Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1878-12-04
THE MERCHANTS SYMPATHY,

THE MERCHANTS SYMPATHY
1t was two o'clock of a rain,
June afternoon, and Mr.. Franz
Crystal, the we'll known merchant
sat in his own private sanctum, witt
the window open, looking on
through the fast falling drops int,
the crowded streets. He had bu
just come in from lunch. For Mr.
Frank Crystal, being a wealth,
bachelor of more than fifty, knew
better than to trifle with his health
and digestion, as many a bushes:
man will do, and always made 9
pause in the business of his bust.
est days long enough to allow hiu
to discuss well appointed lunch
in a quiet, gentlemanly manner al
some favorite restaurant.
Mr.. Frank Crystal, having nc
one else to take care of, be took
most excellent care Of his own
precious self. He was gentleman
in every sense of the world, as
society accepted it. He was tall,
slender, and still good-looking in
spite of his fifty odd years. He
spoke always in low, soft voice.
He was scrupulously neat in all his
personal appointments; refinement
in fact, was the keynote of his
daily life. He had no bad habits.
He never drank to excess, or
gambled, or used profane language.
He was perfectly moral as the
world goes, and q distinguished
member of distinguished church.
Nowhere in the goodly metropolis
could a merchant have been found
with a longer list of virtues-a
shorter catalogue of faults.
He rose regularly at balf-past
seven, and breakfasted at eight
Then he lounged over his paper
till nine, and was on the way to
the city, neatly dressed and smil.
ing, by ten. At one he left his
sanctum for lunch. At two he wa.
back again. At six he dined agar
at home, and he sat long at tabl,
and over his wine. At eight b,
lit his cigar at home; or strolle,
out to see friend, or escorted
some fair lady to place Of amuse
ment; for like most bachelors, h
was very attentive to the opposit
sex, though he had never chose
one of their number to cheer an
soothe his daily life. Cheer an
soothe, indeedl He knew bette
than that! He bad studied th
art of living till he had exhauste
the subject; and no woman, how
ever fair or good, could add
single JOY to his existence 10y b,
coming his wife. That existenC
was simply perfect already-looke
at from an earthly point Of view.
Sitting there watching the rail-
drops on this June afternoon, II
rich merchants musings took
strange and unsupported turr
His thoughts went back to 9th,
years, when he had been poo
awkward youth, wearing hom
spun, working hard on a counti
farm, and loving desperately
blue-eyed farmers daughter name
Mary Jane.
Heavens what IL that EARTH
dream had been fulfilled Whi
IL he had married Mary Jane, an
been the father of half a doze
children Where would his sta
in life have been theni
He shuddered at the ver
thought. And yet, what blue eye
Mary Jane had, and whata glanc
he used to get from them in thos
foolish, happy days! He was
rich merchant now /; but no won
ans eyes had ever looked at bin
like that since.
And here his reverie was broke
In upon. A clerk came, with a
embarrassed face, to say that
woman was waiting In the onte
Office to sea Mr.. Crystal woma
who would take no denial, and VIII
said that her business was life AM
death.
The merchants face grew dark.