The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-05-15
H.. g.

This soliloquy would doubtless have arous-
ed Mr.. Markhams indignation, had he
heard it, but be was now far on his way to
the office, with his mind filled with dim
visions of brilliant results of certain late
speculations and all thoughts OF unpaid
debts had vanished from his memory.
The disagreeable subject was speedily re-
called, however, by a bow of recognition
from gentleman passing, and hand laid
on his shoulder as If to arrest his progress.
"Glad to see you, Mr.. Markham. called
at your Office but found you missing. / came
to town to settle accounts with you to-day"
The time is not up, surely" was the
somewhat excited reply.
Exactly, as you will see by consulting
| your books. / am so much in need of the
money"
"And have no money to give you, Mr.
| Aiken. Fou Will have to oblige me by ex-
tending the note. Give me another three
months?"
impossible, Mr.. Markham, have par
ticular call for ready money just now, and
have depended on you
Further arguments were used and the
| creditor at length yielded. Markham was a
| valuable customer, and he did not wish to
lose him; he therefore submitted though
with an Ill grace, to the proposed extension
of credit.
1T seems as if every one was thinking of
me and my purse" calculated Mr.. Mark
/ n.
his office and found two bills TO a considera-
bic amount placed in a conspicuous position
| on his desk. This continual dunning is
| excessively annoying. L really wish that
there were no such things as debts in the
| world"
But alasl there was but one remedy, and
this our friend Markham was not disposed to
adopt Three months had passed away and
the aspect of affairs still more unfavor-
able. Some of the most importunate of his
creditors had indeed had their claims settled,
but numerous others had arisen who were
| not to be easily put off. and the result of
| land and California speculations still looked
like dim shadow IN the distance. The con-
slant demand for ready money was perplex-
| ing in the extreme, and Markham's natur-
ally good temper very detrimental to
domestic peace and happiness. 1t was very
! annoying not to turn a corner without
encountering some obsequious looking
tradesman, the very glance OF whose eye
seemed to show that he was measuring the
depth of your purse and meditating an
attack upon it,
81 have absolutely become afraid of my
shadow" muttered Markham, as the crack
| ing of his new boots caused him TO start and
glance over his shoulder half expecting to
| see the face of some we'll known creditor
Il half promised to pay that stupid tailor
to-day, but the money would be very con-
| venient Just at present, so 1 think he may
wait few weeks longer. He deserves it for
giving such miserable fit to my last coat.
1 would have given him piece of my mind
/ If there ha6 not been such long standing
between us That is slavery as my wife
would say. but il it is, all men are slaves.
| His train of thoughts was interrupted by
the sudden appearance OF Bridget who was
still in their employ in the capacity of cook
and maid of all work.
l. She had never before been seen at his
| Is oh Cfn tbo
door, pale and bresthless, : -Markham's very
blood seemed frozen with alarm, and his
tongue refused to do the Office of speaking
when he attempted to ask the errand.
"Will you please to come home directly,
| sir. The mistress has sent me for you, in
haste. Nurse has let little Willie fall from
the window, and we fear he is killed en-
tirelym
The father stopped not TO question the
| messenger. but seizing his hat, traversed the
streets with hasty strides, aud was soon
bending anxlously over his darling boy who
lay motionless in his mothers arms.
MY Willie, my sweet pet" she almost
shrieked, as she again and again placed her
lips to his cold forehead. "Will you not
speak to your own mother?'
"He is not dead Alice. He can not be
| dead, surelyl' groaned Markham, the lit
tie hand ne had clasped in his dropped
powerless from his grasp.
/
piled the wife mournfully. For months L
have hardly trusted him from my sight, but
nurse has done better for a week past, and |
thought might venture out for a few hours.
There were duties to attend to which
seemed important"
Was she-was she" gasped Markham:
Intoxicated? Yes, to such an extent
that che does not even now realize what has
happened. oh, my boy, how could leave
you with such a wretch?' and again in
agony, the mother clasped the lifeless form
to her heart.
The entrance of physician prevented
further conversation; but the words still
rang in his ears. intoxicated Had he not
been warned of this? Months before had his
wife told HIM of the increasing habit, of her
constant fear of accident and had begged for
the money due the nurse that she might at
once dismiss her from their service. Time
and again had the necessary sum been in his
possession, and as often had 1T seemed more
profitable TO devote 1t TO some other purpose.
Aud this was the result Almost paralyzed
with horror, he turned to the medical advis-
er, who was closely examining the child.
The question which was looked but not
uttered received a soothing and hopeful
reply.
injury is sustained. Compose yourselves,
my friends. In cases of this kind there
should be as little excitement as possible" :"
Suitable remedies produced returning ami
nation, but a more careful examination
showed that the boy had not escaped unhurt.
His right arm was badly broken, and several
bruises had been received on various parts
of his body.
Expressions of thankfulness were mingled
with tears for the suffering he must undergo,
and regrets that he had been thus exposed
to peril.
The mother, entirely engrossed with the
sad remembrance that she had left her dar.
ling in the charge OF one in whom she had
not full confidence, dwelt not on her hus-
bands fault, and, indeed, thought not OF
him as the procuring cause OF the sad dis
aster, but his own conscience whispered that
he was the guilty one, and bitter reflections
filed his mind as he listened to the cries OF
| the little sufferer.
But weeks and months passed on, and
Willie had regained his usual health, and
the accident was numbered among the things
| gone bV. Still its consequences were seen