Finally Geron says, “I want to sell those stocks and clear off that mortgage, Lear. Do you think I can do it before spring, for I intend going back to the farm again?”
“They have gone up and down,” Lear replied, “and they must advance soon, so I would advise you not to be in a hurry.”
“I wish they had gone up before I ever mortgaged my property to buy them, or down to perdition, I don’t care which,” Geron replied.
“Well, you must not blame me, for I did the best I could for you. You wanted to give your boys a chance to attend the colleges here in the city and have the refining influences of association not to be had in the country. I am sure it has improved them and gives them a polish that they never would have had had they not come.”
On the way home afterwards, Lear told Libra that her brother seemed to imply that he, Lear, was to blame for the mortgaging of the estate.
“I don’t think I am,” he said. “I merely told him how he could secure the stock. I bought heavier of it than he. He complains because he has never received any dividends, only promises. Neither have I.”
In about two months Geron thought he had a customer. Every evening as he came home the old, bright expression seemed returning. He was already planning for a return to the old home. Grace had begun to prepare for the packing, and she had just come to the front door to look over some plants she had felt uncertain about taking with her when who should stand before her but Geron, his lips drawn and his face as white as snow. Before she realized what he was about he had fallen across the floor. All was confusion. The members of the family were running about in all directions. A physician was summoned and said it was paralysis, caused by some sudden shock.
In a day or two he changed his mind and declared it was brain fever caused by several other ailments and he must be kept quiet. Weeks went by and his delirium was terrible, as he shrieked, “I am ruined!” and then again over and over, he cried, “Watered stock, watered stock—I am ruined!”
Then he would imagine he was on the farm again and he would tell them how he wanted everything done. Again he would become partly conscious and cry out, “All the money is gone, all is lost. We are paupers!”
It took all the strength of two men to hold him at these times. Finally he became conscious with a full realization of his great loss, and almost the first word he heard was a voice in the hall, saying, “I must have my rent or I will send him to the hospital, and I will only wait a few days longer. If you have not the money for me day after tomorrow I will send the ambulance. He ought to be there anyway.”