The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1906-01-06
THE Last DAy OF GRACE.

of starting in business at Liverpool,
confidently expecting before it fell
due. to receive from a party indebted
to himself an amount more than suffl-
cient to meet it.
A few days before the maturity OF
this note he received letter contain
ing, in place of the expected remit
tance from his debtor, detailed ex-
planation of the writer's embarrass-
ments, coupled with an earnest re-
quest for further indulgence. His
vexation was extreme.
The young merchant disliked ex-
ceedingly to ask a renewal of his
promissory note. The indorser was
a gentleman to whom he had borne
aletter of introduction on first COM
ing to Liverpool, and who had not
only aided him with advice, but as
we have seen in a more substantial
manner.
The use of this gentleman's name
it is true had been proposed by him
self, but this made William Barton
feel all the more delicacy in asking
the continuance of favor in the first
instance unsolicited.
However, there was no help for it
and seeing that was the case, it was
a very false feeling that induced our
young friend to postpone till the last
moment, simply because it was disa-
greeable, what he knew to be inevi-
table. 1t was not till the morning of
the day of grace that he presented
himself to Mr.. Binckley's Office to
ask renewal of that gentleman in
dorsement.
''Is Mr.. Binckly in?" he inquired,
somewhat nervously.
s'No, sir, the clerk answered 'he
sailed for Nsw-Yorl yesterday"
The-descent of thunderbolt-eould-
dot more completely have stunned
William Barton than did, fer the mo.
ment, this response.
Recovering himself as quickly as
possible he hurried on in very des-
peration, one after another, to the
few friends to whom he felt at liberty
to appeal in his extremity. 1t was
astonishing what good excuses they
all had. The reluctant wedding guests
in the parable were not more fertile
in that line. One had bound himself
to his co-partners, under no circum-
stances to become indorser or surety;
another had given a similar promise
to his wife, while third had taken a
Bible oath to the like effect, and he
was very conscientious man.
Trying to borrow, poor Barton
found if possible, still worse. A sud-
den stringency seemed to have seized
the money market. Men who would
have considered the mildest intima-
ton of the kind from another, an ac
tionable slander, had no hesitation in
con6dentially admitting how hard up
they were. They were sorry-very
sorry. Nothing could give them more
pleasure than to afford the requested
accommodation; but really, it was
out of the question-just now. A
little later it might be different.
Hoped it would. Couldn't he call
again? 1t was like asking starving
man to dinner-Dext week
Half distracted Barton returned to
his place of business, and entering
his private Office, shut the door. Ruin
stared him in the face. The protest
of his first bill would be death blow
to his credit, upon which he was
greatly dependent. But, worst ofall,
the father of her to whom he was
heart and soul devoted, would never
consent to the union of his daughter
to one whose name was tainted with
mercantile dishonor.
The thought was maddening. For
moment his mind adverted to sui
eide. The door of escape was easily
accessible. A loaded pistol lay in a
drawer of his desk. His name, it is
true, would not thereby be retrieved /;
but there isa sort of dignity in death ;
it can at least afford protection against
contempt.
His hand had already grasped the
weapon, when it was arrested by an
other thought. Why not himself in
dorse the name of Edward Binckley's
on the renewal note, which he had
prepared before calling at that gentle
mans Office and still had in his pos
session? He was an expert penman,
and had for a guide specimen of
Mr.. Binckley's signature to friendly
note received some time before. With
such an Endorsement he would have
no difficulty in effecting the proposed
renewal. True, the act contemplated
was forgery; but within the addi-
tional time he would probably be able
to take up the note, in which event
no one would be the wiser, and his
reputation would be saved. If things
went adversely the other remedy was
within reach, and it would be only
one crime the more.
He laid down the pistol and after a
brief search succeeded in finding the
billet which bore Mr.. Binckley's sig-
nature which, for some moments, he
closely scrutinized. Then taking from
his pocket the unindorsed note, he
laid it on its face and took up the pen.
His hand trembled, and he was com
pelled to wait, for the work he was
about required steadiness.
How precious was that moment ol
| delay 1t was then that voice,