Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-12-28
hARSION BROS FAILURE
A Story of New Years.

A Story of New Years.
For nearly fifty years the house of
Marston had been a commercial land
mark Away down in the heart of the
great business center, where there rolled
by day the ceaseless turmoil of traffic, it
lowered far above its neighbors.
As long as the ordinary resident could
remember, the house had existed In
the establishment there were many who
knew the Marston brothers more as
friends than as employers. There was
something indefnably friendly in the re-
Iations And the brothers, themselves
like two old friends, We're closing up their
accounts in life: like two old yoke oxen
basking in the fading sunlight of depart
ing day they were peacefully waiting the
end, happy in each others company.
Strange were their lives, still stranger
the history of their solitary careers. In
the lives of the old men even in that
beautiful repose there was the tlnge, the
flavor of an unWritten story. Theirs
was the peace of declining years that
only honesty OF purpose ana clear con
science can bring. Honorable were they
in their transactions with the world and
With each other.
The Marstons lived in section of a
great old rambling home that spread it
self over half block. 1t was house
with 4 past strangely like the inmates:
It was place where frivolity had
reigned with a high and loud hand. But
the string had snapped. the calm was on
now. Dark and deserted were its vast
chambers and deep. too, was the dust
that passing years had deposited on the
unused floors.
Time slipped by, bringing to the Mars
tons additional prosperity and deeper
wrinkles. Yet the tenor of their way
was never disturbed.
But one celebration broke the regular
course of the brothers lives. On the
last night of the year dusty bottles were
brought from the MarstOn cellar, merrily
the corlls popped, the viands smoked and
there was frivolity once more in the home
Of the Marstons. And when the glad
bells chimed out their greetings, the
glasses clinked, the lonely old men wished
each other joy for another twelve
months.
The long year had nearly ended and
the brothers were looking forward with
simple faith to the time of their annual
dinner. 1t had been a trying year. On
all sides banks were failing, strong houses
We're lettering and men of business were
Quaking. Still the house of Marston
stood firm. The old men conducted their
affairs with a Judgment and discretion;
hence the time Of reckoning brought no
fear.
The last day of the year had dawned.
Richard Marston was astir early. for
there were many things that drove him
from his warm bed on that cold morn
ing. Much was to be done. Accounts
were to be Strengthened and the final
business Of the year wound up. He had
hardly sat down at his desk when his
confidential man. Walters, entered.
Approaching his chief, he asked: ''AIay
[ have word with YOU. SIR"
Certainly said the old man
For 4 minute Walters stood in confu-
sion. He twisted his fingers, his lips
toto tell you that [ am a defaulter''
There was no change in the old mans
face. He only gazed steadily at the cow
ering man before him: Then he asked:
what is the amount?''
More than L can ever pay" answered
Walters. Again he spoke, this time al
most whispering his words, ''It is enough
to ruin YOU
Then the ole man trembled Into his
face there came q strange wilderness, the
sudden pang of a lifelong SORROW the real
ization of failure. Enough to ruin me;
impossible" he muttered.
But It is, persisted Walters. "And
what shall l do?'' be entreated. Il too,
am ruined
Five minutes later he staggered from
the Office. His face was CHASTITY, bit
there was the CLEAN Of hope in his eyes.
1HtIe WAS Il man OF mercy TO zeal with.
The door shut on Walters. Richard
Marston sat in his big chair with eyes
closed, thinking. The long and honorable
career of Marston Bros was to wind I'D
in failure And the New Years dinner
was but few hours off.
Richard determined to keep the matter
from his brother until after the annual
festival. Hurriedly be despatched a note
calculated to keep him at home.
With heavy heart Richard returned to
the lonely cid house that night, the last
night OF the year, the last day of the
house Of Marston.
But he was happy to note the cheerful
demeanor of his brother. He was sure
that he had not learned the bitter news.
The brothers dressed themselves with
scrupulous care. Richard entered the
dining room with a throbbing heart, but
calm face. Philip, too, was strangely
silent. They sat down at the round table
where they had dined all these long
years.
Within the long room all was cheer
full. The bustling fire t1ared up and its
flashes went dancing about the walls,
played in the dark corners and tripped up
and down on the ceiling. The polished
oak shOne like mirrors, the silver candle
sticks twinkled on the sideboard.
Philip" said Richard, 1--WE have
eaten many dinners on New Years eve,
haven't we?'
I'VE have. Richard
Then no one spoke. There came
dead calm. Memory was rising out of
the past and could not be suppressed
Richards was of the future, Philips of
the past. In each there was sigh and
4 tear.
Richard" spoke Philip. '''only once in
or lives have we differed" He looked
quickly up, but his brother was gazing
into the fire. do you recall it,"
Then he whispered the word "Kathe-
rine'
Il remember, BROTHER
There was a pause. The fire danced
in the CRATE. The little clock licked
noisily on the mantel. Neither of the
brothers spoke, for in the thoughts of
both the past was quickly crowdng.
New Years eve it was, decades ago
Myriads of lights We're glittering in the
long ballroom. Whirling figures were
mingled in the dances, soft words were
being whispered, from the balconies
came the strains of music the delicious
perfume of flowers pervaded the air.
Katherine was there, and she was the