Rensselaer Union and Jasper Republican, Volume 8, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 April 1876 — THE HAND OF FATE. [ARTICLE]

THE HAND OF FATE.

ft -was twenty minutes past two o’clock. At afternoon was cold and dreary, and a Muling mist had settled upon the city. Ma Trance was in his office on Broad street, running over a long list of figures la Ais ledger, to close np the account ot a**y>A business, as he did not intend to M»t»tbe afternoon session of the Stock Exchange, bnt take the half-past three Ante for a call out of town yin wry important and delicate private bus hi ess. As M scanned the entries in the ledger hr repeatedly looked at his watch and at the luge pendulum clock on the wallj exhibiting much nervous irritation and considsnne impatience. By his side on the Ink lav a check for fifty thousand dollars, drtofarn by himself on the Fourth National ■ml to die order of Crow, Sims & Co., taskers in William street, and bearing on Heine the certificate of the bank that it was “good” for payment on presentation. Bjr the side of the check was a list of bonds and stocks left with Crow, Sims & On, as collateral security for the loan which Vas due that day,'and for paying that loan the check was drawn, it was twenty minutes past two, and John Trance looked at his watch' again and then at the dock.. His nervousness increased. “• Heavens 1 where does Charley stay so long?” he exclaimed. Charley was his clerk, book-keeper, cashier, errand-boy and general factotum. He had gone out at two o’clock to deliver stocks sold, call ia those-that bad been purchased, pay and collect money, as is the routine of busiacas in Broad and Wall streets at that hour of every business day. He should tare been back in fifteen minutes, and he was now gone five minutes over that time. Paactualily, even to a second, is the strict safe in that financial mart, and whoever BHues to “come to time” —as he said—baa. once, is a grievous sufferer. “Twenty minutes past two!” said Trance; “ within ten miuutes this check n»ot be at Crow’s! And Charley not yet bade. I can’t leave the office or lock it up

—l’ll ask Larry to do me the favor— Just then the door opened and Mortimer Yams, a wealthy bachelor of no business an# u Intimate friend of Trance, stepped ham the office. “■You’re the very man, Tomß, to do me a favor, won’t you ?” said Trance as he •book hands with his friend. “■’Why, John, of course, anything in (be world I can do—only say what it is, aai it’s done, if mortal man can do it.” “This check must immediately go to Cmr, Sims & Co., down in William abaci, you know, to take up some constants. It’s on a call loan, due to-day. Charley is out and I can’t lock up the wtStte. Just run down there for me and if 1 should not be in when you return, gna the stocks to Charley, as I must go aalef town by the 8:80 train. I’ll see yaa to-morrow. Now, will you? there’s ages# fellow.” “Of course I will. Fork over the docaaasats and the thing’s done.” Mortimer Unas took the check and the list of collaterals and hurried off. Five minutes tabs Charley returned to the office, Trance fa* aa bis overcoat in great haste, started ML tamped into a coupe, drove to his iKshatar lodgings,, ghangeji his dres*,re r aalered the coupe with a valise and saaohed the depot not a moment too soon te leave on the Harlem Raifroath at the MVuinted hour. When sealeain a smokSear, he seemed satisfied with himself all the world. * * * _ About six miles from Station on flha Harlem Railroad, in Pntnam County, •steak an extensive farm in &.nigh state afaaltivation. 0* a knoll stood the mansian, a large Stone building, massive but ■hda in Its architecture, and indicating Shat it wasoue of those old-fashioned aaaor-heuses which are numerous in that auction of the country. It was flanked on aMhur side by groves of tall elms and pop»and in front of Its colonaded portico, an easy decline toward the a»i was the , lawn through which Mb* Carriage bay led up to the fcataae from the gate lodge. The jMgnr November mist Overspread lam and trees like a somber v*il, but in other seasons the flower-beds sparkled in Mr many hum, glistened like gems in .it'llwen setting of the sward, and iwgmfsdby the contrast of their splendor & Mbfetar sheen to the foliage ■of the surctravm. Here wo* the residence y|Pß3Vß|t Jew lark merchauf. For Heir forty years he lb# known no other pleasure than givipv ail his time, care add mind to buying and •siting groceries and increasing bis for, wrtakltd hi* face, he would “ run down tathecity” to see how -business urospered mlib the firm which still bore his name, iKi Wlth whk'h he remained connected f jpmlal partner. Here Mrs. Margaret

tuflyyvw y Cone, his wife, who was fifteen years younger than her husband, reigned supreme. She was still handsome, and what slight inroada upon her beauty advancing time had made, she knew but too well how to hide by the mysterious arts of tho toilet to which no woman of UfiX ftp and means is nowadays a stranger. She was proud, but not more so than other women in her station of life, who know when their husbands speak, there are millions of wealth to back np every word they say. Mr. Cone was the richest man in the neighborhood; consequently his with was the leader of society thereabouts, and she maintained her position with dignity and even some degree haughtiness, though she delighted in the reputation she hau Justly gained during her residence in the city, as well as since Mr. Cone removed to the country, that she was a true and liberal benefactress of the poor. Yet she looked down upon the unfortunates whom she aided as a patroness far removed above them, and as for associating on an equal plane with any one doomed to poverty, even the mere thought of its possibility gave her a nervous shock. She had had two children. A son, about twenty-five years old at the time, who had inherited the business habits of the father and who, with capital advanced him by the elder Cone, was permanently settled in San Francisco rapidly accumulating independent wealth. The daughter Emma was a blooming maiden of twenty. About two years before she had finished her education at a private institution for voung ladies, made the trip over Europe In company with her parents, ftpd had her “ coming out’’ party on her return, rhovM in society as other young ladies of her position and expectations do, and was well-known at Saratoga, at Newport afid Long Branch. She possessed all the characteristics of her mother, and thoroughly realistic in all her ideas, she had none of that gushing sentimentality which ‘‘boarding-school misses” often imbibe from trash literature. She knew that her father was a millionaire, that a very large portion of his wealth would ultimately be her own, that she was what the world calls accomplished and quite attractive in person. Knowing all this, she considered herself quite a prize in the matrimonial lottery, and none should dare approach her unless on conditions of comparative equality. It was about flyq o’clock in the evening of the day when we left John Trance speeding away, northward on the Harlem Railroad. Mrs. Cone and Emma were in the cosy sitting-room on the second floori of tbeir mansion. The mother was reading the latest edition of Tennyson’s *‘ Idyls of the King,” and Emma was reclining in a soft cushioned easy chair, busying her nimble lingers with silken embroidery. Presently she dropped the work in her lap and sitting in a meditative posture a few moments, she said in a half languid, half anxious tone: “Ma, do you really

think he will do?” “My child,” replied Mrs. Cone, laying down the book and assuming an expression of intense earnestness, “you know my opinion. You know that I did not give my consent until father had made all necessary inquiries with the most satisfactory result. Although in point of wealth he is not our equal, yet his position in society ia-all that we can desire. And then you know he is not poor. He' has a even now to support a wife •in the style required for the circle fn which you move, and his business is rapidly improving. Father says that he is one of the most successful men in Wall. stroAt, and has already made his mark. So I can’t see why he should not do.” “ Well, ma, the truth is that, as things go, I like him well enough. He is clever, and has a distinguished look. When I first saw him at Newport, and before he was introduced to us, I took him for some foreign nobleman, and that thought made me look favorably upon him. I was really disappointed on being told that' his name was plain John Trance, a stockbroker in Wall street. All the riff-raft and broken-down merchants turn stockbrokers, and the idea that he was one of them wholly disenchanted me. Butnever mind, I giiess it will come out all right, as s?bu sad father think it will.” “ We do think so, my child," said the mother, “and I may as well say to you now, that father knows all about him, about hikpersonal habits and associations, and they are all good. He could not be a better man, nor be esteemed higher as a guest in the wealthiest houses, if he w ere many times as well off as he is. We have understood that Lilly Crow, the banker’s daughter, was doing her best to catch him ” “The little upstart imp,” came with a hiss of utter contempt from Emma. • “Yes, and Jennie Tart ” “ Bhe’d look nice, with her freckled face and puggish eyes, to stand up with handsome John Trance to be made Mrs. Trance.” “ Don’t disturb yourself, my child, she will not; but you will be Mrs. Trance before long. He is coming up this evening on the early train. I have sent the carriage to the station and he must soon be here. Father will not return from the city until after seven.”

At this moment the rattling pf carriage wheels was heard coming up to the main entrance of the mansion, the door bell rang, and a few moments later Mrs. Cone, Emma and her intended husband, John Trance, met in the parlor. He was most cordially received by the ladies, as if he were already one of the family, and after a brief greeting he was conducted to a room up-stairs by a servant. Having dressed for dinner he rejoined the ladies in the parlor, and presented to them the little presents he had bought—for the mother several of the most renowned novels by fashionable authors, and for Emma an exquisitely designed clusterdiamond ring. Their conversation was exclusively about the coming marriage, on what day the ceremony should take place, whither the newly-married pair would betake-themselves on their bridaltour, and how long they should remain away- Some discussion,, ensued- whether the young couple ought to take rooms for a year or so, or set up their own establiihmenlt at once, find John’s preference for the latter was agreed to, since he told them he had already made a conditional contract ion -the purchase of a mansion—a perfect gem of a dwelling—on the avenue, and would give Emma full liberty to draw on his bank account in furnishing it to her own taste. Thus time sped, seven o'clock arrived, and dinner was announced. A? Mrt Cone was hot expected home until after that hour, he was not waited for, and the party repaired to the dining-room. During the meal our friend John was exceedingly vivacious and eutertaining, telling all the gossip and society anecdotes of the city, and Mrs. Cone was more and more delighted with her future son-in-law, and so was Emma with her destined husband. The hall clock struck eight as Mr. James T. Cone entered his house. As the servant -assisted relieving him of liis great coat, the aaerrv voices from, the.diningroom Miss Bm, and -Mr. Trance from the city slill te dujpqr,” reported the mulatto, ‘ muttered the old gentleman, stanoldg motionless in the hail, looking down upon the polished marble tiles. His countenance was wore rigid and stern than usual; stupe heavy, oppressive thought seemed to distract his mind. He meditated for a while, and then, instead of joining the joyous family party at dinner, he crossed the hall in the opposite direction and entered the library, where he sank into a large arm-chair with a deep sigh, apparently overcome by painful

emotions. The mulatto observed it, and asked his master whether he was ill. “ No, Peter, but—go and ask hjrs. Cone into the library. Don’t tell it so that my daughter and—and—that man can hear It; Ask her in a whisper that 1 wish to see her in UIC library »■ ■ , , “Yes, sir,’, answered Peter, and went to obey the order. Mrs. Cone at once rose from the table. Her husband was often in the habit of calling her suddenly to private iaterviewa. aafl she was not at all alarmed at the present request. “Excuse me, children," she said, as she started to go, “ 1 shall return presently and hear the end of John’s story." But she did not return. In about ten minutes, which John and Emma had passed in most agreeable conversation, Peter came back and Whispered something to Miss Emma, who rose from her seat. “ Excuse me, John, pa has sent for me, but I will be back immediately.”. She went, but did not come back, neither did her mother. John paced the dining-room to and fro, wondering why the old man did not come to shake hands with him and bid him welcome. But his wonderment changed -to atuuuing amazement as, after the lapse of half an hour, Peter reappeared, saying: “ Mr. Trance, the carriage is at the door to take you to the station.” John looked at Peter. The demeanor of the mulatto was no longer that submissive, obsequious, servile familiarity witli which he ulwuys had addressed the recognized future son-in-law of the house as “Mr. John.*’ His behavior now wastold, stiff', formal, even to offensivnness.' He again blurted out, still more gruffly: “ Come, Mr. Trance, the carriage Is waiting; quick, get your things from upstairs; we can’t let the horses stand in the cold so long.” “ What does this mean?” John was at last able tp stutter forth, and he found his breath almost stifled within him, by his heaving heart “Mean?” said Peter, with an impudent grin; “why, it means that you tq, leave this house in less tlian no time, sir. Come, get ready, we want to shut tne door behind you.” . l , eter took Jobs Ttaaee by the-arm, wno allowed himself passively to be led into the hall and up the stairs ts the room where he had dressed for dinner. Here Peter threw everything from the dressingtable, .haphazard, into John’s! yaVse, handed him the overcoat, led him downstairs again and out upon the portico. Here John once more recovered his voice and, aobbingly, asked:* “ ftetyr,, felV me. what is the cause of all this?” “ Dunno, sir,” replied the spryant,,with another sneer, “but that’s my orders. Make haste, get into the carriage,” at the game time pushing, almost lifting Jphn into the vehicle. The carriage doof was no sooner closed than the coachman whipped up his horses, drove a Way rap-‘ idly and soon came up to the station. As John Trance alighted, the coachman handed him a box and a sealed letter, bade him good night, following it up with a herrty laugh of contempt, and was out

of sight There stood John on the platform bf the, railway station as immovable as to,' stone pillar, staring listlessly Into the nlglitT while feverish thoughts ransacked his brain. Was it a dream? Was it ali some frightful vision of a nightmare? Was he erazed, and is. .ft alt Si a JmaUkatiffntii disturbed seasons? Not.' IA mil b'lAitaH tad reality.* He had Tieen rudely ejected from the house where only an hour before he hoped to be the inmate as a son. All his future blasted and bipisqlf insulted, even by the menials, and why? Wis tliefle to be bo explanation given him of this startling conduct? Yes, there was. He now remembered the letter and the box he still held in his hand. He opened the letter, and by the solitary lamp of the station he read. .It was in the baud: writing of Mr. Cone himself, and contained these brief, cold, inexplicable words: ' , “Mr. Trance will perceive that, after what has occurred, his visits to the hbuse of Mr, J ames T. Cone are no longer desirable. Mrs. and Miss Cone join in this opinion." This letter only darkened the mystery all the more. Yet there wag the box; perhaps it would give some better explanation. He opened it hastily, but found only the various presents he haft givpn to. Mrs. Cone and to her daughter, ever! the diamond ring was there he had placed on Miss Emma’s finger that evening. Not a line of writing to gives clew to the cause of this sudden change. Gradually he grew more quiet under the chilling influence of the damp, cold atmosphere around him. His thoughts took a more connected shape, and he began ttr reason with himself what best to d 6. Hi's first impulse was to walk the distance to the Cone mansion, demand admission, andj ask for an immediate statement ot the’ cause of his expulsion from the family. He was on Ihe point ol starting on the road when it occurred to him that perhaps, it would be better to wait till the flext day, and then send his friend, Mortimer Toms, to ask for an explanation in his behalf. It seemed to him the best course, and he concluded to adopt it.

When he reached his boarding house in the city it was long past midnight, and all the inmates had retired. He went straight’ to his room and to bed, but his sleep was restless and broken, his mind continually recurring to the strange and refharkable events of Ashe entered the breakfast roOTa in the morning he found himself stared at by all around the table. No one friendly greeting met him, as was the custom, and the boarders seemed astonished at his presence. Hd took his seat, but he felt instinctively that his fellow-boarders were cutting ham Art last, and'bfefori? any victurftb were' placed? for him on the table, he rose, and taking a chair by the side of the landlady, fh-’ qulred of her what this conduct ■‘meant: ” “ Why, Mr. Trance, surely, you know it best yourself,” said Mrs. Moore, Rsuspi, clous smile stealing over her face. “ I dQ not, Mrs. Moore, and what hap- . pened .tu me.last night in the cmwitey- cannot be the cause for this offensive behavior, as it is known only t%HU|elf"#*d' five other persons who have not been in the city.sipepthem” r . . “ It was exactly these five persons you speak of, Mr. Trance,” answered Mrs. Moore, with a cunning ywintyle ip her eye, “ who were here last evening inquiring for you most sedulously, and who told us all about it.” What?” shouted John, “ Mr. and Mrs. Cone and Miss Cone and their servants were befe? Impossible.” “ I don’t know anything of the people you mention,” whispered the landlady, “ but Ido know that fivd’detectives were here, one after the other; all of-4hem wanted you, and said you were an absconding bankrupt.” ‘‘A what?—a bankrupt?—an abscohding bankrupt,?” exclaimed John, completely overwhelmed by this new information. ' “ Why, it’s in all the papers this morning;’i.«H«i Mrst Moorey wad<> handed’him one of Du' journals that lay on the table by* her side. > True enough, there it was, and John read, while thte - paper in bis hands trembled as*if moved by fitful gusts of a storm: . , ■ • Failure Of a Broker— Susrioioufc Circumstances and Rumors of a Defalcation. —The Bankrupt Absconds.— Yesterday art the opening of the afternoon board of the Stock Exchange, notice was sent by Grow, Sima <t Co., the bankers, that John Trance, stock broker, at Broad-Street, had failed to meet his liabilities, and a laige quantity of stock was sold out on bis account .under the rule. Inquiries disclosed the fact that he had left the office shortly before In a cab,

taking % Harlem train to the north. It la known that he left the city In great haute, and rainy rnmora are afloat of very questionable tranaacltoun In which he U mid to have been lately engaged and by which It ia fearefhwrveral ot hu confiding irland* will Kwe heavily. It was known that he would noon marry the daughter of a wealthy retired mfirefianT re. , Hiding in Putnam County. The attorney of Messrs. Crow, Slum A Co., found that geqtle- 1 man fortunately lu fewq early fn the evening and naked him Whether he wodld protect the repu tulle® _fiLhla.Xuture non-in-la w toy paying hi* ddbla. He refused, flatly, and, detective* at once upon track ot the fnglThe myajery of the sudden action of the Cone family upon tile rettorn tiomC of Mr. Cone now fully fleveAted. Bnt a still greater and yet unsolved mystery It remained liqw Crow, Sims & Co. could an--nouuoe him as a bankrupt, since he had sens them in time the check to cauce’. the deljt of ♦•fO.IHO which wta due, and how the rufnorsW A defalcation originated, though his hasty departure from the city, nobody knowing whither he went, certainly might, as he thought, give color even to this false suspicion. He told Mrs. thatjhe was not a bankrupt, nor a defaulter, had not absconded, but would go down town and set matters right within a few hours. As Jbhn came to his office he found it crowded with people inquMht mr‘hfttaj loudest among whom was Mortimer Toms, in a morose, dejected and almost ir>gm*od. * ' /■; r ' >rl ’!/ “Come right along, my dear fellow,” said Toms, his eyes running over with, teafs, and taking John by both hands, dfagffed Him Into the 1 ihner Office. ,v Bee here, John—stop, not a word, till you hear me—now it’s my own carelessness that has caused all this confounded hubbub. 1 left you yesterday to go to Crow & Bims for you, met* friend on'the took a brandy, took another, and another, forgot all about your check, got in a cab with ,!Aij» friend,, went -to Delmonico’s had a glorious time, and blow me, if I thought any more of your matter until this morning, when at saw this ami founded stuff aboitaydn. iriUhA papers/ Here’s your check again, and just make up a bill of damages against, me, my dear JeL. Tbw, »nd' ITT stand the whole of it, toy thunder.”

That explained it. Crqw„,Sims & Co., not receiving. their money the very . mlniUttof,it shaqld have been paid, sent the ! \r*nal notice to the board 1 to sell oat the, stock they held as collaterals on ’ account of their defaulting As Trance did a large business, Jlie report of -his-mr expected »ftikuptgave a violent tunible to all the stocks he dealt in, and those Which Crow, Sims & Co. held sold largely below the amount for which they were pledged. The bankers thereupon instructed jtheir to commence proceedings at (race to recover Hie balance still due.- Trince wW ltooked fol, and on ascertaining that he had hurriedly left the city, rumors of fraudulent bankruptcy started in every direction, and one ol the lawyers of the bankers who knew Mr. Cone, and had heard of the intended marriage of Miss Cone to John Trance, thought it a shrewd m«re Ho «ask Mr. Cone to pay-John’s debts, with the result we have seen. MActiiatv Toms -Hook—ir upon himself to see Mr. Cone, and he swore a thousand oaths that his dear fellow Joke 'Mltothe best ■ and honestest l'ellqw and cleverest .business mam,in the [t£fu- John 'THince %e aredlbnt, he was informed that nothing was further in th'e Way of his resumid’g nis old felhtions with tlie'Cbne family.' .But he did not. He had, ,bv the* experience 6f fearful evening,' obtained a clear knowledge of EmlnA’s 1 character. As shfe hhff evfdeiitly so littlfe 'lf>ye ft>r him, and so little confidence in him, that she turned hlnvout of doors without caring to ihWStigate an injurious rumor, he was sure that she would him a good wife, with all her wealth. He'sought elsewhere, was better mated, and is now the father of a happy family: Every Sunday Mortimer Toms, still a frrnsfy old bachelor, drives With hitn. “ Bdy, old fellow,” he often remarks, “itmiusthaVe been the hand of fate; it it wasn’t for that forgetfulness of mine about* your check you’d have been tied to that flint-hearted, lump of cold,flesh buried in fashionable dry-goods,, and there’.d. he now one bpppy, contented, blessed household less in, the world. Blow me, if it ain’t so!” And John Trance is Very much' of the same ■opinion. 1 i. * As to Emma, the affair had made, so, much noise that her parents removed their residence to Paris, and there she gave up most bf her wealth to a dissiilutCoid scapegrace, in exchange for the empty-bauble of his title of nubility. — Vitfor Tanno, in, N. Y. Mercury■ . .. .., , . ,