The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-01-31

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was man of middle age-about 40-with |
light, faxen hair, neatly oiled and curled,
and an immense faxen moustache, pair |
of eyes of light blush gray, which in GER
tain lights scintilIated ike the eyes of
squirrel, prominent Roman nose like the
cutwater of boat, with sloping forehead,
and pair of ears that betokened asinine
will combined with great caution. He was
dressed in the very height of fashion, wore
an immense diamond Cor paste) in his shirt
front, and heavy weight of bright, yellow
metal (it looked ike gold) attached to his
watch.
'sAha ha ha y laughed Sparkler, after
he had laid out his brilliant plan for the
hundredth time, and had, in bold fancy,
filed Walters Golfers to the brim with gold. |
''Ha ha ha Old Spoopendyke came to
me yesterday and wanted to give me his
block of eight-story marble-front stores in
] New York for 200 shares of our stock. |
All the old rascal has long head on his
shoulders. He can see-aye, see-what
our enterprise will come to- But did not
listen. You can imagine that it was great
temptation, but I put it behind me. We
had resolved that we would not give our
property to make the wealthy men wealth
ier, but to make poor men wealthy-poor
men who were st the same time deserving.
Think, my dear Witherell-you will own
more stock, very much more, than old
Spoopendyke proposed to take for that
valuable estate in the great metropolis
And so the oily-tongued man talked on
until Walter had the same as promised that
he would be prepared to take the stock on
the morrow.
That very afternoon, after Sparkler had
gone, Walter filled out mortgage deed
with his own hand and then called in a
justice to acknowledge the signatures of
himself and wife. Jennie signed it, but it
almost broke her heart to do it. And du-
ring the evening he took the deed to the
man of whom he was to have the money,
and received s1,0O0-ten new crisp 500
greenbacks, fresh from the United States
Treasury.
When Walter reached home on his re-
turn from the ney-lender's he found
boy at the door with telegram. 1t was
from his sister, informing him of the sick
ness of his mother. NThe doctor says dan
gerous. Come Immediately" was at the
close of the message.
The nearest railway station was six miles
distant, and there was no train until morn
ing which would help him on his way.
However, the business to be done with Mr..
Sparkler he could leave with his wife just
as we'll The preliminaries had all been
arranged, and all that remained to be done
was to pay over the money, $4,000, and
take the certificate Of stock.
'eThere will be paper to sign-a sort
of bond, just for forms sake, which you
can sign just as well. The wife's name is
good"
"Hadn't you better give me power of
attorney ~ suggested Jennie. "Mr. Spark
Ter may refuse to take my name down and
write out a simple statement that you give
me entire authority to sign for you GER
tain paper stating what it is, and that you
will hold yourself bound thereby"
Walter liked the idea, and he proceeded
forthwith to make out the paper as his
wife had suggested. He give her this,
together with the money, and she was to
do the business with Sparkler. The thous-
and dollars from the savings bank he had
drawn that very day, so that the money
was all ready.
On the following morning Walter ate
an early breakfast, then harnessed the
horse which his wife was used to driving,
and, having kissed his little ones, he en-
tered the carriage and Jennie drove him
over to the station and stopped there and
saw him off, On her way home she stopped
at the dwelling of her dear friend-Kate
Moulton-whose husband was going to
take thousand dollars worth of stock of
the Grand Oriental Petroleum, Mining and
Manufacturing Company.
"Kate," said Jennie, "Charlie will surely
take the stock ?"
eyes, | have tried to persuade him; but
he will not listen"
"Dear Kate, / want you to do me
favor. Listen" And she whispered the
request into her ear, so that not even the
walls should hear it. "Will you do it ?"
And Kate Moulton promised that she
would do it, upon which Jennie Witherell
went home quite content.
1t was afternoon when, Mr.. Sparkler
called, bright and bustling, ready for his
business with Walter. He was somewhat
disappointed when he found that the man
was gone, but when the wife had assured
him that she was fully empowered to act for
her husband he was content. She led him
into the library and gave him seat, after
which she proceeded to business. And
Plausible Sparkler, Esq, found her not
quite so ready to his hand as he might have
found the master of the household How
ever, she managed to get through the bust
ness after fashion, and she breathed more
freely when she had seen the last of the
philanthropic speculator.
On the morning of the next day tele
gram came from Walter to his wife inform
ing her that his mother was failing and
she had better join him with the children,
and on the day after that, leaving the house
in the care of their one house servant and
the farm hands, she set forth in answer to
her husbands call.
She arrived in season to see Walters