The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-12-29
CHAPTER ".

man" to II most painful contrast.
A more wretched person can hardly
be imagined than LIE Barron as with
bowed head and folded arms he passed
from the store and bent his steps home
ward. All, what q home awaited him,
Well he knew how the tidings he must
communicate would be received by his
family.
Whichever way he turned despair and
misery stared him in the face, and his
own conscience rose from its long slum-
bers. and now storm accuser set his
sins i'll order before him. 1t carried him
back to his youthful days and traced
the beginnings of the dark tempest that
now RACED so fercely around him,
threatening utter destruction. 1t whis-
percd of the father, too early lost, whose
whole life had exemplified the true prin-
ciples of integrity he so earnestly urged
upon Ms son; of the tender mother,
whose latest breath bade him follow in
his fathers footsteps aud trust in his
fathers God. Row it recalls the fas-
cinations of the gay young beauty
whose heart could only be bought by
wealth and foolish splendor, not given
in gcncrous love. Then came trooping
before his fevercd vision the tompta-
tions to rash speculations, far overroach-
ing honesty, to which he had yielded,
and which. most unfortunately, proved
so successful as to place him early
among wealthy men ana enabled him
to secure the long coveted bride.
All, how soon did he wake from his
IL ,,f 10
hil heari had no desired turn to bitter
ashes. this sad disappointment in the
home lie had 10 fondly pictured and the
little satisfaction found in tho wealth
and high position gained b. scarcely
honest means recalled his parents efforts
to incnlcate true principles, which, had
they been adopted, might even then
lave shielded him from the sorrows, al
ready foroshadowcd, in the early period
OF his middle life. When at last Mr..
Newton accepted him as partner, how
firmly did he vow 10 his conscience never
again to indulge in the dangerous expert
nrnt of ulsclupulous speculation! Tho
strict prohibitions against any such at
teHpts, which were part Of The rules
oG Nh Newtolts business. hel,i ,ied 10 Goa
firm linn IN these wise resolutions. Once
secure Of the partner hip, lie most anx-
iousiy strovc 10 conceal from Mr.. New
ton sulue of the business transactions uf
his earlier life, woll assured if once
known his continuance in his present
position would 10 Of very short dura-
tion.
Fer years hc he'd stood wcll with the
colnmunity. a law whiFpera Of his fr-
NOR haste 10 be rich" reached Nr.
Newton, hat af'rra strict yet quiet in
vuatgntion Ee found no cau7a to believe
tha Ttas.ers or withdraw lis Confidence,
and lie reports gradually died away.
Meantime his home was act the bright
and refreshing spot his youthful f,ucy
had pictured. lie Barron was not natu-
rally Il bad hearted man, His love for
his wife had bctu almost ilolatrous. lie
fancied her perfection, but few short
months dispellcd the Illusion, ana for
many years he had been the slave Of her
whims and caprices.
Mrs. lie Barron was early educated to
feed that wealth and high social position
should le her life's ambition. Her lar-
ents were poor, but very proud, and
y I.
ron, wooed and won their daughter their
joy was unbounled.
Whose house so grand? Whose car
riagc. with it, sup. rb horses and livcried
outriders, made such daily sensation.
Whose parti 5, that WED With the tone Of
the old world, were SO much the style as
their daughters. Mrs Le Barrony"
Was not this sufficient tosatisfy par
ents widest ambition: Why should
they he troubled or dissatisfied if their
cb!ld's private life was one of strife and
peevish eomplaining--if misrule and un-
governed passion nude perpetual di5cord
between tho inmates OF that elegant
mansion?
Such Nrre the parents of Mrs. lie Bar-
ron, aud such the sentiments they lad
exhibited and taught her to act upon
from her childhood. Truly they lad
"sown the wind" and the terrible har-
vest was rirnsmg fast.
Before Mrs. lie Barrons insane ex-
travaganee her husbands wealth melted
like frost before the sun. He saw the
riches for which he had forsukeu his
fathers God taking to themselves
wings" and the position among his broth
er merchants, whose foundations he had
laid in sand, was already crumbling
away and tottering to It's fall. Sleep!ess
nights and days Of dread We're silvering
his hair and bowling the tall form that
once lowered so erect above his fellows.
He was premature old man.
When Mr. Newton went abroad, lie
Barrens anxieties We're almost toe
wcighty for him to preserve tho sem
blance of self control. ltwas said lie Bar
ron Yves eoniining himself too closely to
his business and Mr.. Newton with his
usual unselfshness proposed that he
should remain at home and that the in
valid should have the advantage of the
change. All, little could Mr.. Newton i'm
agine tho shock this kind proposition
gave him. The miserable man knew that
to leave then would be swift destruc-
ton, revealing at once the fearful posi-
ton of his own affairs.
But still able to preserve an outward
calm he courteously declined the prof
fered relaxation on the plea Of great dis
taste for travelling, and with an earnest
assurance that his health was firmer than
his appearance indicated he smilingly
bade his friend farewell.
LIE Barron struggled through the first
year of his friends absence, knowing
surely that this absence and the unsus-
picious nature of the junior partner
alone saved him from speedy exposure
In this state tho grand temptation found
him. Goaded to madness he Joined hands
with the tempter and fell gaining for
himself ono more short respite from
clamorous creditors by clever forgery
of Mr.. Newton's name. And now he
goes to tell this fatal story to those whose
sins have united to drag him down to ir-
retrieYabla destruction. Bankrupt Dis
honoreil A forgerl Fugitive from JUS
tice or only shielded by him whom he
has peouniarily ruined, yet bearing in his
own heart the punishment of his crimes,
how can he endure the terrible meeting
with those harsh spirits at homer
Who would willingly follow him as be