St. Landry democrat., 1884-06-07

anu eSIttSLs iLuu duiECtlHS VIII Mcutdl
torture, pointed out to Walter Witherell
an item in city paper, which q friend
had sent him. Walter took the paper,
and read as follows:
"a SAD COLLAPsE-We fear that many or
the honest, Woodworking farmers and me-
chanics OF the surrounding country are suf-
ferers by the collapse of the Grand Orient
Petroleum, Mining and Manufacturing Com
DSpy 50 called. The affair has been a sin.
pendous swindle from the first; yet, so
adroitly did the corporatorS do their business
that their victims can gain no redress. The
company owned all the land they pretended
to own; but, in truth, more utterly worth
less tract of land than was their territory was
not to be found on the continent But the
loss of money paid for stock is not ALL A few
moneyed men have bought uD the whole con-
Germ, and are now making diStraint upon the
original subscribers tn the stock, for the COL
lection of the full face value of the premium
notes which they unwittingly gave at the time
of subscribing. We venture to say that scarce
ly man of them dreamed that he was giving
q bond-fde note when he signed that simple.
innocent-ooking bond. 1t is hard, but it
experience worth all it will cost, while ali may
do well to remember the homely old saying:
'CobbIer, stick to your last
Walter gave back the paper with
groan, and quickly sought the fresh
air When he got home his wife was
frightened. She thought him deathly
sick. She fastened to lis side and
wound an arm around his neck.
Dear Walter, what is it? What is
the matter?o
80, Jennie, Jennie! if I had only
listened to you.''
And then, in broken tones and in
tears, he told her of the sad collapse of
the Grand Orient. He concealed moth
ing; but told her the plain, unyarnished
truth. Not only was the two thousand
dollars gone that he had already paid,
but they were coming for two thousand
more, and he could not escape pay
ing it.
Jennie sat down and looked into her
husbands face. What meant that
lurking smile which he caught ut the
corners of her blue eyes and about the
full, ruby lips? Was it possible that
she could find it in her heart to make
sport of his cruel, bitter agony?
s. Walter" she said at length, evil
you go and get your certificate of
stock and let lis look it overp"
He arose, moving like decrepit old
man, and procured the envelope and
brought it back. Jennie took it, and
drew out the certificate and opened it.
Where is the company's seal?n she
asked.
Whate'' cried Walter, sis there no
sea1?"
mo, and look at the signatures. Do
they look as such signatures ought to
look?"
A brief silence, and then the wife,
with happy tears mingled with her
smiles, threw her arms around ker
husbands neck, exclaiming as she did:
80, Walter, know you will forgive
me now. l did a bold thing; at the
time you might have called it an out
rageous thing; but I could not pay
away that hard-earned money for what
| knew to be mess of pottage. Dear
husband, aYou have never owned
share of this stock I went to Kate
knew that Sparkler was to
call there before he came here-and /
got her to beg of Mr.. Sparkler one of
the blank certificates of stock, on the
plea that she wanted to keep the pretty
picture for curiosity, He gave it to
her, and she brought it at once to me-
When Sparkler called upon me / sent
him about his business otf-hand. l told
him just what thought of him and Of
his company; and will only say that
he was very soon glad to get away.
Then | carried back the thousand dol
lars to the Savings Bank, and Mr.. Hol-
den took it back just as though we had
never touched it. And Mr.. Baldwin
very cheerfully gave me up the mort
gage for the return of the thousand dol
lars he had given you. The certificate
l filled up myself, believing you would
never notice its strange look.
"Now. Walter, darling, / am ready
% be scolded. Let me have it just as
savagely as you please; only, when you
nave finished, have favor TO ask. -
Z" Ask it now, Jennie he said, in a
ow, broken whisper.
. 1t is this: | want you to promise me
hat you will never
Hold ont He caught her to his
BOSOM, and kissed her again and again.
20! my own blessed wife! never, never
again, will step aside from the true,
Upright, straightforward and legitimate
bath of honest business and labor. |
rave had enough of speculation. Some
men may enjoy it; some may prosper in
t; but I was not cut out for it. No,
Jennie, your grand lesson shall not be
ost on an unworthy husband. When
We are done with this home we will
cave it to our children; and they shall
ind it in good condition and unincum-
,ered; and | shall not be ashamed to
AVE them know just how much of the
home they owe to their mother. Hush!
wish them to know it. Especially do
wish our son to know it, that he may
axe warning by the experience of bis
ather; for, though | have not lost my
wo thousand dollars, yet, believing
hat ! was in the trap, [ have suffered |
more than can tell. Yes, I want our |