CHAPTER XXX.
THE ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.
Over a year had elapsed since the supposed death of George Alden. Duringthat time Senator Hamblin had become not only changed in manner, habits,and disposition, but lines indicative of approaching age had appearedupon his brow and features. Instead of forgetting his responsibility forthe supposed death of George Alden, he steadily reproached himself forhis villainy.
His daughter carried her load of sorrow until it almost broke herheart. Losing all interest in worldly matters, despondency eclipsedthe brilliancy and self-will that had always been characteristic ofher. Fannie Alden passed many hours with her, although resisting thepersistent efforts of Senator Hamblin, his wife, and daughter to induceher to become an inmate of the mansion.
She was a cheering comforter, for having arrived at an age where shecould look back upon many sad and unhappy hours, she had become nervedto bear affliction with better grace than the young wife.
The inroads of grief upon Belle's health caused much alarm, her friendsfearing she would not survive the shock. Her father, watching thegradual decline, and knowing he was the cause of all her trouble,lost all desire for public advancement. The efforts of his politicalfriends to arouse and make him renew his canvass for the gubernatorialnomination proved futile. Attributing his physical condition to overworkand excitement, his business associates, ignorant of the true cause,urged him to temporarily lay aside all care and seek rest. His financialruin appeared more imminent than before, and as the crisis seemed closeat hand, peace of mind was impossible.
Still believing Mannis a rich man, and seeing no other way to extricatehimself from financial embarrassment, he secretly hoped to induce Belleto become the young Congressman's wife. His critical situation hadbeen sedulously kept from his wife and daughter, but he now realizedit could not be a secret much longer. Renewing his notes often, andasking friends for re-endorsements, he began to be questioned. He passedmany hours in his private office trying to devise a way out of hisdifficulties, but all without success. Since Sargent had become cashierof the bank, Senator Hamblin knew his situation must be known to atleast one man, yet the cashier never uttered a word on the subject.Aware that the president was using the funds of the institution, Sargentcared not so long as the directors possessed such confidence in thepresiding 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, SenatorHamblin determined to inform his wife and daughter of his condition.Belle's gradually declining health alarmed him, and he made himselfbelieve that if prevailed upon to marry she might be spared. One day,upon leaving the dinner-table, he requested the presence of both ladiesin 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 wealthiestfamily in the county. For a long time everything I touched turned togold, and you, my dear wife and daughter, have never known lack ofluxuries. Freely giving to charity, my means have been devoted towardthe advancement of the community. Foolishly believing there was noend to my success, in an evil moment I stepped aside from legitimatebusiness, and entered the political arena. I now curse the day thetemptation 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 andninety-nine engulfed in the maelstrom, without believing that he can bethe thousandth man to overcome all obstacles and attain the desires ofhis 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, andspent thousands of dollars to gratify my ambition. I have neglected vastbusiness 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 pastthe torments of hell have been mine, and to-day--oh, I can hardly speakthe 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 oneelse knows of it. The world calls me a millionaire, but my estate andbusiness would not pay my debts."
"Darius," quietly but feelingly spoke Mrs. Hamblin, "why have you keptus in ignorance of this? We could have helped you instead of increasingyour burden."
"I know it; but I have been a coward, walking about for a year vainlyhoping a miracle would extricate me. My poor child's troubled faceconstantly before me, and my remorse at the crime of sending off herhusband, have almost made me take my own life. My daily actions havebeen a lie, and the time is not far distant when I must be branded avillain--for all men failing are so called."
"Papa," said Belle, gently putting her arms about his neck, "I can dosomething to help you, and will get well for your sake. I have nothingto live for but you, dear mamma, and brother Geordie--all else thatmy heart yearns for lies in yonder graveyard. Fannie Alden supportsherself, and why cannot I?"
"My dear daughter, I little deserve this from you, whom I have caused somuch misery. Had it not been for my wife and children, I should not havehesitated crossing the border of eternity; but meditating such an act,the faces of my loved ones rising before me seemed to say: 'Would youleave us to bear the disgrace alone?' My heart has been full of secretwoe, and now public humiliation and disgrace must be added."
Hiding his face, for a few moments emotion overwhelmed him, andit required the combined efforts of wife and daughter to calm hisagitation. For a long time he talked of his condition. He told thetwo women every detail of his affairs, sorrowfully confessing his ownresponsibility in the matter; but withholding, of course, his part inthe conspiracy against George Alden.
"I have done it," he said. "No one is to blame but myself. Had I turneda deaf ear to fame, I should not now be standing on the verge ofbankruptcy."
"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 uponme. With unbounded credit I can raise large sums of money, but thatcancer, interest, is eating the vitals of my principal. I have much realestate--enough, in fact, if advantageously disposed of, to relieve me;but what will a forced sale return? Had I another fortune to assist, Icould prevent the impending disaster, and, in time, extricate myselffrom 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--notnow--I cannot hope for that."
He spoke hesitatingly, as if revolving in his mind a method whereby hecould receive help. His companions noticing this, Belle said:
"Be frank with us, and if there is any possible way to assist you, letus 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 notask me now, for I cannot expect aid in that direction--no, it would beasking too much of my loved one."
"Tell us to what you refer; if in our power to assist, the danger mightbe averted."
Like a drowning man catching at straws, he seemed to be filled with hopeof 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 hiswife. 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 bothhands across his head, sighed heavily.
"No, that was too much to expect. I cannot blame you, Belle; but all islost. We will say no more about it now. Let the crisis come; and we musttake the consequences, be they what they may," and imprinting a kissupon the foreheads of both wife and daughter, he left the room.
Belle, greatly agitated, when alone with her mother indulged in aparoxysm of tears. Sadly grieved at her father's distress, his wish thatshe should marry Walter Mannis almost overpowered her, for, believingMannis indirectly to blame for the death of her husband, the mention ofhis name by her father seemed almost a crime.
"To think that papa desires me to marry him!" she said. "Were I tocomply, his victim would rise from the grave to haunt me. I wish I couldprevent the calamity. Poor papa! He is greatly overcome, and I fear hisfailure 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! Ruinirretrievable confronts me. The last hope is gone. I cannot blame Belle.The poor girl has greater cause than she knows for refusing to marryMannis, but the act would have saved me. I cannot remain to face thedisgrace of failure. It is only a step across the chasm, and I will takeit."
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 andDaughter," and placed it where it would be seen. With a sad face hethen proceeded to arrange his papers and carefully prepare a schedulecontaining a full inventory of his indebtedness. Then he arose, andtaking 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 yardwhere Geordie was at play, he went to him, and putting his arms aboutthe 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 ropeupon the floor, he fastened it to a beam overhead, and placing a boxunderneath measured the length necessary to reach his neck. Fallingupon his knees he poured forth his voice to God in prayer. Yes, for thefirst time in many years, Senator Hamblin prayed. But the act did notseem 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 thepallor of death and his eyes were suffused with tears.
"God forgive me," he said, and as he kicked away the box it wentcrashing through the window near him.
The noise reaching the ears of Geordie, in an instant the boy stood inthe 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 wildlyin the direction indicated, and entering the barn, both paused as ifparalyzed, Mrs. Hamblin catching the door for support. Belle quickly ranand, seizing the quivering body in her arms, cried to her mother:
"Quick! quick! Cut the rope, for he is not dead." Mrs. Hamblin, pullingthe knife from the beam where her husband had placed it, a quick strokesevered the rope, and the limp form fell to the floor. Movements ofhands and limbs showed that life still remained, and the two womenquickly began the work of restoring consciousness. After five minutesthey 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 anddaughter standing over him, administering to his comfort, for he wasutterly prostrated.
"Why, oh, why did you cross my purpose?" he said. "I am lost. Belledestroyed 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 mustgo 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 realizedhis broken-down condition. Finding that there was but one hope of savinghis life, a deep sigh escaped her, and she gasped:
"Well--I--I--I will sacrifice myself--I will--marry Mr. Mannis," and shefell fainting across the form of her father.
The Cleverdale Mystery; or, The Machine and Its Wheels: A Story of American Life Page 32