assets Of the firm, just
previous to the crisis. If | had but d
small amount, could last through one
more day, and satisfy my creditors,
could re-establish myself in the public
confidence. But-why should l grieve
you with this, my childl You can
not help me" ~. --.-, ,-
II can help you, perhaps, uncle
Would twenty thousand dollars be Of
any service to you?"
He started to his feet, and grasped
her hand like vice. "Twenty thou
sand dollars would save me from ruin. .
"You can have it, then, by one o.
clock"
Without another word she rushed
from the bankers office, and giving an
order, in hasty voice, to her coach
man, distanced every carriage in pass
ing, and ere long, in her husbands
office, was nervously counting over the
soft, old yellow, greasy rags, that were
laid as an emollient upon the fostering
sensibilities of her uncle's creditors.
In another half hour, these old, yel-
low, greasy rags were laid in her I'M
cle's hands. Two, three o'clock came;
bank hours were over; the sun was
nearing it's setting; fnanciers- many
of them fnanciers no more for life
fingered about Mammon's quarter, as
if 10th to leave, discussing the events
of the day, probing into the probabili-
ties of the morrow.
"Poor Manning! How is it with
him?" said the surest man on the street
"Still on his feet" was the answer
"How is that?" said another on the
brink of bankruptcy, and upon the
principle that "misery likes company,
was pleased rather than grieved when
he heard that broker had been carri-
ed down in the general misfortune.
''Got help from some source-God
knows wherew
"They tell me-" said another, who
was listening moodily, "that woman
=, twice visited Manning's office to-day