San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-12-08
THE END.
JOHN DALE'S FAILURE.

bDuhDuTS. nc was Sllll Ou lllC Suuuy SLUG
OF 40, but gray-haired business men and
financiers consulted him upon the most i'm
portant matters, and whenever it was
known that John Dale was connected with
any enterprise the success OF the project
was assured.
Dale was lavish In his expenditures, and
his beautiful wife did not try to restrain
him. Mrs. Dale outshone the, younger
beauties and bellies of the place, and her
husband was proud of her.
In Bondburg the main staple Of the talk
was the Dales, their movements. their ex-
travagance, their good fortune. Some
times old men shook their heads, but
everything that Dale touched seemed to
turn into gold. The young Spectator es-
tablished bank and built railroad and
took hold of a dozen other big enterprises.
The entertainments at the Dale mansion
were on scale of magnihcence never seen
before in that part of the country. Among
the invited guests were millionaires who
travelled in special cars. 1t was a common
thing for people to rush across the CONT
nent to see the Dales.
The financial crash Of 1S- was terrible
disaster. twas felt not only in the great
cities but in the smaller towns as well. In
BOndburg the Oldest business houses went
to the wall.
When a man Is in trouble he finds out
his real friends and enemies. The panic
struck John Dale at bad time. At first
he was confident that he would come out
all right. He borrowed right and left and
made brave effort to push his way
through. He even called on Steele, but
the old usurer told him that a loan was
out of the question.
One day 1t was whispered that Dale
would have to go under. and that he would
be left several hundred thousand dollars
in debt. That night there was a reception
at his house, and many of the guests went
simply out of curiosity. They wanted to
see how the speculator would look on the
eve Of his failure. II these people expected
to see crushed man, they were disap-
pointed. The entertainment was the most
delightful of the season. Dale's bright
and handsome face showed not the slight
est truce OF care, and his wife was In her
most charming mood.
"They are frivolous people," said one Of
the guests to old Steele early the next
morning. II gave Dale credit for being a
thoughtful man, but he and his wife seem
to be too light-minded to appreciate the
gravity of the situation"
''They will appreciate it to-day" said
Steele, grimly. II have got hold Of lot
of Dale'slpaper, and l am going to close
down. You will see my lord and my lady
come to grief"
The news OF Dale's failure created quite
q hIIt SrDraS nj huCinnSS mon
marked that they were not at all sur
prised and that they had been looking for
it all along.
"And he will have nothing left" said a
merchant to Mr.. Steele; mot a cent, will
hep"
mo-" replied Steele, che will be worse
off than a beggar, because he will be heels
over head in debt. There will be a meet
ing of the principal creditors tomorrow,
and the result may land Dale in the peni'
tertiary"
at will be terrible blow to Mrs. Dale"
said leading society lady, "and it may
kill her."
This was the general run Of the talk
about the failure Very little sympathy
was expressed. In hard times sympathy
Is q NSIN
On the same morning John Dale took his
wife into the library after breakfast and
told her all Mrs. Dale was silent for a
moment. Then she put her arms around
her husbands neck and kissed him.
"At least we love each other" she said.
"But," exclaimed Dale, in some amaze
ment, "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 be-
fore me-"
Mrs Dale gave him another kiss. do
you think carer" she said.
my dear" said Dale, and his voice trem-
bled, II must tell you the worst. My sue
cess 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
i had no criminal intention in my transac-
lions with them"
mo matter what befalls you," said the |
beautiful woman by his side, 81 will stand !
by you, am 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 attention to his |
business affairs.
"You will see him beg for mercy" said |
old Steele to the meeting Of creditors. 81
know these extrayagant spendthrifts. /
Dale will come here and cry and plead.
YOu must be firm with him."
Just then the object of his talk entered !
the room.
Hello, Steelep he said, with his custom
airy carelessness. well. gentlemen, here
we are. Now let us see what can be done
about this matter"
Old Steele giared at Dale, and the 9th
ers looked at him in establishment. Dale
did not look like a man who had been