THE ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.
Over a year had elapsed since the supposed death of George Alden. During
that time Senator Hamblin had become not only changed in manner, habits,
and disposition, but lines indicative of approaching age had appeared
upon his brow and features. Instead of forgetting his responsibility for
the supposed death of George Alden, he steadily reproached himself for
his villainy.
His daughter carried her load of sorrow until it almost broke her
heart. Losing all interest in worldly matters, despondency eclipsed
the brilliancy and self-will that had always been characteristic of
her. Fannie Alden passed many hours with her, although resisting the
persistent efforts of Senator Hamblin, his wife, and daughter to induce
her to become an inmate of the mansion.
She was a cheering comforter, for having arrived at an age where she
could look back upon many sad and unhappy hours, she had become nerved
to bear affliction with better grace than the young wife.
The inroads of grief upon Belle's health caused much alarm, her friends
fearing she would not survive the shock. Her father, watching the
gradual decline, and knowing he was the cause of all her trouble,
lost all desire for public advancement. The efforts of his political
friends to arouse and make him renew his canvass for the gubernatorial
nomination proved futile. Attributing his physical condition to overwork
and excitement, his business associates, ignorant of the true cause,
urged him to temporarily lay aside all care and seek rest. His financial
ruin appeared more imminent than before, and as the crisis seemed close
at hand, peace of mind was impossible.
Still believing Mannis a rich man, and seeing no other way to extricate
himself from financial embarrassment, he secretly hoped to induce Belle
to become the young Congressman's wife. His critical situation had
been sedulously kept from his wife and daughter, but he now realized
it could not be a secret much longer. Renewing his notes often, and
asking friends for re-endorsements, he began to be questioned. He passed
many hours in his private office trying to devise a way out of his
difficulties, but all without success. Since Sargent had become cashier
of the bank, Senator Hamblin knew his situation must be known to at
least one man, yet the cashier never uttered a word on the subject.
Aware that the president was using the funds of the institution, Sargent
cared not so long as the directors possessed such confidence in the
presiding officer that they never looked into the affairs of the bank.
The president was in full command, so the cashier never talked.
When fully convinced that the calamity could not be averted, Senator
Hamblin determined to inform his wife and daughter of his condition.
Belle's gradually declining health alarmed him, and he made himself
believe that if prevailed upon to marry she might be spared. One day,
upon leaving the dinner-table, he requested the presence of both ladies
in his private room, and when they were seated he said:
"What I have to say will undoubtedly surprise you both. For many years,
enjoying the station money gives, we have been called the wealthiest
family in the county. For a long time everything I touched turned to
gold, and you, my dear wife and daughter, have never known lack of
luxuries. Freely giving to charity, my means have been devoted toward
the advancement of the community. Foolishly believing there was no
end to my success, in an evil moment I stepped aside from legitimate
business, and entered the political arena. I now curse the day the
temptation of power and station in public life allured me from my path,
for that prize once grasped only leads one farther away from friends.
It is the old, old story, yet man never considers the nine hundred and
ninety-nine engulfed in the maelstrom, without believing that he can be
the thousandth man to overcome all obstacles and attain the desires of
his heart. What fatal error!"
"Husband, what do you mean?" Mrs. Hamblin asked.
Pausing a moment to overcome his emotion, the Senator continued:
"Engrossed in public affairs, I have forgotten my duty to you both, and
spent thousands of dollars to gratify my ambition. I have neglected vast
business interests and suffered heavy losses. I have been blind--yes,
mad! Now I must pay the penalty. Oh, pity me, help me! For a year past
the torments of hell have been mine, and to-day--oh, I can hardly speak
the words--to-day I am--am bankrupt."
"Bankrupt!" exclaimed both women, rising.
"Yes, I have said it; bankrupt! Oh, I knew it would surprise you. No one
else knows of it. The world calls me a millionaire, but my estate and
business would not pay my debts."
"Darius," quietly but feelingly spoke Mrs. Hamblin, "why have you kept
us in ignorance of this? We could have helped you instead of increasing
your burden."
"I know it; but I have been a coward, walking about for a year vainly
hoping a miracle would extricate me. My poor child's troubled face
constantly before me, and my remorse at the crime of sending off her
husband, have almost made me take my own life. My daily actions have
been a lie, and the time is not far distant when I must be branded a
villain--for all men failing are so called."
"Papa," said Belle, gently putting her arms about his neck, "I can do
something to help you, and will get well for your sake. I have nothing
to live for but you, dear mamma, and brother Geordie--all else that
my heart yearns for lies in yonder graveyard. Fannie Alden supports
herself, and why cannot I?"
"My dear daughter, I little deserve this from you, whom I have caused so
much misery. Had it not been for my wife and children, I should not have
hesitated crossing the border of eternity; but meditating such an act,
the faces of my loved ones rising before me seemed to say: 'Would you
leave us to bear the disgrace alone?' My heart has been full of secret
woe, and now public humiliation and disgrace must be added."
Hiding his face, for a few moments emotion overwhelmed him, and
it required the combined efforts of wife and daughter to calm his
agitation. For a long time he talked of his condition. He told the
two women every detail of his affairs, sorrowfully confessing his own
responsibility in the matter; but withholding, of course, his part in
the conspiracy against George Alden.
"I have done it," he said. "No one is to blame but myself. Had I turned
a deaf ear to fame, I should not now be standing on the verge of
bankruptcy."
"Is there no way to extricate yourself?" asked his wife.
"I fear not, for I owe large sums of borrowed money which must be paid.
People with funds lying idle have forced their hard-earned savings upon
me. With unbounded credit I can raise large sums of money, but that
cancer, interest, is eating the vitals of my principal. I have much real
estate--enough, in fact, if advantageously disposed of, to relieve me;
but what will a forced sale return? Had I another fortune to assist, I
could prevent the impending disaster, and, in time, extricate myself
from my present dilemma."
"Is there not a way to do what you mention?" asked Belle.
"There might be--but no--" he said, suddenly checking himself, "no--not
now--I cannot hope for that."
He spoke hesitatingly, as if revolving in his mind a method whereby he
could receive help. His companions noticing this, Belle said:
"Be frank with us, and if there is any possible way to assist you, let
us know; perhaps we can advise you."
Gazing intently upon his daughter, he replied:
"Yes, there is one way out of this dilemma, and only one. But do not
ask me now, for I cannot expect aid in that direction--no, it would be
asking too much of my loved one."
"Tell us to what you refer; if in our power to assist, the danger might
be averted."
Like a drowning man catching at straws, he seemed to be filled with hope
of rescue; hesitating a moment, he said:
"You, my daughter, can save me."
The bewildered girl started with surprise.
"I can save you? How?"
"By becoming the wife of Walter Mannis."
The unexpected words went with crushing effect to the daughter's heart,
causing her to sink into a chair. Choking spasmodically for a moment,
she regained her feet, and replied:
"Marry him? No, I would die, beg, or even starve, before becoming his
wife. Oh, you know not what you ask."
The look of partial joy that had gathered upon the Senator's face was
followed by one of deep despair. He became very pale, and clasping both
hands across his head, sighed heavily.
"No, that was too much to expect. I cannot blame you, Belle; but all is
lost. We will say no more about it now. Let the crisis come; and we must
take the consequences, be they what they may," and imprinting a kiss
upon the foreheads of both wife and daughter, he left the room.
Belle, greatly agitated, when alone with her mother indulged in a
paroxysm of tears. Sadly grieved at her father's distress, his wish that
she should marry Walter Mannis almost overpowered her, for, believing
Mannis indirectly to blame for the death of her husband, the mention of
his name by her father seemed almost a crime.
"To think that papa desires me to marry him!" she said. "Were I to
comply, his victim would rise from the grave to haunt me. I wish I could
prevent the calamity. Poor papa! He is greatly overcome, and I fear his
failure will kill him. But marriage--and with Mannis--oh!"
In the mean time Senator Hamblin, entering his own apartment,
threw himself into a chair, and muttered, "Lost--all is lost! Ruin
irretrievable confronts me. The last hope is gone. I cannot blame Belle.
The poor girl has greater cause than she knows for refusing to marry
Mannis, but the act would have saved me. I cannot remain to face the
disgrace of failure. It is only a step across the chasm, and I will take
it."
Taking his pen he wrote hastily the following letter:
"MY DEAR WIFE AND DAUGHTER: Forgive and pity your poor
distracted husband and father. I am lost; financial ruin cannot
be averted. When this meets your eyes, I shall have solved the
problem of eternity. Deeply wronging you both, I have also the
death of my daughter's husband to account for before the throne of
God. I cannot longer bear the burden laid upon me by my mad and
insatiable ambition. I charge you both to caution my boy against
following in the footsteps of his father. Politics and ambition have
held out tempting promises to me, which have never been fulfilled.
I have used honorable public positions for my own selfish ends.
Instead of assisting at making this the best government in the
world of nations, my efforts have been joined with men laboring
to attain place and emolument by overthrowing honesty. By precept
and example I have done my share in making my country the reverse
of that intended by its founders. Educate my boy to rise above the
demoralizing ways of modern politicians. Impress upon his mind the
necessity of joining with better men than his father in establishing
this republic upon a foundation that will assure its perpetuity.
Make him understand that politics should only be avoided when it
leads men to seek company that destroys self-respect and corrupts
honest purpose. Have him understand that 'nothing is right in
politics that is wrong in any other field of life.' I lay great
stress on this now, because I feel my duty in this direction has
been sinfully neglected.
"Poor Belle! Had I been mindful of your happiness, you would not
have been a victim to my mad ambition. The house and grounds were
deeded to you, my wife, several years since for your maintenance
and that of your children. You must not part with the property
without securing a price commensurate with its value. Think of me
occasionally, and remember me as the loving companion and father I
was before I became infatuated with the demon who has ruined so many.
"Farewell forever.
"YOUR DISTRACTED HUSBAND AND FATHER."
Enclosing the letter in an envelope, he addressed it "To my Wife and
Daughter," and placed it where it would be seen. With a sad face he
then proceeded to arrange his papers and carefully prepare a schedule
containing a full inventory of his indebtedness. Then he arose, and
taking a hasty survey of the room, said:
"Farewell to all my sorrows and happiness!"
Then he left the house, going toward the barn. Passing through the yard
where Geordie was at play, he went to him, and putting his arms about
the little fellow, said:
"My son, always be a good boy and obey your mother and sister."
As he kissed him Geordie said:
"Yes, Papa; I will try and be good to them, and to you too."
Senator Hamblin entered the barn, and looking about saw he was alone.
Taking a knife from his pocket and cutting a piece from a coil of rope
upon the floor, he fastened it to a beam overhead, and placing a box
underneath measured the length necessary to reach his neck. Falling
upon his knees he poured forth his voice to God in prayer. Yes, for the
first time in many years, Senator Hamblin prayed. But the act did not
seem to do him any good, for when he had finished he mounted the box,
and adjusted the rope about his neck; his face was overspread with the
pallor of death and his eyes were suffused with tears.
"God forgive me," he said, and as he kicked away the box it went
crashing through the window near him.
The noise reaching the ears of Geordie, in an instant the boy stood in
the doorway. One glance toward the writhing form suspended in mid-air,
and the little fellow ran with lightning speed toward the house,
meeting his mother and sister coming toward him.
"Papa! quick! in the barn!" he exclaimed.
Mother and daughter, not waiting for further information, flew wildly
in the direction indicated, and entering the barn, both paused as if
paralyzed, Mrs. Hamblin catching the door for support. Belle quickly ran
and, seizing the quivering body in her arms, cried to her mother:
"Quick! quick! Cut the rope, for he is not dead." Mrs. Hamblin, pulling
the knife from the beam where her husband had placed it, a quick stroke
severed the rope, and the limp form fell to the floor. Movements of
hands and limbs showed that life still remained, and the two women
quickly began the work of restoring consciousness. After five minutes
they observed signs of returning life. Soon the Senator opened his eyes,
and seeing the women bending over him, he said:
"Why, why did you do this? I care not to live."
Half an hour later he lay upon the bed in his own room, his wife and
daughter standing over him, administering to his comfort, for he was
utterly prostrated.
"Why, oh, why did you cross my purpose?" he said. "I am lost. Belle
destroyed my last hope. But I do not blame her."
His daughter, engaged bathing his temples, said:
"Oh, Papa, do you wish to leave us?"
"No! but I cannot remain and face this disgrace. No! I must go, I must
go unless, unless--" He hesitated.
"Unless what?" quickly interrupted Belle.
"Unless you save me by marrying Walter Mannis," he said.
Belle, looking into his pale face and blood-shot eyes, fully realized
his broken-down condition. Finding that there was but one hope of saving
his life, a deep sigh escaped her, and she gasped:
"Well--I--I--I will sacrifice myself--I will--marry Mr. Mannis," and she
fell fainting across the form of her father.