Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1888-03-29

ABOUT the failure. very little SYM
pathy was expressed. In hard times
sympathy is very scarce commodity.
On this same morning John Dale
took his wife into the library after
breakfast, and told her all. Mrs. Dale
was silent for moment. Then she put
her arms around her husbands neck
and kissed him.
"At least we love each other" she
said.
But" explained Dale, in some
amazement, "you do not understand.
We must give up our house. There
will be nothing left. My creditors may
pursue me all my life, and there is
nothing but poverty before me-"
Mrs. Dale gave him another kiss.
"Do you think carer" she said.
my dear" said Dale. and his voice
trembled, Il must tell you the worst.
My success made me reckless, and if
some of my creditors push me to the
last extreme they will be able to send
me to prison, although 1 had no Grim
inal intention in my transactions with
them"
mo matter what befalls you, said
the beautiful woman by his side, Il
Will stand by you, and suffer with you,
and will wait for better days"
Then, for the first time, John Dale
shed few tears. Later in the day he
went to his office and devoted his at
tention to his business affairs.
"You will see him beg for mercy"
said old Steele to the meeting of cred
itors. Il know these extravagant
spendthrifts. Dale will come here and
cry and plead. You must be firm with
him."
just then the object of his talk en-
tered the room.
"Hello, Steele" he said, with his
customary carelessness. swell, gen.
tlemen, here we are. Now, let us see
what can be done about this matter v
Old Steele glared at Dale. and the
others looked at him in astonishment
Dale did not look like a man who had
been crushed by some great misfort-
une. He looked younger, brighter and
handsomer than ever, and there was
ring of triumph in his tones.
Course that fellow, 'said old Steele
81 wonder what is up now"
"Gentlemen, said Dale, !" before
proceeding to business, | desire to say
a few words"
Instantly there was dead silence in
the room. Dale then made a calm,
straightforward statement concerning
his various enterprises, and wound up
with the admission that his liabilities
greatly exceeded his assets. Then he
told them of his interview with his
wife.
"You will now understand, he con-
cluded, "that this is no great misfort-
une, after all. If my wife is satisfied
to share my poverty / am the happiest
man on earth. "
Dale looked around upon the group
in such frank and manly way that all
were fayorably impressed.
When the creditors consulted togeth-
er in private Ste lie was the only man
who held out against compromise.
Then the others withdrew, and in a
short time returned.
at is all right" said the leader to
Steele. ave will settle your claims
and give Dale another chance. He is
a good fellow, and he shan't be sacri-
feed"
swell, if you will be FOOLS" snarled
Steele, 81 have no objection"
John Dale did not have to give up
his house, and there was no talk of a
criminal prosecution. His manly way
of meeting his difficulties, and the de-
votion of his wife, rallied band OF
strong friends around him, and in the
course of few days he was on his feet
again.
Perhaps the Dales protited by their
experience during the panic. At all
events, they did not rush headlong it,
TO career of extravaganza. They
modified their style of living, and in
the course of a few years they had the
satisfaction of knowing that they were
out of debt, and again on the high
road to fortune.
And yet it might have been very
different John Dale said one day tt
his wife:
"When | told you of my failure i
you had broken down under the news
it was my intention to go to my room
and blow my brains out"
why, John!' exclaimed the little
woman, "how could / have given yol
any other answerP'
And then Dale Rugged her and kisset
her. Wallace p Reed, IN Atlanta Con
stitution