Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1894-08-02
A MILLIoNAlRE,s REvEMae.


poor peoples section of the NolSova
cemetery, in this city. There was no
priest TO rccite the last prayers. no
mourncrs to shed tear over the rela-
tive or friend who had passed away;
the grnvo-diggcrs lowered the wooden
box, hurriedly shovclcd in the earth,
stamped on the grave and all was over
A dog or a rabbit might have been thus
put out of sight. And yet all st. Peters.
burg is now talking about the lifcless
inmate Of that plain. frail coffin. For he
was once a well-lnown manufacturer, a
millionaire, power in the capital OF
Russia, who scattered, money TO the
right and to the left. doing many n
generous deed, never known or long
since forgotten and now there is none
so poor to do him reverence. His pow
erty and misery were of his own choos-
ing; ingratitude drove him to initiate
Timon Of Athens, and TO turn his back
upon mankind.
In the very height OF his prosperity
he fell in, and his recovery was de-
SPARED Of lie made a will in favor of
his wife, who was then no longer
young and of his children, whom he
adored. He survived the crisis of his
malhdy and was able 20 move about,
but his death was believed TO be only a
matter of months The doctors sent
him 10 a watering-place for the sum
mer season, not expecting him TO re-
turn alive, and his wife and children
shared the conviction of the physicians.
Appointing a young man. who was
bound TO him by the strongest ties of
gratitude, 20 be director of the works,
he left st. Petersburg alone
At first he became much worse, as
everybody expected then he rapidly
improved, in consequence OF which he
stayed on longer than had been his in
tention. At the end of six months he
returned home as hale and hearty as
ever. eagerto enjoy life with his family.
But he found no family there. His wife
had played the role OF Potiphar's spouse
in his absence, but the young director
proved no Joseph. The guilty pair lived
together openly, and succeeded inturn-
ing the children against their father.
At first the woman had expected his
death. and merely anticipated--as she
thought-the course OF action she would
in that case pursue. Then. finding she
had gone too far TO retreat, she simply
demanded large yearly allowance for
herself her paramour and the children.
Ii was a terrible blow for s., but
he acted with prompt decision, and,
without uttering a word Of complaint
or reproach, first OF all he dis
missed the director. Then, calling
the boolSSeepcr into his room,
he said Now, look here You
know what has taken place, but
you don't know how it has affected me.
The pair counted on my death and
were disappointed. They now reckon
on my riches and I wish them 20 be
disappointed still more. As long as
possess anything ! must make them an
allowance. Therefore. / want 10 pos
sess nothing. II squander my money
they will apply TO the courts TO have
me declared non compos mentis, and
trustees win be appointed TO look after
everything, and that, OF course, is not
what ] want Now listen. | am the
sole owner Of the works, etc, and | can
do what like with my own, and want
you to exert yourself 10 bring every.
thing 10 rack and ruin, so that sudden
ly the whole concern will burst and
leave nothing but dust behind Mind
now, nothing must be left. Enrich
yourself. let the cashiers enrich them
selves; don't forget the worlSmen. Do
just what you LIKE will second you
but let the end be as desire" And
the boolSzeeper went and carried ont
his employers instructions conscien.
tiously.
The manufacturer, seeing how things
were going, rubbed his hands with de-
light and paid his wife the covenantcd
allowance. At the end Of the two
years came the crash a complete
/ crash, the very fragments Of which
/ could not be gathered up by his family
Before the matter became public h,
called meeting OF his cashiers, book
keeper, foreman and his wife and chill
Z drcn. The latter were convinced that
[ his object was TO hand over the WORKS
10 them, for he had more than on,c
given them 10 understand ms muci,
| saying Take everything, ] want
| nothing now
lie opened the meeting by asking lis
cashiers for their reports. They te-
clared the works 20 bc 50 heavily in
debt that II would be criminal 10 KEEP
them going any longer on creIit.
Every well, go al once 10 the court, "
he said 20 his boofkeeper, "nnd report
my Insolvency His wife and children
protested loudly and Indignantly.
They would make things commercially
right again If he would 'nly
give them the works But he
was incxorable; the boolkNper
went, and six months ater
everything was sold for a song Then.
addressing his family, he said: Now
I time is come for us 70 separate My
I dear wife can seek comfort wit her
unofficial spouse; you, dearest chillren,
can take refuge under the WINS Of
your loving mother. As for m,---'
Here he called hi, servant. "Is very
thing ready?' Everything" Hand
them here The servant gave him a
pair OF TOP boots, an old overcuit and
a shabby hat. "Where is the Wallet?'
Here, MASTER "And the stah?'
"Here. please lie flung tho wallet
over his shoulders, took the stall IN his
hand made the sign OF the Gloss and
kissed the old servant.
Then, without a word Of farewell foT
his wife or children. he left tle house
forever. Many years have passed since
then, and through them all s. re.
mained faithful TO the role Of the Isl
lent berger" His wife died n misery
long ago. A short time ago tie former
millionaire himself found relt at last
in thr poor mans grave, unwept,
unhonorcd- nay, unnoticed. London
Telegraph.
The first yiI-tuesis 10 refrain the
tongue. lie approaches nsarest the
gods who knows how 70 be silent, even