Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-10-10

time Farms, lands, houses. were sold
for what they would fetch - at half
their value. quarter of their value
All the money out at mortgage had
been called in: all the money received
at the quay and the counting house
had been sent to his lordships attor-
neys. In one short twclvemonth the
destruction bad been such that in June
there was actually nothing left-noth
/ ing ont of that princely fortune except
the fleet of ships and the general bust
ness.
1t was on the 10Th Of June remem-
Der the date we'll and shall always re-
member it. The Lady of Lynn had ar
rived two days before and we were
noored off the quay. At O'Clock or
thercabout one of the stable boys
from the house came aboard bringing
message for me. A lady lodging at
the Crown desired to see me immedl-
atcly. The lady had arrived In the
evening in post chaise, having with
her maid. She had given no name,
but in the morning had asked If my
ship was in port, and. on learning that
It was. she desired that boy from the
stables might carry this message to
me.
landed at our own quay. ! say our
own. but it was no longer ours-that
is, Molly's quay. At the door OF the
counting house stood the manager in
conversation with the captain of one Of
our ships. He beckoned me to speak
with him. When he had finished his
discourse with the captain, he turned
TO me.
Mr. Pentecrosse." he said the worst
has now begun. Tell Captain Crowle.
i should choke If ! had to tell him.
Alas. poor man! 1t seems as n the
work of his life was ruined and de-
stroyed." SO saying, he handed me a
letter to read. 1t was from my lord s
attorneys. Mcssrs. Bisic & Son. II
suppose" said the manager. that they
are really acting for his lordship.
Their power of attorney cannot be de-
MED, can it? Mr.. Rcdman, our attor-
ney, says that there is nothing for it
but obedience"
The letter was short:
We have noted your information conveyed in
the last schedule, You are now instructed to pro-
coed with the sale OF one of the ships. Let her
be sold az sho stands on arriving In port with so
much OF the cargo as belongs to your house. My
lord is urgently pressed for money ana begs that
there may be delay Meantime send a draft by
She usual channel for moneys in hand. Your ODE.
sient servants Blsc Son, Attorneys
"A draft for moneys in hand" cried
the manager. "There are no moneys
In hand. And | have to sell without
delay tall ship, cargo and all as She
stands. Without delay Who is to
buy that ship-without delay"
returned him the letter and shook
my head. My ship perhaps was the
one TO he sold. She was the latest ar
rival. She was filed with wine. The
cargo belonged altogether to the house
So | should be turned adrift when just
within hail, so to speak, of becoming a
captain. could say nothing in conso-
lation or in hope. | walked away, my
heart "a heavy as lead. Never before
had felt the true meaning Of this ruin
and waste. All around me the noble
edifce built by Molly's grandfather
and her father and continued by her
guardian had been pulled down bit by
Bit
But one felt the loss of farm or
n house very little. 1t was not until
the ships, too, were threat ened that the
full enolm.ty Of the thing, the incredi
bic wickedacNs of the consplrators, was
borne in upon my mind. 1t threatened
to ruin me, you see, as well as Molly.
| Therefore | walked across the mar
Aet place to the Crown inn more gloomy
Amy mind than can 0sscykbe. Huh