The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-03-10

A few evenings thereafter there was
party at the house of friend, where man,
of the chief business men of the place wer,
present. Charles and his wife were of thi
number. In the course of the evening {
gentleman approached Charles, and tapped
him on the shoulder.
by the way, Lee, have you heard, late
lv, from CIaxton & Simonds, of St. Louis?'
There were standing within hearing o.
several gentlemen, who gathered nearer as
they heard the question.
Charles replied in the Affirmative.
'And what is their condition p
''Do you mean financially"
eyes"
"Their condition is undoubtedly good
Can they meet their maturing obliga
tions p
II have perfect confidence in them"
90, Charles !" cried Laura, who had been
hanging upon his arm, chow can you say
SOP"
Laura
"When they wrote to papa only week
ago that they couldn't pay him dollar
And you know how dreadfully worried he
was. declare, [ don't believe they ever
mean to pay cent Didn'tpoor papa tell
me, with his own lips, that he dared not
push them? p
Charles Lee was ready to sink from shame
and notification OF those gathered to
listen were three directors of the principal
bank in the town. He would have stopped
his wife's speech had it been possible; but
she ratified on in spite of his imploring
| look.
'Laura," he said, "you do not under
stand. Your father has no fears"
90, Charles When he said, distinctly
that the ten thousand dollars now due, and
ten thousand dollars more in a month, he
wouldn't get!"
The bank directors turned away, and SC
did Charles Lee His wife saw that he was
very pale, and she thought it was from an,
ger, so she embraced the first opportunity
to slip away from him.
On their way home Laura said:
II suppose you are very much put out
Charles p
"About what p
"About what [ said concerning Claxton
& Simonds"
II am distressed, Laura; but if you think
you did right, I have nothing to say
Goodness mercy! Anybody would
think I had done something dreadful
sDon't speak of it now, please. [ wish
to give YOU no more lectures. For the
present let the matter rest as it is, so far as
YOU and | are concerned.
''But, Charles, you were telling MIR
Burbank that Claxton & Simonds were
good. "
u was telling what | firmly believed to
be the truth, Laura. You did not hear the
whole of your fathers disclosure the other
evening. He and 1 both believe Claxton
& Simonds to be financially stronger than
ever before, but the opening of new and
distant markets for their goods has, for the
time. absorbed their surplus capital and
thus cramped them, At all events, | have
so much faith in their soundness that
have lent my name to carry their paper
They had reached home at this point
and the conversation was dropped.
On the very next evening Mr.. Fuller
came in, pale and haggard.
"Papa, what is the matter p cried Laura
in alarm.
He kissed her and gently put her aside,
and having taken seat he said to his SON.
in-law:
"Charles, am crushed! T.
"Father!''
"The bank won't touch our paper. The
directors know that my sole reliance is upon
the solvency of Claxton & Simonds, and
somebody has told them of the letter had
received from the firm; but the whole
truth has not been told them. They only
know that my Western consignees art
short in their returns $4,000"
"What will you dc? ?"
"What can I do? If cannot raise ter
thousand dollars within week, must sus
pend. O, my soul, this is dreadful! Charle'
have you told to anybody the substance o
that letter ?''
II have not whispered it outside of m.
own house"
at is certainly known. Some of th'
directors have heard of it.
Thus far Laura had listened in silence
and now, gasping and quivering, she sanl
down at her fathers feet and bowed he
head upon his knees.
go, papa, 1 did it! am the wicke'
one O, what can | do?'
Her father gathered her up into his arms
and, with her head upon his shoulder, sh
confessed all her fault.
no TLu L. :e bova -r;no,