Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-08-15

Aa(
Mr. Merton ,cas met bp hts trtfs's gentle
"home tpclc0ms."
"Give yourself no uneasiness, my dear
father, on our account. We should be
unworthy Of our parents could we not
meet adversity df labor and simpler
style Of living be adversity) without COM
plant. You have not taught us to look
upon wealth as the only source Of true
happiness"
1--WE certainly have endesvored to give
you nobler ideas, and you, my son, are
sufficiently mature to view life as q
school for hiyh and lofty aspiration and
pure and nobler principles, but feel
much solicitude for the younger mem.
bers Of our family"
"Never fear, Edward; you have
strong band around you that will not
fail in the hour Of trial. Let us know.
II you please, the history of this days
deliberations, for the moro clearly wea all
understand the moro readily will we be
able to fix upon some plan for our future
oyurse."
"It has been o hard struggle to con-
vince my partners that we had no alter
native but to close the concern II we
would save our honor. They could not
but understand that an attempt to con-
tinue this hopeless struggle would only
sink us deeper. But, naturally, they
shrank from public acknowledgment
of failure, and he whose recklessness and
insane speculation has wrought this ruin
finds It very bitter to have 1t manifesto to
the world that we by having placed en-
tire confidence In his integrity have
wrecked ourselves"
"You refer to Le Barron, father. do
you noty'
eyes. In truth, think the sin must
rest entirely on him. He has been long
in charge Of the financial department.
Indeed, for two years he has had the en-
tire supervision Of home business, Free
man acting under his directions, while ],
as you well know, have been In charge
of our foreign affairs during that period.
needed the change after Is years close
application at home, and also greatly de-
sired to consummate our long cherished
plan Of giving you all the advantage OF
foreign travel, when your mother and
myself could share part Of the pleasure
with you. II was an unwise arrange
ment, as the results now prove. but ]
did not dream till since your return by
what cruel temptations Le Barron was
surrounded. You know, dear Lucy, his
wife's extravagant tendencies, but can
not even imagine how fearfully she has
involved her husband by their gratifica-
ton. His natural fondness for wild
speculation has always been his beset.
ting sin. In our business everything Of
the kind has been peremptorily forbid
den.
"After Le Darron's connection with Us,
knowing Of this weakness In his charac-
ter, watched him very closely. It was
the only point where had the slightest
misgiving. but during the IS years we
have been together ! have never until
now detected the least deviation from
tho strictest line Of honesty. Misguided.
miserable man. but he was fearfully
tempted. The net woven by his wife's
selfish love Of dress and fashion was gath
ering closer and closer around him; GER
tain destruction stared him In the face;
grand speculation was insidiously prof
fered him; no yielded to the infatuation;
tho bubble burst, and pecuniarily we
must all 20 down together"
"But, my dear father, why should you
suffer for his wrongdoing, 20 contrary to
the well understood regulations OF the
frmy'
because. my son, he was the accred.
tied manager Of the business In my abb
sence. BY long and vexatious legal
process and by hard measures might
possibly secure ourselves from any great
change. But II would be all uncertain,
and cannot for many reasons feel this
to be the better way, certainly not the
kindest ana most noble. PoQ Le Bar.
ron, no has all that he can ben now. ]
greatly fear all the disgrace and odium
must In the end rest with him. Freeman
has been careless and blundered, but Is
not otherwise culpable. I think"
"when did you first apprehend any
danger, fatherY'
"Only short time before we left Eu.
rope I received o friendly intimation
that while tho present cloud overshadow-
cd our country generally II might DO sd-
visable for mo to return and resume the
charge Of the business ct home. Twas
not at first greatly disturbed. although
had for some time felt tliat Ls Barron
was not keeping me - fully posted with
regard to homo Affairs ~ was desirable.
And 20 I had admonished him several
times, and in my last letter had spoken
rather severely. He ct hrst promised
moro punctuality. but IN his last he az
cused his seeming negligence on the plea
that business had been for some time %
unusually brisk and prosperous It LETT
him but little leisure TO communicates
with me.
IniD knew cOulu uos W CosA0Oss ssso
fearing he had dared 70 venture on some
Wild scheme In my absence I became 81
riously alarmed. and - you well know
recalled you abruptly from your pleasant
travels and hastened homo, giving no ex-
PLANTATION for this sudden change In our
plans 10 any one except your mother.
For the last three months ] have bsen 90
cupisd In making most rigid investiga-
ton, and now you have The resulta"
"How has IL Barron carried himself
during your examinations, which hsmust
know would end IN the disccvSzy of his
fssudulsnt oourssr
wwisA hardiAosl GA iadiassns