Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1878-03-22


small return for all that | owe you. A
sons debt to good father can never be
wholly cancelled"
Mr.. Melville was touched by this act,
and softened by the manner of his son.
For almost minute he sat with his gaze
upon the floor Then, looking up, he
said, in low voice that trembled with
suppressed feeling: "My dear boy, it
pains me deeply to refuse what, in the
generous impulse of your heart, is now
so freely offered. But this house is not
yours to give, and, therefore, honor and
right compel me to decline its accep-
lance"
mot mine to give Father what do
you mean y
1T belongs to your creditors, Harry"
"My creditors Am I, then, only
bankrupt in your eyes Father, this is
too much p
"You are scarcely two years in bust
ness my son and now you propose to
take from that business twoo thirds of
your original capital, and put it into a
house for me-"
but we have made over fifty thou
sand dollars, ard are actually coming
money in our business"
"Profts on paper, at BEST" answered
the incorrigible old man. "But, my
word for it, if the footing up is SO large,
there is a mistake in the figures some
where. The thing | regard as simply
impossible. You are dashing ahead at
too desperate speed, my son, as | have
before declared and just as sure as any
disastrous change in the business world
takes place, you will be hurled to swift
destruction"
In anger, Harry parted with his father
on that day. Oh the next, his bank Of
ferings were all thrown out. He called
in surprise upon the cashier to ask the
reason. There was a stringency in the
market, an unusual demand for money,
depositors we're drawing out heavily and
the bank was restricting its loans. This
was the comfort he received He tried
to borrow from accommodating neigh
bors. but everybody had been cut down
or off at the bank, and so everybody was
"short." A pulse Of fear throbbed sud-
denly in the heart of Harry MELVILLE
He took down sundry bank notices from
rack and ascertained the amount which
must be paid before three o'clock. The
sum reached the uncomfortable aggregate
of fifteen thousand dollars; while the
bank balance was below three thousand
SO there were twelve thousand to raise.
Young Melville considered himself
great as fnanceir His self-confdoncc
overleapcd all possibilities and impossi-
bilities But the time of trial and proof
had come now. Credit and confidence
are sensitive things. When banks re-
strict, private lenders take the alarm
and the price of money goes up to ruin
Gus figures. So our young merchant
found it. Melville's 6nanceiring opera
tions on that day were things for after
remembrance. He has. probably, not
forgotten them up to this time. At three
O'Clock bis notes were all lifted, but at
sacrifice fearful 10 contemplate.
After glance at his bill-book for the
next day, Melville started for his luxu-
rious home to NEE: his dainty, fashiona-
BILE wife, 10 state of mind bordering
on to despair, for the next days pay
ments we're over twelve thousand dollars.
He had seen and heard enough during
rhe days financial experiments to satisfy
him that not one-haf of that sum could
be raised (; and so a vague terror took
the place Of conceited self-confidence, and
the frightened young merchant, who had
come in and gone out with such an elias
tic tread and proud bearing, entered bis
home with all his feathers dropping.
So quietly bad he come in that bis
waiting wife failed to hear the opening
door and familiar step in the passage. =
Wondering at her husbands long stay
beyond the usual hour, she came down
stairs under the influence of restless
feeling. Entering the parlor, she started
in sudden surprise and alarm, for there
reclining upon lounge was her hand
some young husband, his pale face the
image of despair "Oh, Harry, you are
i'll p she exclaimed, flying across the
room and dropping down upon the floor
in front of the lounge.
II am in trouble" was bis choking
reply.
"Oh, what has happened, Harry ?"
81 don't know he answered. IL am
bcwildered. Something has gone wrong
in business. Oh, Florry, | have passed
through fearful day, and there is no
strength left in me"
What change from the bold business
braggart of the day before? But Harry
Melville was mere dandy in trade.
There was no muscle in the man, no re-
served power, no elastic property. He
had grown as balloon grows, and like
balloon collapsed at the first sharp
puncturo.
What could mere summer-blossom
of a wife do TO help n man in such an ex-
tremity? Nothing. She could weep,
and wiring her hands, and sob like a dis
tressed actress. But she bad no com
forting suggestions, no brave words, no
hopeful sentiments 10 offer.
Did our young merchant after period
Of cool reflection take heart again Did
be 20 out on the next morning and nerve
himself for another struggle with the
difficulties which bad so suddenly closed
around him No Busy memory through
the remainder Of that day and evening
supplied him with data enough 10 COM
pIete his total overthrow as n man Of
nerve aud action. His boyish partner
came Ia ace bir, and tried 10 reinenirit