Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-05-31

Continued.

Mr.. Boxall shakes his head slowly.
His office is in Criticized Friars
and Mincing Lane; but he had a great
many places of business. Your father
was an admirable man of business,
Miss Dalton" and something like a
tear crept into the pale blue eyes.
May signs.
AS you were so close a friend to
my father. perhaps you will forgive
me for asking your advice. What
shall l 10? + I" and her lips
culver. Il do not know what to do
it is a sudden and--and terrible"
YES" he says, under his breath
1T is sudden. l ar, afraid there is
not much to be done. l have taken
the liberty to send for Mr.. Blake, AMI
asked Mr.. Dalton's solicitor in Lon
con to run down by an early train"
How did you know" asked May,
wondering, family.
He colors and his eyes shift.
THAT is--there was an important
business to be done"
May looks at him, her great. sor-
rowful eyes sinking into the poor
mans heart.
Mr. Boxall," she says, "a dread
full fear ha, been growing within me
hat my father was III some trouble.
! never saw him look like he did to-
night. He left me this morning as
well AMI cheerful as usual. Was there
some trouble?"
looks at her
There was some trouble, Miss Dali
tom he says; men in business al
ways have trouble"
May holds up her hand and stops
him.
There was some great, heavy
trouble, she says. sorrowfully Il
can see it by your manner Mr. Boxall,
you need not fear 10 tell me-you
must not think that | cannot bear it.
viii you tell me the truth-the whole
plain truth? I shall be quite calm"
There is something piteous and
NEST moving in the absolute calm and
composure of the sweet voice, the
straightforward appeal of the large,
fearless eyes.
The little man of business. who had
always fiattered himself that he had
no heart, and that nothing could
trouble him, turns his head and then
blows his nose to stop the tears COM
ing into his eyes.
Miss Dalton" he says, there was
trCuble-great trouble. II IN afraid
that there isn't much good attempting
to keep it from you. If [ didn't tell
yoa, there are plenty that would soon
DO so. Miss Dalton, we-your father.
! mean-have had very heavy losses
very heavy"
Losses says May; but my
father was a rich man"
Yes, he was a very Itch man"
says Mr.. BoXall, with an emphasis on
the word was" But II ;nss latter
ly were going bad with him-with
most of us in the city for some time
ast-and-today-ye yesterday" he
glances at the window, through which
the dawn is creeping, yesterday we
met with a sudden fall in the market.
I'm afraid l could not make myself
clear"
Go on says May, her eyes fixed
on his face
A sudden and most unexpected fall
that took us by complete surprise: not
all of us, though" he says, with a
kind of sad dignity and self-defense.
Il saw it cOming-I felt IT, in ,he air.
50 to speak. and | advised, strongly
advised, Mr., Dalton to sell out. But
he was man who always relied on
his own judgment, and he thought
was wrong. Not only that, but he was
particularly anxious to clear large
which he would have done if things
had gone on as he expected. / don't
know why 1t was" Mr.. BoAaR goes on
anxious about making great sums of
musingly, "but Mr.. Dalton was more
rioney lately than ever he was in the
Early days. I've been With him since
he began business, 1t was by my ad
wee that he lought the opium which
made his fortune, miss
May inclinee her head
''If he had but taken your advice
now. Mr. Boxall," she says, with a |
sigh. "But-but surely the loss did
not make my father ill?"
Hr. BoXall looks at her. 1t is hard, |
cruei work to have to tell her the
truth, the bitter truth so plainly.
1T would not have been Of so much
consequence six months ago" he says, !
though heavy enough loss at any
time; but-but your father has been
rather reckless Iately-well, not reck- |
less, but too eager. l never under
stood it thoroughly. He was rich
enough, in al conscience, but he
wasn't satisfied; and he said to me
one day, Miss Dalton, want to be the
richest man in the county, Boxall!
And he would have been. miss, if this
had come out right-the richest man
in the county,"
And now?" says May, YEARLY.
And now he has died the poorest"
Is the solemn response.
1t is ont at last The truth. the bit |
tec truth is Out in all its naked ugli- |
ness. The great, gorgeous mansion, !
with its crimson and gold, has fallen |
to the dust his thousands have taken |
unto themselves wings and flown, not |
slowly, but swiftly. in a few weeks; |
and he lies upstairs. in the gaudy. |
luxurious bed-chamber, with not |
enough to bury him