The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1893-08-11


with you. 1t was an unwise arrange
ment, as the results now prove, but
did not dream till since your return by
what cruel temptations LIE Barron was
surrounded. You know, dear Lucy, his
wife's extravagant tendencies, but cam
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 LIE Barrons connection with us,
knowing of this weakness in his charac-
ter, watched him very closely. 1t was
the. only point where had the slightest
mlsgiving, but during the IS years we
have been together have never until
now detected the least deviation from
the 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; he yielded to the infatuation;
the bubble burst, and pecuniariIy we
must all go down together"
"But, my dear father, why should you
suffer for his wrongdoing, so contrary to
the well understood regulations of the
firm?"
Because, my son, he was the accred-
tied manager of the business in my alb
sence. By long and vexatious legal
process and by hard measures I might
possibly secure ourselves from any great
change. But it would be all uncertain,
and cannot for many reasons feel this
to be the better way, certainly not the
kindest and most noble. Poor LIE Bar
ron. he has all that he can bear now. !
greatly fear all the disgrace and odium
must in the end rest with him. Freeman
has been careless and Numbered, but Is
not otherwise culpable, think"
"When did you first apprehend any
danger, fatherT
"Only short time before we left Eu-
rope I received friendly intimation
that while the present cloud overshadow-
ed our country generally it might be adj
visable for me to return and resume the
charge Of the business at home. was
not at first greatly disturbed, although
I had for some time felt that LIE Barron
was not keeping me as fully posted with
regard to home affairs as was desirable.
And so l had admonished him several
times, and in my last letter had spoken
rather severely. He at first promised
more punctuality, but in his last he ex-
cused his seeming negligence on the plea
that business had been for some time so
unusually brisk and prosperous it left
him but little leisure to communicate
with me.
"This knew could not be correct, and
fearing he had dared to venture on some
wild scheme in my absence became &C.
riously alarmed, and as you well know
recalled you abruptly from your pleasant
travels and fastened home, giving no ex-
PLANTATION for this sudden change in our
plans to any one except your mother.
For the last three months have been oc-
cupied in making most rigid investiga-
ton, and now you have the results"
"How has LIE Barron carried himself
during your examinations. which he must
know would end in the discovery of his
fraudulent course?"
with q hardihood and indifference
that have been very painful to me. But
within the last week, as his duplicity be-
came more fully revealed, he has broken
down completely"
''Now that you know ALL" said Mrs.
Newton, "surely he has not the effrontery
to urge longer delay in closing the bust
ness"
"Ahl He is half frantic. All his
hopes and courage are crushed, and he
breads the revelations which must be
made to his family more than death or
dishonor."
'Has his wife thus far received no in
timation Of the storm that is gathering
about herr"
''Some, I imagine. But before this the
wretched woman must have been told
the whole. When he became satisfied
that the revelation could no longer be
delayed, took the responsibility Of max
ing our determination public and urged
him to hasten to Roseville before the
tidings could reach his family through
general gossip, and before this the tale is
told. IF Mrs. LIE Barron has any love or
prudence left, she must prove it now, for
she cannot look upon her husband with
out realizing that his life and reason are
both in danger"
"There is little hope for him if his
safety depend at all upon his wife's gen
tleneSe or prudence" said George. ''She
loves 'othing but her own self. You
woulI ne shocked could you know how
shamefully rcr family have always been
neglected. a. tormented whenever their
wishes inter iered at all with her selfish
qualification"
why, Georgei l thought she loved
her children passionately and INDUCED
them most injudiciously. But for years
have known very little Of them"
You know, dear mother, your chill
dren are often thrown into their society,
and etiquette has made an occasional call
necessary. although the atmosphere has
been very distasteful to us, and thus we
have of necessity known more Of them
than you could. Oh, mother, It just oc-
ours to me that on returning from our