Chapter III

The six months had fully expired, even down to the last day of grace.

Hannah sat at the piano, playing “Home, sweet home,” anxiously waiting the return of George. The hour at which he usually came home had gone by, and she occasionally cast an impatient glance at the clock.

She had observed that for several days he had worn a troubled air, and had even been so cross as to repulse her when she offered her accustomed caress; but the thought that his business matters were in an embarrassed condition never occurred to her. He had often boasted of his success, and of course she had no reason to dread the calamity which her father had pointed out to her before her marriage.

A violent pull at the door bell started her from the piano. A rough-looking person was ushered into her presence.

“Very sorry, ma’am,” said he, with an awkward bow; “but I’ve come to take possession.”

“What do you mean, sir?” exclaimed Hannah, affrighted by the crowd of disagreeable thoughts that rushed to her brain.

“Why, simply, ma’am, that the notes haven’t been paid, and Mr. Harrison’s creditors have attached the property. This furniture now belongs to Messrs. Rowe & Co.”

The deputy sheriff, having placed a keeper over the goods, politely bowed himself out, leaving Hannah a prey to a thousand anxious forebodings.

The arrival of George was an intense relief to her.

“Just as I supposed!” exclaimed he. “My creditors have had their heads together, and every thing has gone by the board at once.”

“Pray, what does it all mean, George?” asked Hannah.

“I have failed; my creditors have driven me into an assignment. I am a beggar.”

“Why, George, I thought you were doing remarkably well.”

“I was; but, with all the business I have done, I doubt if I could ever have met these notes.”

“But how much do you owe, George? Can’t you sell the piano, and pay it?”

“It would be only a drop in the bucket. To come right to the fact, I suppose my creditors saw that I lived up to my income, and so it was no use for them to be gentle. I must find a situation now as a salesman, and we must give up this house, and board.”

“You ought not to have bought that piano; you know I didn’t want you to if you couldn’t afford it.”

“And a thousand other things ought not to have been bought. If I had saved the money, my creditors would probably have given me an extension on my paying a part of their demands. But it is too late now; I have been a fool. Your father was right after all.”

“I am afraid he was; but here he comes.”

“Six months after date,” said Mr. Miller, entering the room.

“You were right, sir; I have been a fool,” replied George, with due humility.

“Well, the victory is half won when you see the error. But I have not come to reproach you for your folly, George. How much do you owe?”

George stated the amount.

“Very well,” continued Mr. Miller. “I have already seen your creditors, and with my name on your paper, they have agreed to give you an extension.”

“Sir!” exclaimed George, starting back in amazement.

“But you must let Messrs. Rowe & Co. take these useless traps; your house is furnished well enough for a prince.”

“George is fully sensible where the error lies, father; we are ready to profit by the lesson.”

“All right. Young folks think that old folks are fools, and old folks know that young ones are. Well, well; we must live and learn.”

“I am very grateful to you, sir,” began George.

“There, there! that will do. All I desire is, your prosperity. When I objected to your marriage, I foresaw the event which has now happened. You have done remarkably well in your business; but the best business in the world wouldn’t pay for a stock of goods in six months, to say nothing about a thousand dollars in furniture and knick-knacks.”

George went to work again on a better principle. When he entered a note on his “Bills Payable,” it was not until after he had made a close calculation upon the means of meeting it. He was successful at last, though, like a majority of young men on the same street, he won his way to success through failure and disaster, over the rough road of bitter experience.

A smaller house was procured, and furnished in a neat and plain style, and Hannah is quite as happy as she was during the honeymoon in her more ample establishment, especially as George—who is now never embarrassed by money matters—is always cheerful, contented, and withal a loving and devoted husband; and the prospect now is, that he will be so “Six Months after Date.”