Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-03-07

For they had abided in the depths and
had not seen the star of hope shining
close above them, whereas / had been
hurled from the battlements of heav-
en- in the twinkling of an eye Dead
ened of senses and seeing but vague
ly, l went stumbling towards my
brokers' Office, my only hope being
that I would awake and find that I
had dreamed a nightmare
His doors were locked. Already a
Tabble stood before them vainly clam
oring for admittance, and realizing
the uselessness of remaining here, I
rushed down the stairs and towards
the floor of the exchange. The shrek
ing uproar of the pit was unintelligible
to me, but in the midst of it with his
collar torn from his neck and his coat
split down the back was my agent,
still dancing about iDsanely with
wild thrusts of his fingers into the
air. The frenzy upon his face left me
no vescige of hope, and I turned away
with my brain spinning Four steps
further and almost ran into the arms
Of Richard Mackay.
His teeth showed beneath his
heavy mustaches; his eyes burned and
his face was stamped with the vim
dictiyeness that had brought this in
ferno about. He saw me at once and
a brutal laugh of satisfaction burst
from between the half-sealed lips
which my fist had split u did it
partly for your benefit, if that is any
satisfaction to you. But ! am not
through with you even yet, puppy"
he said in my ears. as he passed. Too
broken of spirit to resent the insult
other than by look l passed him in
silence.
How ! got through that terrible af-
ternoon l am still uncertain, except
in vague way. I dared not keep my
luncheon engagement with Mrs. Dace
and tell her all; but instead kept
mumbling to myself that I would call
her up that evening when l had a
chance to think over what l should
say.
There is always a chance. though
it be only one in a million, that some
thing will be saved out of a wreck:
and come what might matters could
not possibly be more hopeless at
nightfall than they were now. And
perhaps by then I could think of some
| thing to retrieve myself temporarily;
something which would eventually
start me once more along the prim-
rose way. Scarcely conscious of what
| was doing l wandered to Bruce's Of
fee. He was not there, but his clerk
told me that my cousin for some rea-
son had closed out all his holdings
the day before at a handsome profit
and had announced himself as through
with speculation. The bitterness of
the contrast between him and myself
brought the tears to my eyes. Should
he carry out this resolve and stick to
his commissions, as I had little doubt
that he would under CIare's persua-
sions and the weight of his promise,
his happiness was in his own keeping.
He had undoubtedly again gained a
modest competence, had a good bust
ness and the love of a sweetIy beauti-
full and contented woman. Verify the
richest gifts of the gods reposed in
the hollow of his hand.
I went home and threw myself heav-
lily upon the bed. At the summons
to the evening meal l failed to re
spond; burying my face in the pillow
instead, as for the hundredth time
rehearsed what I was to say to Mrs.
Dace. l could only tell her that had
received a severe setback but was