The Mineral argus., 1884-12-25
OUR CHRISTMAS.


= business depression in the United
States was manifest throughout the
world; but the house of Wadsworth &
l Co. stood firm. Mr.. Wadsworth, the
senior member, had been a prudent
andcareful director and the Junior part
ners were now won't to respect his
wisdom.
About this time Mr.. Lanier received
"a letter from Loring announcing the
sudden death, by heart disease, of Mrs.
Lanier. This was, of course, an unex-
pected and terrible blow to the husband
who never for one moment thought of
doubling his false friends word. He
Immediately wrote Loring requesting
that the children be placed at some ex-
%cellent boarding school, and remittan-
ces would be sent for their mainte-
nance and expenses. On receipt of this
letter Loring, who perceived that Mr..
Lanier did not question his wife's
death, wen directly to Newton and an
nounced to the wife, with deep sorrow.
apparently, the death, by apoplexv, of
her husbandman. LOring protesting
that the sad intelligence had been writ
ten him by Il Calcutta business ac-
quaintance Of Mr.. Laniers. The moor
lady received this false report with an
parent fOrtitude, but on the next dav
she was striker with fever. Her illness
covered n period of several weeks ere
the beginning of a very slow GONZALES
cence.
1t should have been stated that Mr..
Wadsworth had, from the moment he
learned of her husbands departure.
proven himself a most valuable friend
to the afflicted wife. The death of Mr..
Lanier had been reported in some of
the leading newspapers, but Loring
correctly predicted that Lanier, should
he see, would not contradict it.
Mrs. Lanier was informed by Loring
that her husband had left no e for
her support, but it would afford him
(Lorlng) sincere pleasure to advance
her a sum of money sufficient for her
present needs. Mrs. Lanier promptly
declined the offer with thanks, for she
had already conceived an intense an
for this man whom she still
supposed to be her best friend. On
the day following Loring's proposition
Mr.. Wadsworth called to learn what
he might be able to render Mrs.
Lanier, and that lady requested that
she be given a position in the store suf-
hclently lucrative to admit of her
earning her own and children's sup
port. Mr.. Wadsworth at first demur-
red but was over-ruled by Mrs. Lani-
er's firm decisiveness. Promising her {
he would do his best, Mr.. Wads-
worth returned to the store at his wits
end to think what employment he
give the lady. Business was .
aUa1n InnEInu nv opI n,ar.l, .-.
beginning to .conspicuously dis
play their goods as well as to increase Z
heir stock. Wadsworth q Co. had
ong since discharged their window de-
;oIator, but. the time had now come 7
when they should employ another. ;
Mr.. WadswOrth had often heard his p.
wife speak of Mrs. Lanier's exquisite. d
md correct taste and love of art. Why I
not she be the decorator for
heir house? Mr.. Wadsworth had not l
.ooner asked himself the question than a
lie decided that Mrs. Lanier should be
)roffered the position at a salary of .
800 per annum. :
When Loring heard that Mrs. Lanier ,
accepted-on trial-tnis handsome 9
he appeared much gratifed. I
Time went on and the lady decorator 1
ave perfect satisfaction, but she was U
annoyed by the almost constant =
near her of Loring who tend y
red her invitations to the theatre. :
ther places of entertainment, and to I
with him, always pleading friend
hip as an inducement for her accept Z
nee. s.
Loring began to indulge in the n s.
nip of fast horses with which he was h
ont to be in attendance at all the !,
at Mystic and Beacon tracks, 2
here he was said to bet heavily. Be- :,
IRE the end of that year he had twice u
ffered his heart to Mrs. Lanier, each n
me being kindly but firmly refused. e
1t was now nearly four and a half Ct
ears since the happy home on, Beacon d
had been broken up; and the {
rye house formerly rented by Cliff =
'rd Lanier was still vacant. The fall v
had come again and bust g
ess was steadily improving. Wads- Sc
Orth d Co. had had an unusually b
'isk trade for several weeks, and now b
e holidays were near at hand. b;
George LOring had given himself
holly to a life of almost constant dist -
ltion, and n evening was thrown -
pm his buggy, sustaining fatal iniu- =
He was carried into the nearest "
ug shop where he died fifteen minu- H
5 later, confessing just before breath tn
g his last that it was he who had on
mmitted the theft from the safe of Q
ellsworth & Co, four and a BALI
ago, and that Clifford Lanier was
nocent. But LOriug's confession was