The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1884-11-12

come on and make distraint on any property
of his they could find
And Walter was in for two thousand III
the worst should come it would swallow up
the rest of his farm-eVery bit OF IT, He
suffered more and more; and he suffered
more keenly because he would not speak
with his wife, and ask her sympathy.
A year had passed aud another November
had come. One morning, at the postoffice,
Charles Moulton, pale and aghast, aud quiv-
ering with mental torture, pointed out to
Walter Witherell an item in the city paper
which friend had sent him. Walter took
the paper and read as follows:
"a SAD CoLLAPsH-we fear that many of the
honest, hard working farmers and mocha mics of
the surrounding country are sufferers by the col
lapse of the Grand Orient Petroleum, Mining and
Manufacturing Company, so called. The affair
has been a stupendous swincle from the first; yet
so adIoitly did the corporators do their business
that their victims can gain no redress. The CON-
pany owned all the land they pretended to own
but. in truth, n more utterly worthless tract of
Land than was their territory was not to be found
stock is not, A few mOneyed men have bought
up the whole concern, and are now making dis
traint upon the criminal subscribers to the stock
for the collection of the full face value OF the
MUM notes which they unwittlngly gave at the
time of subscribing. We venture to say that
ing bona fde note when he signed that simple,
innocent looking bond 1t is hard; but it might
have been worse. Some may find the experiment
worth all ID will cost while all may de well to
member the hOmely old saying; 'CObbler. 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 deadly sick. She fastened
to his side and wound an arm around his
neck.
"Desr Walter what is it2 What is the
matterT'
90, Jennie, Jeanie. If had only listened
to YOU"
And then in broken tones and tears he
told her of the sad collapse of the Grand
Orient. He concealed nothing, but told her
the plain, unvsrnished truth. Not only
was the $1,000 gone that he had already
paid, but they were coming for 50. 900 more,
and he could not escape paying it.
Jennie sat down and looked into her hus-
bands face. What meant that lurking
smile which caught at 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
walter" she said at length, will you go
and get your certificate of stock, and let US
look it oyer?"
He rose, looking like q deerepit old man,
and procured the envelope and brought it
back. Jennie took it, and drew out the GER
| tificate and opened it.
Where is the companys seal?" she asked
What" cried Walter, ''is there no seal?'
NO; 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 her husbands neck, ex-
| claiming as she did So
''0h, Walter, know you viii forgive me
now. / did bold thing; at the time you
might have called it outrageous; but l could
| not pay away that hard-earned money for
! what knew to be a mess of pottage. Dear
Il L.nrA - IL.
! this stock / went to Kate Moulton-I knew
| that Sparkher was to call there before he ca me
here-aud l got her to beg of Mr.. Sparkler
! one OF the bank certificates OF stock on the
plea that she wanted to keep the pretty
| picture for a curiosity. He gave it to her.
! and she brought it 10 me at once When
| Spsrkler called upon me l sent him about
his business offhsnd. l told him what
thought of him and his company; and
| will only cay that he was very soon glad to
! get away. Then l carried back my
| $1,000 to the savings bank and Mr..
Holden took it back Just as though we had
never touched it. And Mr. Baldwin cheer
| fully gave me up the mortgage for the return
OF the 81, coo he had given you. The certif-
| cate I filed up myself, believing you would
never notice its strange look.
Now, Walter, darling, / am ready to be
scolded. Let me have it as savagely as you
| please only when you have finished, 1 have
4
ASK it now, Jennie" he said in a low,
broken whisper.
ut ls this: want you to promise me
that you will never"
"Hold on" He caught her to his bosom
| and kissed her again and again.
"0h. my own blessed wife. never, never
again will / step aside from the true, up
! right, Straightforward and legitimate path
of honest business and labor.
have had enough of speculation.
Some men may enjoy it; some may
prosper in it; but was not cut out for It,
No. Jennie, your grand lesson shall not be
lost on an unworthy husband. When we
are done with this home we we will leave it
with our children; and they will find it in
| good condition and uuimcumbered; and
shall not be ashamed to have them know
| just how much of the home they owe to
their mother, Hush, 1 wish them to know
it. Especially do wish our son to know it.,
that he may take warming by the experience
of his father; for though have not lost my
two thousand dollars, yet believing was in
the trap, have suffered more than l can
tell. Yes, want our boy to know"
And now, my darling, let US thank God
for the blessing OF this happy hour And l
will thank Him for one of the best and
noblest wives that man ever had."-S. Cobb,
Jr