The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-11-26
leard Of such thing. Like father, Pm
lalf inclined to think we are dream

"Who could have gotten up the affair,
and carried it through so adroitly 2"
said Mrs. Atherton. tried, all the
evening, to detect some one little more
officious than the rest, but was not able
to do So" ss
"It was all we'll managed, to say the
least of it," remarked Mr.. Atherton; I;
"but, being practical joke, the enjoy
ment was all on the side of the jOkers--l
say jokcrs, for it seems to me, now, that
it was concerted thing; and that all
present understood each other perfectly"
"Do you think sop exclaimed Alice,
striking her hands together in sudden
surprise.
$50 it presents itself to me-" -
"YOu've guessed, right without
doubt" said Helen, as a light went over
her face. "Now / can understand a
good deal that puzzled me. Well, as
YOU say, it was handsomely managed"
"But, as / said still further, the enjoy
ment was all on one side. We had none
of it, l believe"
"It was no pleasure to me-" remarked
Mrs. Atherton, seriously. "My heart
was in Autter all the evening, and it re-
|
real feelings from coming into manifes-
tatiOn."
"That was my own case" added
Helen. "Surprise took away all my
pleasure. There has been a pressure on
my bosom all the evening, and am
still unable to breathe freely"
Alice tried to express what she felt on
the occasion, but her lips quivered and
tears came into her eyes. Mr.. Atherton,
seeing this, remarked
"Ah, we'll, my children, let us try and
forget the whole affair, or think of it
with as little feeling as possible. 1t has
given others pleasure, let us be content
with that"
"I have felt sense of humiliation
all the evening"" said Alice, who re-
covered Immediately her selfpossession.
No one who had proper respect for
us should have committed social out
rage like this-I call it by its real
name."
at was certainly an indelicate in
vasion of mans household. An in
trusion within the family circle that
nothing can justify" replied Mr.. Ather-
ton seriously. "And Alice suggested
truly, that in the minds of the author
or authors of the affair, there must have
been a want of a proper respect for our
characters and position. This is self
evident. Ihave felt it all the evening"
"And so have l, most keenly," re-
marked Mrs. Atherton. "Supposc,"
she added, "that we had just received
intelligence of the death of near rela-
tive, or were in some serious trouble?
l., .nt.
or trouble have been feltw
cor suppose" said Mr.. Atherton, I" l
were embarrassed in business and cred
itor happened to 60 by and discover that
l was entertaining large and gay COM
pany, would it not prejudice him against
me, and put me in great dangerT
Mr.. Atherton spoke feelingly.
at was wrong, in any light" re-
marked Mrs. Atherton. "Wrong, wrong.
Pleasureis we'll enough in its place but
when it becomes an intruder, and boldly
invades the family circle, the act is
nothing less than an outrage"
Such was the state of mind produced
in the family upon which had been
PLAYED off the practical joke of COM
pulsory party, for the amusement of
set of thoughtless young men and wo-
men, whose knowledge of human nature
was too limited to teach them decent
respect for the sacred seclusion of the
home circle.
On the evening of the party, mid
dle-aged man was passing slowly along
the street in the neighborhood of Ather-
toms residence. The sound of music
and gay voices fell upon his ears, and he
pausedto listen.
"Ah, hap he muttered to himself, as
he moved on again. A party! Yes
yes. Well, / thought he had something
else to think of besides parties. And ]
suppose he has. But-extravagant wife
and daughters. Yes that's the secret.
Hum-m-. Well, if this is the game
to be played, check-mate had better
come now, than when there are only a
few pawns on the board"
And thus he went muttering on his
way.
On the next morning, when Mr..
| Atherton went to his store, he found n
note on his desk. 1t was in these
words-
"DEAR SIR:-I find, on reflection,
that / can not make the arrangement
about which we conversed day or two
ago. Yours etc., ID. ADAMS"
Mr.. Atherton Immediately became
agitatcd. The reason is soon explained.
Two or three heavy losses had crippled
him in business, 80 far as present re-
sources were concerned, and he had ap-
piled to this Adams for aid in his ex-
tremity. Adams had the. fullest con-
fidence in Mr.. Atherton, and at once de-
termined to "put him through" as he
expressed it. He was himself large
creditor, and had already partly agreed
| to extend his own notes, as well as to
make liberal loans. But he had sud-
denly, and, to Mr.. Atherton, unaccount-
ably changed his mind. The promised
arrangement could nst he made.
Fully confding in Adams, Mr.. Ather-
ton had sought aid in no other quarter.
No wonder that he was agitated when it
is known that he had nothing in bank,
while notices for the payment of over
five thousand dollars in drafts and bills,
due that day, were lying in his desk. 1t
took nearly an hour for the almost par
alyzed mind Of Mr.. Atherton to come
back to its usual state of vigor and ac-
tivity. At first all became dark and
hopeless; for he had no borrowing facili-
ties, having in the conduct of his busi-
ness always preferred keeping it within
his own control.
But his extremity was great, and il
would not do to fold his hands in mac
tivity and let swift destruction fall upon
him. So, after a good deal OF earnes.
thought, he went to work with some
spirit, and before one o'clock was in pos
session of the required amount of money
In obtaining it, however, he had been
compelled to make some heavy sacrifices
But this was overcoming only the first
difficulty in way crowded with impedi
ments; and, with each succeeding day
he found himself more and more embar
rassed and crippled.
About week subsequent to the party
which we have described, young mar
named Bonnel, who had only n shor,
time before commenced business, came
into the store of Mr.. Adams, and, with