The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-01-27
THE WRECK A WOMAN MADE.
New YOrk Tilnes.l

The old banker pushed back his cup and
removing his glasses. gazed musingly for
moment or two upon the wealth Of plate and
glass scattered about the table in front of
him. Apparently his thoughts were far
away, his kindly face showing that, while
the inner man was satisfied with the dinner.
things other than dinner occupied his atten-
ton. Banking. they say he said at length,
''is prosaic and humdrum business, one day
being exactly like its predecessor, and differ
ing IN nowise from what has been and will
be until the end Of time. But this is not
true, any banker can tell you. We have
some curious experiences, and picture saw
to-day brings UP very wildly to my memory
tonight one case which, starting from my
own office, brought destruction to two
homes, cut of by suicide a man in the full
vigor of youth and success and finally
wound up by the death from starvation of
the principal actor in the horrid drama.
81 VIII show you the picture, for bought
it, saying which the old gentleman rang the
bell, and in a moment a servant appeared
with the picture. il was that of woman,
or rather girl of not over nineteen, with a
laughing, happy face, her dark hair ripping
down over her shapely forehead. her cheeks
flushed with the rosy hue of health, and the
spirit of fun and gayety dancing in her deep
black eyes. ''fhat, said the old banker,
as he got up and paced up and down the
room, lis the exact counterpart of the wo-
man who did the mischief. and had not
been assured il was fancy portrait, l could
could have sworn ii was taken the day first
laid eyes upon the siren. l will tell you all
about in he added confdentially "but, as
the story is a true one. | will change the
names. All concerned IN il, | believe are
dead, but | don't want to hurt anybody's
feelings.
"In the good old times before the telegraph
had ruined the China and East India bust
ness for the Captains who sailed the big
firms ships, / had ship commanded by as
honest and good fellow as you would like
TO meet. Every two years he would come
sailing home with teas silks and spices, and,
when fifteen years ago old age began to creep
on. he had amassed from his little operations
about $4,000. One day, while his ship was
IN pert, he came IT. and said: Mr. Harris,
I'm going to give up the sea- Nonsense,
Arnold | said TO him, you couldn't rest
easy on land. But the old fellow was firm
in his resolve and despite my advice remained
on shore. Well, more miserable man
never lived than was the old Captain. He
dawdled around the wharves, enyiously
watching the ships prepare for sea, and used
TO worry the life out OF me by his almost
daily Wits. Finally said to him, ioklngly:
Arnold, why don't you get married.
Apparently the suggestion made no inn
preston upOn him for time but after a
week or two it seemed TO have taken full
possession OF him. At length he paid a visit
to Boston, and from that grew out all the
complications and tragedies which followed.
One night. lonesome and utterly at a loss to
know what to do, he strolled into a theater
where The Black Crook was the attraction.
l..
young girl, not apparently over eighteen,
whose face was of the prettieSt, and this at
tTacted the old man. He saw the piece out,
but was uneasy all the evening save when his
charmer was on the stage. He went home in
a thoughtful mood, so he afterward told me,
but the next night was at the theater again.
This continued for a week. at the end OF
which he was desperately in love. The
black eyed siren had captivated him, and
when at length he mustered up courage TO
tell her OF his love she had had time to find
out all about him and his affairs, and she
consented to become his wife. She was the
daughter of a shoemaker in East Boston and
unaccustomed to have any money to spend.
They were married quietly, and without no.
| tice TO any of the CAPTAINS friends, and for
| few weeks the old man was in a fools para
| disc Then she began 10 spend his money
| royalty. She induced him TO buy a house
| and furnish it royalty. The old man rueful-
u a
| of his fortune went, for she insisted that the
| house should be put in her name.
The old Captain wanted TO settle down to
| a quiet life, but he soon found that Mrs Ar
mold would not. He had made the common
mistake, but he bore ii mapfully, and did
| every thing in his power to enjoy the life she
| had determined to live. IL was one cOntin-
ual round OF balls and tneaters and the mod
est fortune of the old sailor rapidly melted
| away. The old man was thoroughly unhap-
| py, bat what could he do2 one night the
! wife went to the theater without her hus-
| band and came back raying over the beauty
| and ability of a young actor, the star OF the
! company. and so fascinated was she that
| during the engagement not night passed
but found her in front of the fOotlights She
| was introduced to him, as we found out az
| terward, and represented that she was a
| young girl on a visit to the Hub. She in
various ways allowed young Prescott, as We
! will call him, to perceive her infatuation,
and learned from him that he intended to go
to Europe for brief resting spell at the ex-
piration OF his engagement.
| Up to this time not a friend of the Cap
tain in New York knew Of his marriage and
of this bis wife was aware. When she learned
of Preseott's trip she wheedled and cOaxed
old Arnold TO allow her To 20 10 England,
and after a weeks wordv battles he gave in.
This brings me to the time when first met
her. One warm summers day, while | was
busy, in walked tine old Captain, and in an
awkward, stammering way introduced the
counterpart of that picture 10 me as Miss
Billings, his niece. Apparently he was afraid
would ask for the details OF his marriage il
he told me she was his wife, and 50 took
refuge in the falsehood. He told me she was
not well. and wanted 10 travel for a few
months. Could give her a small credit on
my London friends. While this converse
ton was going on the girl leaned over my
desk, her color coming and going. and wher
| said / would issue the credit She jumped
up, seized both my hands. and ioyousy
cried: 'Oh, Mr.. Harris how good you are"
Il thought she was going to kiss me, and
old as / was. | would gladly have taken i
from one who looked so charming, and from
whose eyes apparently only childish limo
cence and glee at the prospect shone. All
] can see her now, and never have | seen ;
fairer picture than she made as she tripped
about the old Office, making its walls rims
with her Joyful talk, which more than onc'
in her exultation ran into little snatches o
song. When we came TO settling the detail
of the credit old Arnold wished il fixed s.
that for five months she could draw abou
$40 monthly. and this was done. The mex
day she sailed away on the same steame