The Merivale banks

by Mary Jane Holmes

She had seen Fred in the morning, when Louie was brought home, and bowed pleasantly to him now, while wondering what his errand could be. Louie told her and gave her the judge’s note, while Fred again began to apologize and explain why his aunt did not write it, and said he hoped Mrs. Grey would waive every consideration and accept. They must have Louie. The party without her would be like a play with the star actor left out.

Mrs. Grey was very polite, but very firm in declining for herself, but said at last, that Louie could go if she liked and her father approved, and that probably Mr. Grey might accompany her. She couldn’t tell until she saw him.

The brightening of Fred’s face and the assurance with which he assumed that Louie would go, and asked what time the carriage should call for her, was conclusive proof that it was Louie alone who was specially wanted. Mrs. Grey understood, and smiled at the enthusiasm of the young man whose magnetism she felt, as did everyone with whom he came in contact.

For half an hour or more he stayed, talking to Louie of the events of the morning, which she would have liked to forget. It seemed to her like some horrid dream rather than a reality, and she would gladly have shut from her mind, the memory of some of the faces of which she had a glimpse, and to have forgotten the hum of angry, excited voices which she had heard as she passed from one bank to the other.

“What if it had happened to father?” she had often asked herself, with a feeling that it would have been ruin to him, for the National Bank would never have helped him out.

As it was, he had profited by the run, for thousands of dollars were deposited with him which had been drawn from the other bank. She did not understand the business very well, but she had fancied a certain exultation in her father’s manner after all was over which she did not quite like, and which she knew he was trying to conceal. There was no trace of it when he came home, an hour or so after Fred’s departure. On the contrary, he seemed rather depressed, and when told of the second invitation for the evening, answered quickly:

“Nothing could tempt me to go. I have had all of Judge White’s society I care to have. I wonder how many times he will tell his guests that his bank could have stood the pressure without help. Stood! It would have gone down in a crash. Couldn’t have helped it. No small bank could have stood against that mob. It nearly took the life out of me. I feel more like going to bed than to a party.”

He did not, however, object to Louie’s going, if she liked; but regretted that he had not a carriage of his own in which to send her.

“I mean to have one very soon,” he said; his spirits beginning to rise as he talked of the handsome turn-out which had been offered him, and which now, with the increase of funds in his bank, was made possible for his means.

“But, father,” Louie said, “you can’t take that money—Mr. Sheldon’s, for instance—and use it for yourself, can you? I supposed it was given you in trust.”