Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-10
Ill.

The gentleman who had so urgently re-
uuestcd IN interview was = devoted friend,
! who had obtained a means of helping En-
nest ut a serious crisis in his affairs.
1t had been truly reported that he was
/ in position of pecuniary embarrassment
owing to the failure of Il mercantile house
with which he had been intimately con-
! nected. Whispers affecting his own sol
\ Vency had followed ON the bankruptcy of
] the firm. lie had already endeav0red TO
! obtain advances of money on the usual
conditions and had been met by excuses
/ for delay. His friend had now arrived
! with n letter of introduction To Il capital
! list, well known in commercial circles for
/ his daring speculations and Tor his great
! wealth.
Looking at the letter Ernest observed
/ that the envelope was sealed. In spite OF
/ that ominOus innovation on established
! usage, in cases of personal introduction,
/ he presented the letter. On this occasion
/ he was not put of with excuses. The
| capitalist fatty declined TO discount Mr..
! LismOre's bills unless they were backed
/ BY responsible names.
Ernest made a last effort.
! He applied for help to two mercantile
men whom he had assisted in their diff
| cultieS and whose names would have sat
! istied the money-lender. They were most
/ sincerely sorry but they, too, refused.
/ The one security that he could offer was
/ open, il must be owned, to serious Objec-
! tious on the score of risk. He wanted an
advance of 1000, secured on home
/ ward-bound ship and cargo. But the YES
/ sci was not insured; and, at that stormy
/ season, she was already more than a
/ month overdue. Could grateful colleagues
! be blamed il they forgot their obligations
\ when they were asked to offer pecuniary
\ help to a merchant III this situation? En-
| nest returned to his office without money
/ and without credit.
4 man threatened by ruin is in no state
of mind TO keep an engagement ut lady'S
/ tea-table. Ernest sent letter of apology
! 10 Mrs. Calender, alleging extreme pres
sure OF business rs the excuse for break
/ ing his engagement.
Am | 70 wait for an answer, sir?" the
I messenger asked.
NO; you are merely to leave the letter."
".
/ In an hours time-to Ernest's astonish-
ment-the messenger returned with re-
ply.
The lady was just gong out, sir, when
/ rang at the door, he explained, land
/ she took the letter from me herself. She
didn't appear to know your handwriting,
! and she asked me who l came IRON. AS
/ soon as | told her was ordered to wait"
Ernest opened the letter.
! Dear Nr LiSmore: one Of us must speak out
! and your letter of apology forces me TO be that
( one. II You are really so proud and 50 dis
trustful rs you seem 20 be, shall offend you.
II not, shall prove myself 10 be your friend.
/ lo ur excuse Is pressure Of business. The
+ truth >as l have good reason 10 belleyc) is
I want of money l heard q stranger, at that
public meeting, say that YOU were seriously
embarrassed By some failure IN the city. Let
me tell You what my own pccuniary position
+ Is in two words. | am the childless widow OF
/ rich man
Ernest paused. His anticipated discov-
F cry of Mrs. CallenGer's charming daueh-
+ ter was in his mind FOR the moment.
+ THAT little romance must return to the
world Of Dreams he thought-and went
on With the letter.
After what owe 10 you 1 don't regard it as
E repaNlug an ooh@atlQD-l consider myself as
merely performing duty when I oder 20 as
sist YOU by loan of money. Wait a little
before you throw my letter into the aste-
paper baskCs. Circumstances (Which il is
F impossible for me TO montion before We meet
put it out Of my power 90 help yoU-unless I
/ attach n my most sincere onCr Of service
! very unusual ard very embarrassing cOndi-
u0u. III you are on the brink OF rum, that
misfortune WEI plead my cNcuse-and your
+ excuse, too. II you accept the loan on my
terms. In any case. / rely on the sympathy
aud torbearancc Of tbs man 70 whom owe
my lie. After what have written, there Is
+ only one talng 20 add. 1 beg 90 decline ac-
ccptiug your excuses, and 1 shall expect 10
I see y0u o-mOrrow evening, As We arranged.
| am an obstinate old wOman-but | am also
your faithful friend and servant.
NARY CALENDER.
Ernest looked up from the letter. What
can this possibly meane" he wondered.
But he was too sensible a man 10 be
content with wondering-he decided on
keeping his engagement.
V.
What DR.. johnson called ''the iuSOlence
Of wealth" appears far more frequently
in the houses Of the rich than in the man.
ners OF the rich. The reason is plain
enough. Personal Ostentation Is IN the
very nature Of il ridiculous. But the oS-
! tentatiOn which exhibits magnificent pie
7 lures. priceless china aud splendid furnj-
ture, can purchase good taste TO guide il,
and can assert itself without ahOrding the
{ smallest opening for word OF deprecia-
ton or a look Of contempt. II am worth
a million Of money. and ii I am dying to
show II, l don't ask you 10 look az mel
ask You 10 look 0t my house,
Keeping his engagement with Mrs. Cal
/ lender, Ernest discovered that riches
might oe laviShly and vet m0deStly used.