THE FINANCIER'S WIFE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3, 26 January 1899, Page 1

THE FINANCIER'S WIFE.

(Fiom. ".Lord Vanetia," by Mcnrten Kaartens, in the Cosmniiolititv.i He was a. greatifiiianoier. He was a gre.it It .ftouldc-not. be necessary £o ■say the same thiiggi twice but that the world so sslow to understand. In his excuse it anust fee said that lac.was an hereditary bkidtMis granfi&tlicrl'md derdlopedvtb",:.:". A'jcceptional .capacity..!" or. depriving .othei \vix\filt of UlKiir mon^-*io:t.>r'- Jarge snata .wklsh vlie world invariaJaiy; ire-wards ■wiiAi aoruueis. [•'t'he 'W*n:l&. tlion, t-H>ppi'ovfd of hva^ and ni -sill his family, wJsnw.are us rich ;ae Jie \r.w, ;vir ricfceu;..*ud' wJio-made.x^ good iire .of.Ui'sv 'snnncj- jv^iilje did, K&Uaofcng curiafi, jjiitEci:iffising evi«?ip^ form o>f :^f jsr-nsive iauusemcui gariijfr.to the jw«r. ' Everybody liked ..bim^iiaid he tihad ibvkvrs«ody, auclt)ftveiytlii.i£{. .ir«3 was iin JSngiiii'i ' gentlCTßaq^as' his faifepc.h.'ul been laefcc&nim,, :.*>nd his— rao. He hacLk'on educstcd :j!^ton artdifi&rist-Chnucli. .'He had ilTavaUefi i .«vcryw?ißi:e . and . ewsj HiiOJit^iings w:ivrtli -«g.'Sixig, aad ,Uk knew itboutjrvJV this^j \iroitii pJindwiHg 1 ftflwiit. He •.bidt.tiie' best tujdlsctiinn. i trf urmwar ia^d. old &ns''iiD;s;f lie.,C'o'pas%y,..o»k/. txhe bekt icook, and fee vwouK li,'iv : c had the ;;>l«sfc ccOKsisw.tories bntlt-htit his brtfSier huU ifiiiatter. So \ was vewr iJ«\f py aad 'tajjoyfe: Jjfc, bek^ .barely for^iand' m perfetttinafbh. ;J&f monojq^s. he sat Jhi.lHSf/Jountiiit^-lioiifrf!, jomakinij mnagv -* without c^Seti-, heTeditaxily,; 1 :-.ihe everiingsiUe spent.ijn s w£ety, cjatotttainj i»'g prince, jgcers, prissits.^anters, vpoats r -i l^uoli! ■•■■?; i He mamofl a lovely wggn&n, his xs»aisin| j -B-3 adored 3iev. More tkan.o»«?-, as aeiLMiks&lj across to t^hflae she sat at the head o£ Us table, wcamirtg his mstitoWs world-^umoutv .JE^itmonds, liisnr.oild blufc t ay«sj:.liad filltsd urith; teurs. He .-sat. watching," [her ahus teatlacly) pn this bitten % 2R^cti|iber«»toning, whicli (iiicyj ■^W'- f e spendsng together ailoae— an loaiißual: .thing! — in Clio (boudoir *if itiao great iireise] in Berkeley Square. i '" That is m, miserable fajfttcr/;" she saifl. I ■" What lettarf" Dearesdi, ->ya» are ill! JLtKti me " "Sit down. I fin gat ill. Thutl ilaitor in the 'ißt,;JamcsV Erom ;a 'Deiniiytc^ •Gflfl-lewoman/ a'fllt-ting how- .ftlflter saviirg« went, to a bogmstcftmpany." "jWhat bogus oQTapany ?"— "H^jn't knoisu Does: it matter*"' . "■^ lo> ' That pctct .of thing 2i»i?|»3ns dailyIt is lamentable. Such pesfjile ought 'to sticks. *o consols. "Tfhat does she write to ttSie papers abauti" — "DeeugteU gentlevromgifi." " y<e_p, yes, of «QUBse. She as jgratefulVery- jutural- It is ; imi admit&b'hv work." "HixabfiMl" There -vas scorn, ihur- thers ■waa n!l5o det]> wretehejjiiess, in Lady Venetian vaiiE. " She t&ys .that it is icujfri:. that the Homas should h& Jhuilt by tfce people who pxtfyide occupants for them." " Wliat on earth dt*es *he mean'r*'— *~ She means me." "Yotr? Angela, yrai -ove talking in aiddies. Does the letter-wri&r talk m jiidiJj.es. too?"—- "'&)x, no, she is iuejid enough. '■ ijer clearness il.^ves nothing- tfcovbei desired.' IBkiv father, she says, lost almost everything ii-3 > had. not tfeiougK'speciilsrtiiQjs, but by-un-fortunate in^yastments in SQjjth Americjm securities and «uch-like. Her savings after itwenty ytaas^f governess-sMp&ave all sOIm;! in the failure >pf the bank." I " Y.o/u said : .a . bogus cow^my- " — " Did j •I? It was a katk"; • \ "What barik.r— " She doegji't j/ray. Does! it matter?" " Of course not:"— "Why did yau ask '/" " Professional oti-riosity. But I assure you T do not care."-***'' Nor do I — muttV. The

Sfluth American loans were, of course — oars. The ruin of die bank was — mm?." ■• : *\Ouis?" — •'The dffftruction of the -whole family," she went on without heeding Jiim — f'^irs." "j^oos she say so?—4Jie liar?" She rnso from tfae chair, facing l&n. "Liar? WottM to .«snd .she was !" "Fo%! You assume foo much, Angela " She rose up before foiin, superb. " .1^ assume," *he said, " to myself the right of continuing fa suffer — the riglhb of listening to a voice whose tormenting* no effort of mine can still." He quailed before her, his heat'li full of fondness, and in. tones of entreaty : " Dearest," he said, " let us talk this metier oy.cr tog«ikec. Let me help you. Whit is it that troubles you? What do you want? ' She threw herself down beside him in si torrent of tears. "Oh, help me !" she cried ; "let us help each other!" She caught at one of his hands and kissed it. "We shall want each other's help. Morris, I cannot, go on living like this. I cannot, I cannot. The food I eat chokes me. The jewels I wear strangle me. The gold that I seem to tread on burns beneath my feet. Hush, hush; I will be c?.lm. I am quite well — as sane as you are. Do not natter yourself, 1 entreat you, that this is any mental or nervous disorder a doctor can cure. I have thought it all out a hundred times, over nnd over again. Morris, we are thieves, plunderers, brigands. Oh, don't look at me like that ! I'm not a Socialist, oi> ft Communist, or a Radical. I haven't dabbhd in politics. I know nothing about them, or the Social question.- I don't know what that 'means. .1 understand perfe.ct!v that their must be rich nfld pgop (always, £h#t there is y£Mgglß WSiIM) J?u JP&* tliuU I ii } £. Sui "nvt ours— not ours — the Church is right!" "An," he burst out, "J might have thought some proselytising fanajtic " " No," she slid ; " what have you and I to do with churches ? But the other day, by chance, in the midst of my perplexities, I csme across this statement, that the Christian Church has, through all the ages, refused to admit the trade in ironey as a legitimate means of gain. I understand. The. Papacy, you have always told me, is very careful as to what it condemns or approves. Have you not always told me that ? '' "Yet, but " " It haff condemned, through all the ages, our fhianc'ng as dishonest, as a trade that no Christian should folloAV. 'What is that to us"/' you say. True, it is nothing to us. It is but an argument that I clutched at in pa-sing. I drn't need it as an argument. My arguments are here ! " She struck her breast, lying against his knees, her hands and her eyes one appeal ! " Let me hear them," he said desperately, looking away. "I know there must be a certain amount of money-lending and changing, credit, and deposit, and bills of exchange, and that sort of thing. Am I not a Rialto as well as yourself ? 1 have been brought up amongst these matters, I know. But not our -way ! " He turned on her. " Our Avay is that of the Rialtos," ho exclaimed; "we never 1 iiad another, way. Am I not one of the partners? What on earth do you mean? You know nothing about it; nothing at all." " Yes ; our. way is the way of the Rialtos," she said. .She rose- to her.ieet. li lt is, that I complain of. Ours is not the decent trade — hardly honourable, perhaps, yet scarcely dishonourable, either —of the legitimate banker, the inevitable go-between — we, the great money lords, the monopolists of j capital, tlie manipulators 'of millions— -I don't knoAr whether" I am saying it right." quite right,' he said; "go on!" " Ycu know what we dc — nh, you know ! Under false names we start companies all ths world over, companies that we never expect to pa)-— 2r, better still, we ruin the undertakings that others have started, and when they are ruined we buy them Up. lhc-7 i<uy than ! They pay then ! - '.' [* that your entire conception of our business?" "No. Would that it wsro ! 'Never consider any capitalist too sirall to Do worth crushing!' How often have I not heard my father say that at home ! You, Morris, do you not say' it ? " She paused. " it is a maxim of the house," ne replied

uncomfortably ; "a, rule of business, not a personal opinion ut all. Finance is war ; it is a question of hereditary tactics towards a traditional end. You tall- as if a general were an assassin bcc?.use he burnt an enemy's town." "WnrT she crk-d. "No I war has 'ics code.- of honour— 7l.l/ least, it 'fend -wheiv kings, nnd not -"money^femders, made ;: it7 War? No ; mivs i% brigaiidagc — no, notfiferigjyicl.fge ,••>.»-. i.- on". ;»t,;i honest — a. risk for a risk. Ours «.--s.!.fc Tiillnge, protested l^ the' laws that feve'-byiilt iip 'Snobbery, vxi ■udTHnteretv. sure plucking of- yigeons ants phiii_.ering<-«>f bees' Tiesfcs.-'by .stow force axx. -swift fnuSi. You yourself -remember how ycu* told mt only m "fortnight ago. that the IsWd™.. a-busH ness 7«U"hjrd- •srojtefaf.-d I/ad acjrjJiitd .for ■%. clerkship in ours. - ' " We'gave'*-!; hunl" "Yo_. gave it. hiss! AM h'ib.i&iughter wrote me a, letter ancfctold me _hsvf shß-woiili not- eaVcunbriad. '--She had ibft^er fathcVs house .wid got-.i s&uafison as a, wer\s;nt." . .7' She' was young. Her fcrt-bcr -was v the wiser di- the two." Sh© -draw •bfnil- from him.: '-. „ .-. 7 '' Wbiit woifia'yoii h?.ve? " lw.«rii.a.<2ercelv, brought to liay. \ "-Tfc-se tlitng^ ,«»■©■ sne-v»it--able, I *i--H.yo«- -tliey are part <h(- thc game. If we '«alk<sd like -mis, we. shoSfd' havo to stop Jbaainess- altogether. One man can't gain without- auother nnan's _ta-.i-Rg. "*You .ccn't lave tho biggest diamond in 'the wotld and the 'Tyßchess -of Sangra! Havre it- too. " ' drew still farther away from liim." * No, t*©7'. she-si. id,vwirily,' heir hand to 'her tired eyes, * one man can srain without amufrherVlosing. It isntfhe^arie ; I feel hyisift, tlwurti? Tr.jan't eKpiain:;a«3T Avish I oould. Aii -India merchant, for" in-. .•stance, or-it. clothttnanufaQturer, wthe m"ventor ■5f i «,-new-.prtices--^these haree-a-ijifiht ■fto _ their thousands. But we— we. with: our _-Kulhons-^Hr:tr{fde"e»-moi».v-gettrrig,oul3----we. to make profits— by libels and liiscrOf ail fsorts, atid f Sfe«ck ';Ss change rumours', ami ••political wh-e^ullingi, . werttaust raki.Q.liet. men that i we may «t_p into their shoes. t\nir trade 5sJ- the mining. of ofcher men!! The • lrtiining of <rtherjaien=-nothing else !" -" It isn"t f*rue,' he said ; " owr trade vis the" .-fecundation of 'capital: 1 * j * " For othvcsT' she -toughed. " "You wen-j -rarely spcai -to me .Afeout tgie bassies?,! .fllerris i ; but you gave mt to understand once! -goer-self,- last -winter, -tint you had pwfin -. ft i 'hotttSi American ?Minister- one nr'llion fctuics! ttoißiake a falte.Btetement.in hisYParliamsn,, 1 and that you had cleared three unillions ll«y' the •transaction. " ! •"■Puf daily b™d bread is daily soaked with b.ood and tears from every Quarter -sffl Jibe glebe," she taiid. *'H-.wonder yo*,can<eat;it;*''__ie exclaimed. ' In. a Sow voice, Whose. every towe rang! clear,.. &e answeasd, *"_ -cannot." Nothing ste-Befl. A piece of wowl rolled forward on the fender with a crash. Then the _ilence hew otts'breath. "It;is :this that Ss Jblllihg me," continued Lady Morris, I « n 't live by theft any'kmger; I smist *afc'honest food." In like -pause thai followed -she shrieked alojid. *'M6ms,'-y&o. wis go -with me! Say. yea wfili go witfe ms, my Jiusband! We will escape from this wretchedness anfl wickedness'! We will k-eafc nvr.ay from it altogether i "Morris, I, tboo., I.'lave you— you know it— wore thaa a»«Btiiig <ftlse on sS-arth !" "Anywhere ycai like, .Angefla. W,© will diSice the yadit — -" "Away from it all, I mean. We can stirjy in Londoa, if you prefer, as long ns we only get away fron* it. But scane other p!a«f.- would surely be better, outside Europe.

Aviiej&i nobody knows us. As long an we get away. I will do anything you like, Mor™ —anything. lam strong. I can work. ' I will newsr complain oisxp hardship, &k long j as weon3y get away." ' j "From what ?-d .if!" She drew herself up— before the first oath she had erev heard him utter. "From the money," eke said, and stood still. He laughed. "We must understand each other," she j continued ; " I cannot eat ifc any Jonger, this bread that is earned by crim.." H* laughed ' again, the tears in his eyes. "Cake," he said, bitterly, "cake." "I want to do whatever I can," she pleaded, her words falling soft as falling snow.. " I will do anything ; I repeat it. Anything yon wish me to do. But, only, don't expect me to stay among this " — her hand swept round the spfendours of the boudoir — " for I can't.". "And how about staying with mc?" he said. . She understood, in that moment, tlie hopelessness of her straggle. " You will come with me," she stammered, tottering, ! pale to the lips. " I will go wherever you wish ; I will do whateveryou like." ! "We .will go out from here as honest beggars to earn an honest livelihood.'.' He was silent. "My God, you will do right ! '' slis gasped, hoarse with* the passion of her yearning. "My husband, my husband! I did wrong to distrust you. You understand now. You had never' thought of it before. We will expiate our long crime before God. In time, perhaps, He will pardon us the massacred thousands of China, the . wrecked homes here in Euroga, in America — the sui* gides F)?fch vrere murders, the broken hearts ==»'' Hhs stopped itfd, sobbing, covered he/a^e i**h hey hands. " I will do any^nng you like," lie V-peßted, " but you must give me time. TJhfese. "cbings are not done in a day. And first- You must recover j-our normal health. You" must go through some course of medical treatment; and if, after that, your resolve remains the same " " You would lock me up in an asylum ! " she cried. I " No, by heaven !" and now his voice faltered. " Angela, have Aye wandered apart as far as this?" "I suppose so," she said sadly, putting back the wet hair from her cheeks. '' Morris, the explanation has come. Let us- at least, in all the misery be grateful for that. I urn going. Now that I have spoken what is in my heart. I could not remain another night under this roof. You would scorn me for doing so. The beds that we lie on — the breakfast they will bring us to-morrow morning — these have been paid for with money that was stolen ! Once I have said this, you would despise mc for touching them ! " "You ha.ye touched them long enough," he replied faintly. "That is a very natural gibe, or rather, from your lips let me deem it a reproof. Hundreds will repeat it .is an insult. Loneenough, indeed ! Mon-is, did I. not love you more — more than I ought to, I "—she halted — "I should not have taken so long." " Love me.!" he exclaimed angrily. " This is an insult! Do not dare to speak of love you, who abandon your husband, your liome| your kindred, every thing you ought to honour — abandon' them, insult them, revile them! Love! " She held out both hands. ".Come'" she said. '.. 77 "Will you tell the whole world what you think of us?" . " Corns ! " she said. " You know a good deal : are you not one of usr-a Rialto? Tell about the Brazilian Finance Minister and about the Chinese massacres. Faugh, these arc trifles !" In his rage and despair he turned upon himself and rent his own bosom. "As you say, I have s-ldom spoken to you about the business. I could tell you a great deal more— a great deal more— for you to tell the world ! " "Come," she said. He threw himself back in his chair, staring at her. She dropped her arms. " I shal' tell nothing," she said, and her voice, still very low, had entirely changed its tone. , "I shall go somewhere and nide myself. I don't know where It has all come so suddenly *or weeks I knew it must come; yet I never \*2t tf iTlf- Do - n ? troublc aboufc Mollis. I shall go right away. where r,o body knows me : I fee! sure I c - m L",t music and singing. I s h"i> w..,> t " eh

■ me, out of the slough of treachery and robbery, with hands that, like mine at this moment, are empty and clean ! " She turned and walked with a slow' step towards the door. From under the chair, she had deserted, her little dog, a King Charles, rushed out and, ran after her. She paused to gather it in her, 1 ; arms, and, still fijiiiigwne last, long, linger^ ing' look on her tau3har:d, slowly drevr «.waj£ into the distance, arid, with the dog ;it 'hei; itjcisatit, went foriXi. h r. • . v-