St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-12-20
80 great and swift nao peen the en-

until the facts In regard 10 MT. Ster-
ling's buCiness affairs were finally dis
closed
Then it was learned that for some
time he had been facing financial ruin
owing to certain speculations that had
in months time swept his supposed
wealth into complete destruction. With
the cunning and desperation Of a man
who battles for his very life when he
saw his money. which was all the life
he ever valued, slipping from him he
had put off the evil day to the last mo-
ment. Sunday afternoon, however, he
had received news that proved to him
beyond a doubt the fact of his utter
ruin The very house that he called his,
the chairs in which he sat, his carriage,
the dishes from which he ate, had all
been bought by money for which he
himself had never really done an honest
stroke Of pure labor
1t had all rested on a tissue of deceit
and speculation that had no foundation
in real values He knew the fact better
than any one else, but he had hoped,
with the hope that such men always
have, that the same methods that
brought him the money would also pre-
vent its loss. He had been deceived in
this as many others have been. AS
soon as the truth that he was practical
ly beggar had dawned upon him he
saw no escape from suicide. 1t was the
irresistible result Of such a life as he
had lived He had made money his god.
AS soon as that god had gone out of his
little world there was nothing more to
worship, and when mans object of
worship is gone he has no more to live
for. Thus died the great millionaire,
Charles R. Sterling, and verify, he died
as the fool dieth, for what is the gain
or the loss of money compared with the
unsearchable riches of eternal life, which
are far beyond the reach of worldly
speculation, loss or change?
Mrs Sterling's death was the result
of shock. She had not been taken into
her husband s confidence for years, but
she knew that the source of his wealth
was precarious. Her life for several
years had been a death in life. The
Rolfes always gave the impression that
they could endure more disaster I'M
moved than any one else, Mrs. Sterling
illustrated the old family tradition
when she was carried into the room
where her husband lay, but the feeble
tenement could not hold the spirit, and
it gave up the ghost, torn and weakened
by long years of suffering and disap-
pointment
The effect of this triple blow, the
death of father and mother and the loss
of property, was instantly apparent in
the sisters. The horror of events stupe-
fed Rose for weeks. She lay unmoved
by sympathy or any effort to rally. She
did not seem yet to realize that the
money which had been so large part
of her very existence was gone. Even
when she was told that she and Felicia
must leave the house and be dependent
upon relatives and friends she did not
seem to understand what it meant
Felicia, however, was fully conscious
of the facts. She knew just what had
happened and why. She was talking
over her future plans with her cousin
Rachel few days after the funerals.
Mrs. Winslow and Rachel had left Ray
mond and come to Chicago at once as
soon as the terrible news had reached
them, and with other friends of the
family they were planning for the flu
ture Of Rose and Felicia
Felicia, you and Rose must come tt
Raymond with rs. That is settled
Mother will not hear of any other plar
at present, Rachel had said, while hel
beautiful face glowed with love for hel
cousin, love that had deepened day
by day and was intensified by tn,
knowledge that they both belonged t,
the new discipleship.
"Unless could find something to d.
here, answered Felicia She locke,
wistfully at Rachel. and Rachel sal,
gently;
"What could you do dear2"
Nothing. was never taught to d
, anything except little music, and
, do not know enough about it to teac
} it or earn my living at it. have learne
to cook little, Felicia answered. wit
a slight smile
''Then you can cook for us, Mothe
is always having trouble with her kitch
en-, said Rachel, understanding we
J enough that Felicia was thinking of tn
fact that she was now dependent fo
her very food and shelter upon the kind
ness of family friends
, 1t is true, the girls received littl
something ont of the wreck of their "a
! Tiers fortune, but with n Spectator
e mad folly he had managed to involv
} both his wife's and his children POI
1 tions in the common ruin
. Can |? Can II" Felicia replied t
= Rachel's proposition, as if it were to b
considered seriously 81 am ready to d
a anything honorable to make my livin
t and that of Rose Poor Rose She wi
I never be able to get over the shock {
our trouble"
1--WE will arrange the details whe
we get to Raymond, " Rachel said, smi
ing through her tears at Felicia's cage
. willingness to care for herself,
So in a few weeks Rose and Felici
, found themselves part of the Winslo
family in Raymond. 1t was "A bitter e!
II A a.