Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-07-31

talk was about, petroleum, until II
might have seemed that boring for
oil up In Canada was Greenhill's lead
ing home industry.
1t must be nearly forty years now
since the brief period of Mr.. Rosen.
crafts activities in Greenhill. but
that suaye and engaging gentleman
and the enterprise that he brought
to the attention of many substantial
J, citizens are even yet not wholly for.
gotten.
Late in the autumn Daniel Lang
was drawn on the. jury" and con.
sequently was absent from home fof
some days.
On the day that he was expected
to return. Rosetta, the fourteen-year-
old daughter OF the house. came from
an errand to the village with start
ling news.
20 mother" she exclaimed, as she
rushed into the house. what do you
think? Squire Marks and Deacon
Locke got back from Canada yester.
day. They had been up there to
look after those oil-weHs, and II
seems they didn't find the least sign
Of oil. They couldn't find Mr.. Rosen.
craft, either, and now they say that
the shares aren't worth the paper they
are printed on. guess everybody is
pretty much stirred up about it. They
say Mr.. Evans takes 1t dreadfully
hard and talks about going to the
/ poorhouse."
Il guess he won't go to the poor.
house at present." said Mrs. Lang,
remembering a certain note she had
signed. She had grown very pale
as she listened to the news, but she
made no other comment.
4 Mother" asked Rosetta, present
ly, how much money has father
lost?"
He hasn't lost anything to speak
Of" was the reply. II want you to
remember that when you are away
from home" added Mrs. Lang, signif.
cantly.
I A little later she said, with an at
tempt at cheerfulness, Wouldn't you
like to spend the rest Of the day with
your cousin Addie? You haven't been
there for some time. You may stay
to supper IL Aunt Emma invites you
The girl was glad enough to escape
from what she felt to be an atmos-
phere OF trouble, and Mrs. Lang was
left alone with her thoughts to await
the coming of her husband, whom
she expected on the stage at five
O'Clock.
In spite Of her abstraction, she
went about her preparations for the
5eyening meal with more than usual
care; and by five o'clock the sup
portable, in its company dress OF
snuw-white cloth, china tea-set and
highly polished steel knives and forks,
/ made brave display of frosted cake,
custards, ounce preserves and other
more substantial dishes. while from
the oven stole forth the aroma Of
"cream-of-tartar biscuits" almost
! ready to take their place at the
| feast
| The sound of wheels was heard,
followed by the "Whoa!" of the stage
driver; and peering through the win
dow. Mrs. Lang saw her husband
walking up the path, carpet-bag In
hand. She met him at the door. and
/, one glance at his face convinced her
that he had heard the news.
why. how. pale you are!' she
cried, invoiln tafily:. -. g s'sf5'os
Yes said he. I'm completely
broke up. This has been too much
for me. I can hardly hold up my
| head"
Now was the time for Mrs Lang's
II told You so," but as she looked at
his taggard face the words. even If
they were in her mind, died on her
/, tongue.
20 Daniel she implored, don't
take on about it! Keep up your
courage, and we'll weather 1T yet"
"oh, yes," said he, a little more
cheerfully. presume I'll be all right
by morning. You see, the jury could
| not agree on that last case, and they
kept US out all night, and 1 never
! could stand being broken of my rest "
Why, Daniel. haven't you heard
what has happened?' asked Maria.
in surprise. Then, in answer to his
questioning look, she rapidly told the
tale OF the bursting OF Greenhilrs
petroleum bubble
But don't you be downhearted,' .
she said. Eve are still Young and
have our health, and we'll pay on
that mortgage, every cent. Rosetta
is old enough now to help. And Dan
iel," she hurried on. II don't blame
you one bit. Smarter men than you
got caught. And / don't forget that
you went into this mostly for my
/ sake and Rosetta's."
Daniel had listened at first in a
dazed silence, but now smile slow
ly broke over his face, and he was
moved to speak "It is kind of tough
for those that were In 1t. no mistake.
but guess it doesn't concern me
personally very much"
what do you mean?n cried his
wife. in amazement. Tell me, did
You realty nave sense enough TO Sell
out?"
Il had sense enough not to buy In;
that Is, If you can call it my sense. !"
he replied, modestly. Fact is, you
were so set against 1t THAT gave 1t
up at the last minute. l was on my
way to Mr.. Evans for the money
when my courage finally failed me,
and tore up the note and mortgage
and went and told Rosencraft that !
had backed out
Mrs. Lang drew long breath. "For
goodness sake Daniel. why didn't you
tell me?"
well, Maria" said he, hesitating-
~, that was the mean part of 1t, and
Tn sorry enough now, But 1t was
this way. still had just about as
much faith in those shares as ever,
and l says to myself, She has always
been coming at me with her II told
-yol so.n and now I'll get even with