Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-11-01

which want to ask you about.
task. said Mr. Kingdom, ssand l
will answer as well as can
cit is something about your business
with Mr.. Townsend. " said the boy.
Dir. Kingdoms face changed slightly.
s'What have you heardp' he asked, in a
colder tone of voice.
- 1t is said that if Mr. Townsend car
ries out his contract with you he win be
ruined. Do you suppose it can be
true2"
II don't know" replied his father;
hope not. Who said be would 5eg"
Rhoda, his daughter. She and her
mother are feeling very anxious about it.
They think they will be very poor, said
Mark, watching his father.
Mr. Kingdom did not smile any more,
but his face was calm and kind. g / am
sorry for them, " he said 1.-THE truth is.
Townsend has very bad contract He
will meet with heavy loss. But don't
see how / can help it.
Can't you release him from it?'' Mark
tremblingly suggested.
THAT wouldn't be business, 1" said his
father "Then the loss would fall on
me"
Excuse me, father-but are not you
better able to bear it than he is2
Perhaps. A good many of my
friends have met with losses which no
doubt might bear better than they; but
it doesn't follow that | should say to
Smith, Jones or Brown, Here's my
check to make up that loss to you've
more money than you!' Would that be
business-like2 There are a great many
men, said Mr.. Kingdom, and now he
smiled again. ''who would like to do
business with me in just that way
But isn't this different2" said Mark.
"You've had nothing to do with their
speculations; you've gained nothing by
them
''And you're mistaken" replied his
father, . if you think drove hard bar
gain with Townsend. Iagreed to give
him for Duildeng the block all believed
it would be worth to me. He took all
risks If the time had been favorable,
he would have made something. AS it
is. he loses. That's all there is about
it."
Mark was staggered for moment.
Then he exclaimed earnestly
''Oh, no, father; that isn't ALL If
there had been any ordinary gain or loss,
what you say might be just. But he is
building block of houses for you; and
I'm sure you wont insist on his doing it
for what he agreed, if it will ruin him
make his family poor! | could never
bear the thought of thatn'
Mr.. Kingdom answered, after pause,
in a Quiet but firm voice.
you've kind heart, my son-rm
glad of that-but you don't know any
thing about business. And it isn't for
you to tell me what ought to do. You
NAV be sure that / shall do only what
seems to me to be right
He adjusted his glasses and took up
his paper. Mark was not satisfied. but
there seemed to be nothing more for him
to say.
He hoped that his father would re-
lease Mr. Townsend from the ruinous
contract, and when the final crash
came and it was known that the Town
sends had actually lost everything, Mark
felt even worse about it, am bound to
say, than Rhoda did.
The Townsend family were obliged to
move into a smaller house, where living
was less expensive; and Mark lost sight
of them. But the great wrong they had
suffered rankleti in his heart. Often
when his parents made him costly pres
ent, he would say to himself:i.
Il wonder if this was bought with
some of the money wing out of poor
Townsend9"
Dir. Townsend began business again,
and worked hard to support and educate
his family. But circumstances seemed
always to be against him. He couldn't
get ahead. He continued the struggle
manfully for few years, then lost health
and hope and died poor man.
He had had his life insured for mod
crate sum; and that was all that was left
to his family. A widow with six chill
dren, and only the interest on three
thousand dollars to provide for their
wants. That was Mrs. Townsend's stu
ton.
But since the change in their fortunes,
Rhoda had proved herself "a glorious
girl, !" as everybody said who knew them.
She had given up the luxur.es of life,
and the pleasures of society, to devote
herself to the family. Homework,
needle work, teaching her sisters the
piano bonnet-trimming or dress-making
whatever the task, she brought to it a
willing heart and skillful hands.
81 don't know what / should have
done,r Mrs. Townsend used to say. IF
it hadn't been for Rhoda; her tact for
keeping us all looking respectable on
nothing, is just wonderful! And she
makes us all happy by her good spirits. "
But now. after her fathers death,