The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1874-03-10
recognizing the intruder, ,and averte6 his

older than when we last saw him. He
appeared careworn and anxious. like one
struggling under a heavy load of respon.
sibility, which he could not diminish or
avert
"Mr. Peterson, am hard pressed this
morning, and have called on you to see
ii you would accommodate me with the
loan of five hundred for few days"
81 am sorry. Mr.. BarnwelI, but /
haven't the money can possibly spare
this morning"
Mr.. Barnwell turned like one bereft of
hope, and mechanically left the office.
sour old friend Barnwell, Mr. Morri.
son, is getting rather shaky," said Mr..
Peterson, after he was gone II expect
ed to see him sink before this-that
scamp OF Frothinghast-but he. still
seems to float"
"And he will! ~ said Arthur Morrison,
rising, for it was he "And that reminds
me, Mr.. Peterson, that have a pressing
engagement and must be going. l will
call again on our little matter of bust
ness the first spare moment l can catch.
Good morning" and Arthur hurried
into the street. He had Just come up
from the steamboat landing; and on his
way to Mrs. Marshalrs had casually
dropped in for moment at Mr. Peter.
son's-his being one of the firms with
which he had first opened negotiations
He did not go directly to Mrs Marshals 8
as he first intended he should on leaving
the steamboat-but took the warehouse
of Mr.. Barnwell on his way
On entering the store he found the
clerks were ell strangers to him, and the
proprietor himself was nowhere to be
seen. He inquired for him ,and was told
that he had assembled into the loft few
minutes before Well accustomed to the
building. Arthur Immediately ascended
TO the loft. The moment he came into
a position on the stairs where he could
SEGA tragical scene was presented which
caused momentary shudder to run over
him.
From one of the cross-b beams human
form was dangling. which Arthur imme-
diately recognized as MIR. Barnwell.-
Disappointed at every turn-seeing no
hope OF averting the threatened ruin
he had five minutes before ascended to
the loft, placed box underneath the
beam, crossed rope over it, and fasten-
ed it around his neck; after which he
had deliberately kicked the box from
under him, and was now hanging quite
motionless, if not dead
1t was but the work of moment for
Arthur to rush up the remaining stairs,
draw knife from his pocket and cut
him down.
He felt Of his heart-it still beat-life
was not extinct. In few minutes the
unfortunate man was 50 far recovered as
to speak.
He recognized Arthur Immediately,
and begged of him not to expose what
he had seen.
He drew heart rending picture of
his late struggles to keep up, till life it.
self had become a wearisome burden =
But for his family he would have cut
short the thread of his existence long
before. He could not endure the hu-
initiation of bankruptcy. Alas! what
should he do?
Excuse me for the liberty have ia
ken, MIR Barnwell,' said Arthur, quiet
ly, "but think it was heavens design
that should arrive here just in time to
save you from self-destruction. In Q
word. bring you reprieve!" And he
handed him an acknowledgement from
the Miners and Traders Bank of de
posit of sixteen thousand dollars in his
name-transferred by order of Charles
Frotbinghast
, Mr.. Barnwell was astonished, con-
founded, bewildered He could hardly
credit bis own senses and not till after
he had heard the whole story from the
lips Of Arthur was he satisfied.
When he was through, Mr. Barnwel
grasped the hand of our hero, and earn
estly begged his forgiveness for ever hav
ing entertained or breathed suspicion
! against him.
"Arthur Morrison, heaven bless you
t From the most despondent and wretcheG
creature in existence you have raised mt
to throne! How can Lever repay you
. how reward you?'
If you consider am deserving of a re
ward, Mr.. Barnwell, you have it in yoal
power to reward me-" said Arthur in
tremor
"Name it--name it," cried Mr.. Barn
, we'll ~
81 love your daughter 1--WE have beer
clandestinely engaged for three years
am now in condition to provide fol
Maria in manner suitable to her sta
ton in life."
"Say no more! say no more, my deal
Arthur-my true friend in need, were
/ you as penuiless as beggar,you should
have my dear daughter with free heart
and thousand blessingsw
:, "And what is to hinder you from clos
t ing up your affairs here and accompany
) ing us with the rest of the family on oul
, return? / want a partner-one of va
ried experience like yourself-and til,
t business is well established A fortune
can be made there while you are dream
ing about it here %
"My dear friend-it shall be as yor
say. can cancel all my liabilities, anc
my stock in trade can be easily shipped
, to San Francisco. My mind is made up
| shall go with yon. shall close thu
shutters to-day Come, Arthur, let us
| adjourn Is the house, for according t
f your own admission, there is one there
, that will not be displeased at seeing
you.'
ThS@descended from the loft with thu
painful secret of Mr.. Barnwe'l rash at
tempt upon his own life forever buried
between them. Within an hour the store
!. was closed and business operations sus
pended. The meeting between Arthur
and Maria-after the first shock of sur
| prise TO her-was like all lovers meet
ings where the parties have been Ions
: separated.
Anxious to lose as little time as pos
sibfe the wedding preparations were hur
ried forward, and in just three week,
from the day that Arthur landed in New
York he embarked with his fair bride
e her father, mother, and two younger sis
T. II tarS IN hoard tho ota,,no, uH,oc,n,t