The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-07

present, unless times change Tor the DETER"
Jack went back to his own desk a little an
noyed. He did not like to give up his authority.
Was it only a month since the old gentleman
had been away? 1t seemed like a year.
II.
John Craven took the doctors advice, after
all. and went to Europe. He had felt strangely
weak, and unequal to much effort ever since
his illness, and he grasped at the promised re-
newal of his health. There was great satisfac-
ton at meeting some of his old correspondents
on the other side, he wholly enjoyed hisJourney-
ings, and was satisfied with the careful reports
from home. He was proud, too, Of some new
outlooks and connections which he succeeded IN
forming. I'm a business way, he was roma OF
saying TO his wife, ''the time had been well
spent" But Mrs. Craven lost no chance OF
urging her husband to give up the business TO
she pleaded over and over again, it was no use
to break his health down altogether. lie knew
himself that he could not bear what he
had once. The truth was, the ways
of doing business were changing-these sub
marine telegraphs were doing as much harm as
good. The time hal gone by when a man could
get private advices of a rise in values, and
quickly increase his stock to control the market.
Now, what one knew the rest knew, and it was
simply a question of who could sell cheapest
John Craven talked it over again and again with
idlins merchants like himself.
Not long after their return, the great sorrow
of his life came to him in his wlfes
death. 1t was harder to bear the loss then
than it ever could have been before. They had
loved each other with a sober undemonstrative
affection, which was as permanent and I'M
questioned as the air they breathed. In the
earlier years, while he was immersed, as he
often said, in business cares, and the good
woman was careful and troubled about many
things-her growing children, her household and
her social relations-they had gone their sepa-
rate ways without much reference to each other,
satisfied with a mutual confidence and insplra-
ton. For the first time in these later
months they had sometimes spent all the
hours of the days together, and had been
more lover-like and affectionate than ever be-
fore. They sometimes talked, in the long
twilights of the English lakes or the soft
sunshine of Italy. about what they would do to.
gether when they reached home; and John era
ven felt less annoyance at the thought OF his
boys business capacity. He would have more
time at home than eve: before; he even grew in
terested in his wife's small charitable enter
prises and lent a willing ear to her con-
fdences, and knew at last what good
his generous cheques had done IN public
and private needs. He had never found time to
think much Of these things. But alas. good Mrs.
Craven died. after a short illness, within ~ week
or two of their arrival home, and the great
house, with it's unpackCd treasures which they
had chosen together, was left desolate.
1t was harder than ever for this business man
to assure himself that a man need not be old at
his age; but somehow he had let so his active
oversight of affairs. while he could summon no
given all his time and thought. He cared moth
ing for books or for art, or, sadest of all, his
fashionable daughter thought, for society.
he had given away much money be-
never given himself with his cheques.
He was sometimes angry with the boys, and
sometimes thankful to giveup his responsibility,
but he wished such REIMBURSEMENT to be volun-
tary: it should not he taken for granted. His
daughters were eager to have their share OF his
favor; they came to him with stories of the boys
assumption OF authority and precedence. They
were all dependent upon him, IN one
way or another. and John Craven told
himself more than once that he should
had made his own way in the world. They were
all respectful and affectionate. The girls told
him again and again that they were so glad their
husbands were able to relieve him of care, and
were inen he could trust. Yes, he surely had a
great deal to be thankful for; it seemed to be
nobodys fault that he was laid on the shelf.
Jack was sometimes overbearing and self-conf-
dent about the business. 1t was amazing that
most daring, farsighted and enterprising men of
his day, should DO constantly made
to feel that he was an old fogy and
fast drifting astern of the times. Who
should understand the times if not a man of his
experience? AS the months went by. the days
when he did not go to his Office at all were Of
more and more frequent occurrence. The chief
value of his presence seemed to be for the sub
s~cription lists, which by no means passed him
by, and one day there was a vehement outbreak
of anger against young Jack, who had %yentured
to suggest the propriety of a smaller sum than
his father had seen fit 70 bestow. You may be
making money, but whose money are you making
it with?" the old man demanded. while Jack
spoke soothingly and glanced round at the other
desks. He did not look as if he would like to
knock his father down. as he used in case of
differences when they were both younger, and
the senior partner was injured by this sighting
of their present equality. You treat me as if
1 were an old woman" he said, and went away.
Jack was such an insufferable prig, and there
was Jacks boy, who ought to be at q desk al
ready parading about the park with his dog-cart
and saddle horses-a good-f for nothing dandy.
Times had changed indeed!
HI.