Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-07-24
him. Miserable as their lives were
how much moro miserable would
they be with poverty in their homel


they be with poverty in their home
He told Eleanor the company haf
refused to pay the regular quarterly
dividend she seemed strangely in
different to the matter. When
though concealing most OF his fear
he told her thathe thought it bes
they should sell their stock, sh,
consented without hesitation or con
sideration. He wondered at this
but put it down to confidence 10 his
business ability.
He found the stock to be unsala.
Bile, except at ruiuous sacrifice
attempt after attempt to obtain 9
fair price failed. At last, he resolv cd
to sell at any sacrifice, then trans.
fer to his wife all that would be OBJ
tanned by the sale.
He walked down town one morn.
ing with the intention of carrying
these resolutions into effect before
night. His way led him past the
Office of the company. There he
saw an angry. surging, yelling
crowd in front ofthe closed doors OF
the place. Among that crowd were
men who lifted their arms, clenched
their hands and uttered fearful
oaths. Women were there too,
who heaped widows and orphan
curses on the heads of those who
mad robbed them. Some, in con.
trast to the rest, were strangely
quiet. These had ruin on their
CHASTITY faces.
Herbert was strong, self pos
sessed man. but at the sight Of that
crowd. be turned pale and almost
sank to the ground. With husky
voice, he made inquiry among the
men who were as pale as he. 1t was
the old story of mismanagement
and violation OF trust. The presi-
dent and treasurer had fed, default.
ers in tens of thousands. The as.
sets of the company scarcely cover
ed the outside Indebtedness, and the
stock holders were cut out. The
value of the wreck was exactly that
of the paper on which it was print
ed.
Financial ruin for both him and
bert For his own loss he cared lit.
tie, but for hers ! The responsible.
ty was upon him and this was the
result OF that business marriage pro-
posed by himself! The past had
been a mockery, the future would
be a horror. The future came down
on his soul like pail.
Though their lives had been love-
less, she had been good wife. Like
himself, she had done what she
could to make this marriage less
desolate. Since he had learned to
love Eleanor, her every word or
act of kindness had been precious
to him, had made bis lot less hard.
But what would this hard, worldly
woman be now? No love the OBJ
ject FIR which they were married
unattained, their fortunes swept
away, bound to each other by the
strongest bonds oflaw and religion,
and poverty before them.
Had he been the man he was
when first their marriage bells rang
out, he could have borne poverty
and her contempt with the cynical
philosophy of man of the world.
Now, loving her as be did, the
thought of her hate was terror to
him, that hate which he must see
and bear 10 every word and action
of his wife for years to come.
He walked the streets all that
day q broken man. Friends meet.
ing him, gazed inqniringly into his
face, upon which was stamped the
misery in his heart. He left them
hurriedly ere question shaped itself
upon their lips.
How tell her, how tell her p
This thought was with him. till it
burned into his brain. till every foot
step seemed to ask How tell her,
how tell herY till every bell that
rang pealed out 'How tell her p till
all the city's noisy life seemed roar
ing in his ears How tell her?'
Not till long after the sun had set,
and night of storm fell, did he
turn towards home. Not till then
did he gather strength to stand with
those words of ruin on his lips, face
to face with Der. At best il was but
sorry strength even whom he
reached the door he paused, irreso-
lutte, his heart shrinking as from the
touch of hot iron. At last he en-
tered and found her in the parlor.
She greeted him with o smile and
pleasant inquiry as to where he had
been all day, but when the light fell
upon his face she started at its
ehastliness.
What is wrong, Herbert?' she
cried, 'you look like DEATH
Never before had he been so I'M.
manned. He sank into @ chair,
turned from her earnest gaze and
bowed his head.
Il will tell you,' 40 said, in q low,
panied tone, but cannot look you in
the face. My punishment has come,
and it is just. This marriage that
was such mockery, and is q great.
or mockery than ever to-day, was
my planning. We sold oursel yes,
and the shame is mine.'
tHa, ha ~,
sHea- me ont, he interrupted,
shear me out. Listen to me patient.
ly if you can, then to your reproach.
es will make no reply, will not ev.
en- ask your pity for my own an.
guish this night
Il will listen patiently she said
softly.
"a few days ago. he went on. still
in that low, panied tone, Il merely
said that the company in which our
n oney lie invested had declined to
pay the regular quarterly dividend,
but l feared worse than that. With
your consent l tried TO sell ouI
stock, but the prices offered were &C
low that still held it. | spared nc
effort to dispose of it at fair price,
but in vain. l abandoned hope, and
this morning resolved to cell st any
sacrifice. As | reared the office Of
the company saw great crowd
about it's closed doors. The presi
dent and treasurer had fed, aud The
company is bankrupt