Nothing but Money! CHAPTER 26.
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Mr. Guyton was a very shrewd merchant, and none was wiser than he, in all that appertained to the making and keeping of money. But, take him outside of his money-schemes — and he was shorn of his strength.
As a money-maker — he was great; as a man — nothing. Present to him a question of trade, or finance — and nine times in ten his decision would be of the soundest character; but, let the question involve domestic expediency, or social law, and he had no skill — no perception. He comprehended the operations of business thoroughly, and understood human nature on the business side; but mental and moral movements puzzled him, and human nature on the social side, was a mystery he had no skill to penetrate. With him, it was, literally, nothing but money. All his wisdom lay crystallized around his love of gold.
Mr. Guyton was not, therefore, equal to the new position of affairs in his family. He was adrift on a troubled sea, without chart or compass. The resolute attitude of Mrs. Guyton, confounded as well as confused him. He knew her well enough to be assured that, in assuming this attitude, she had changed her front for the purpose of strengthening, in some way, her position; and that this would strengthen it, and so gain some new advantage, he felt sure — the conviction oppressing him with a sense of his own weakness in her hands. She was a power, acting upon him in such subtle and strange ways, that he could make no sure defense. Usually, if he threw up a barrier, and entrenched himself — the enemy retired, leaving the post of no value — but weakening and annoying him with assaults from unexpected quarters. Now, however, she was bearing bravely down upon him, with all her banners displayed, meaning to risk a battle. Was he strong enough to meet the shock? Did he know the strength and resources of his enemy?
Mr. Guyton's heart failed him. The attitude of his wife was too bold; too full of conscious strength; too resolute. The time had come, when he must choose between her and his older children. If they did not submit themselves to her, they, or she, must go out from his home. That was the alternative clearly offered. A feeble attempt at remonstrance and persuasion was made — but Mrs. Guyton turned it aside as futile. She would have no parley.
"I ask nothing, sir — but what is right and just — nothing that you should not, of your own motive, secure to me as your wife" — was the tenor of all her answers. "If I am to be insulted and set at nothing here, to whom are you to look for the integrity of your home? Let your sons deport themselves in a befitting manner — and all will be well. If they do not, the responsibility of what follows is with you and them. I shall wash my hands clear of all stain."
Henry and John were not at home a week, before the storm hung dark above.
Their father had warned and admonished them faithfully; but they were not of those who profit by warning and admonition. Passion, prejudice, appetite and self-will — were their counselors.
In order to get Henry out of the way of his mother, and the temptation to annoy her, Mr. Guyton gave him a place at one of the desks in his counting room, and kept him fully occupied all day. This was a highly conservative movement; and if Edwin, now fifteen years of age had been sent away to school, Mrs. Guyton, by a system of demoralizing indulgences, could have maintained the balance of peace with John, until in his steadily progressing downward course, he reached a point of depravity at which his father would cast him off. In this way, sooner or later, Mrs. Guyton saw that John would be disposed of, and thus out of her path.
But Edwin's presence at home, united as she had prophesied, the forces against her, and she began to set her own in battle array. In this, she was the superior strategist, and wrought silently, and in secret, until the time for opening the contest had arrived. Non-combative, she appeared to be, in the eyes of John and Edwin, who made one advance upon another against her authority, she seeming to yield as they advanced, until she had them completely in her power. Let us see how the position stood.
John's humiliation at school, did not make him ashamed at home. He had lost, even at his early age — all sense of honor. Appetite and passion only grew more clamorous from restriction, for his animal nature was in the ascendant. His father cut off all supplies of pocket money, this being the only way to punish and restrain that he could devise; and, very naturally John applied to his mother. Instead of meeting his applications, as in former times, Mrs. Guyton said — "Go to your father," — thus pushing him away from, instead of drawing him near to her, and conciliating him by indulgence. So John put himself in opposition, and, out of a revengeful spirit, assailed her, on all fair occasions, with annoyancesand disrespect. These she bore with a quietness that encouraged John, to whom Edwin, a weak — but not naturally wicked boy, went over, and grew bold in despising his mother's authority.
"John," said Mrs. Guyton, one morning, about ten days after his return home, "go to my room and bring me my purse. You will find it in the left hand, small drawer, of my bureau."
"Give me the key." John was advancing towards her before she was half done speaking. Only three minutes before, he had refused to get her a book from the library.
"The drawer is not locked," was answered.
With a springing step John left the room, and in a few minutes returned with the purse.
"Thank you," said Mrs. Guyton, as she took it from his hand, and placed it in her pocket. She had no need to examine its contents to be assured that John had helped himself. Eyes like hers read faces as if they were books.
In less than twenty minutes John and Edwin went out together and were gone all the forenoon. Mrs. Guyton knew to a penny how much the purse contained when it came into John's hand; for she had counted the half dollars and bills over twice. Two half dollars and a five dollar bills were missing. A gleam of satisfaction went over her face as this fact was ascertained, and she said to herself, speaking aloud —
"Just as I expected!"
It was nearly dinner time when John and Edwin came home. John was self-possessed, and rather jaunty; but Edwin's face wore a shy look, and there was an air of embarrassment about him that did not escape the keen eyes of his step-mother. Purposely, she drew near the two boys, so as to get their breaths in speaking; and discovered, what she had already suspected, that they had been drinking some kind of intoxicating liquor. The fact did not shadow her placid brow.
John was quieter than usual at the dinner table. Occasionally, Mrs. Guyton detected a look of inquiry, sent across to her half covertly. John was, evidently, in uneasy debate on the question, as to her knowledge of his guilty inroad on her purse.
The first course had passed, and they were nearly through with the dessert, when Mrs. Guyton, without preliminary, or warning, asked, looking at John —
"How much money did you take from my purse this morning?"
The suddenness with which she put the question disconcerted John. His face grew red, and there was some hesitation of manner, before he responded, in an angry, repellant tone —
"I don't know what you mean!"
"You went to my drawer this morning?" said Mrs. Guyton, without the slightest sign of weakness in her even tones.
"You sent me to your drawer," asseverated John, vehemently.
"I know."
"You asked me to bring your purse. Edwin was present." And John glanced towards his brother, whose pale face betrayed his knowledge of, and participation in wrong.
"Very true; and you brought it. My question referred to the sum you took therefrom before delivering it into my hands."
"Not one cent!" said John — angry and positive; and he offered a startling curse in confirmation of his denial, shocking and astonishing everyone at the table. All this while, Mr. Guyton had remained silent, like one half stupefied. Now he aroused himself, and in a loud voice, looking at John, cried out —
"Silence, sir! How dare you use such language here?"
"I dare anything when falsely accused, sir," answered the boy, boldly.
"When my purse was taken into your hands, it contained twenty-four dollars; and when you placed it in mine, the contents were reduced to eighteen," said Mrs. Guyton, speaking slowly but firmly. "Ten minutes before you went for my purse, you refused to get me a book from the library; but, when the request to bring my purse was made, you were off with a spring. It is useless for you to deny the fact of taking six dollars. I saw it in your face, as you handed me my purse. In a little while afterwards, you went out with Edwin, and were gone all the morning — spending the money of course, and not, as I have satisfied myself, in the best and safest way. The stale fumes of a tavern were in your clothes, and the smell of liquor on your breaths. I noted the fact well."
John alone, might have braved his stepmother out, in positive denial; but, the tell-tale face and manner of Edwin, turned his father's attention to him; and a few sternly put queries brought out a clear confession of the truth.
"There is only one safe thing to be done," said Mrs. Guyton, to her husband, when they were alone. "Edwin must be saved from the ruin into which John will certainly drag him, if they are left together. Edwin is weak and easily influenced. Since John came home, I see a change for the worse going on daily."
"I shall send him away to school," was the positive answer of Mr. Guyton. "He must not remain at home for a single week longer."
And he did not. Just as Mrs. Guyton had planned — the event came out. Edwin was sent away from home, and kept as liberally supplied with pocket money by his step-mother, as John had been. Unhappily for the future of the boy's life, the effect was just what Mrs. Guyton designed that it should be. Temptations spread themselves all along his unguarded path, and his feet were ever wandering!
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