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and at funerals wore an apron which no dog could look upon and retain
his reason and his opinion； and she was a W。 C。 T。 U。； with all that
that implies of boiler…iron virtue and unendurable holiness。 But there
is was； the pride of riches was beginning its disintegrating work。
They had lived to prove； once more； a sad truth which had been proven
many times before in the world： that whereas principle is a great
and noble protection against showy and degrading vanities and vices；
poverty is worth six of it。 More than four hundred thousand
dollars to the good。 They took up the matrimonial matter again。
Neither the dentist nor the lawyer was mentioned； there was no occasion；
they were out of the running。 Disqualified。 They discussed the son
of the pork…packer and the son of the village banker。 But finally；
as in the previous case； they concluded to wait and think； and go
cautiously and sure。
Luck came their way again。 Aleck； ever watchful saw a great
and risky chance； and took a daring flyer。 A time of trembling；
of doubt； of awful uneasiness followed； for non…success meant absolute
ruin and nothing short of it。 Then came the result； and Aleck；
faint with joy； could hardly control her voice when she said：
〃The suspense is over； Sallyand we are worth a cold million！〃
Sally wept for gratitude； and said：
〃Oh； Electra； jewel of women； darling of my heart； we are free
at last； we roll in wealth； we need never scrimp again。 it's a
case for Veuve Cliquot！〃 and he got out a pint of spruce…beer
and made sacrifice； he saying 〃Damn the expense；〃 and she rebuking
him gently with reproachful but humid and happy eyes。
They shelved the pork…packer's son and the banker's son； and sat
down to consider the Governor's son and the son of the Congressman。
CHAPTER VI
It were a weariness to follow in detail the leaps and bounds the Foster
fictitious finances took from this time forth。 It was marvelous；
it was dizzying； it was dazzling。 Everything Aleck touched turned
to fairy gold； and heaped itself glittering toward the firmament。
Millions upon millions poured in； and still the mighty stream flowed
thundering along； still its vast volume increased。 Five millions
ten millionstwentythirtywas there never to be an end？
Two years swept by in a splendid delirium； the intoxicated Fosters
scarcely noticing the flight of time。 They were now worth three hundred
million dollars； they were in every board of directors of every
prodigious combine in the country； and still as time drifted along；
the millions went on piling up； five at a time； ten at a time；
as fast as they could tally them off； almost。 The three hundred
double itselfthen doubled againand yet againand yet once more。
Twenty…four hundred millions！
The business was getting a little confused。 It was necessary
to take an account of stock； and straighten it out。 The Fosters
knew it； they felt it； they realized that it was imperative；
but they also knew that to do it properly and perfectly the task
must be carried to a finish without a break when once it was begun。
A ten…hours' job； and where could THEY find ten leisure hours
in a bunch？ Sally was selling pins and sugar and calico all day
and every day； Aleck was cooking and washing dishes and sweeping
and making beds all day and every day； with none to help；
for the daughters were being saved up for high society。 The Fosters
knew there was one way to get the ten hours； and only one。
Both were ashamed to name it； each waited for the other to do it。
Finally Sally said：
〃Somebody's got to give in。 It's up to me。 Consider that I've
named itnever mind pronouncing it out aloud。〃
Aleck colored； but was grateful。 Without further remark； they fell。
Fell； andbroke the Sabbath。 For that was their only free
ten…hour stretch。 It was but another step in the downward path。
Others would follow。 Vast wealth has temptations which fatally
and surely undermine the moral structure of persons not habituated
to its possession。
They pulled down the shades and broke the Sabbath。 With hard
and patient labor they overhauled their holdings and listed them。
And a long…drawn procession of formidable names it was！
Starting with the Railway Systems； Steamer Lines； Standard Oil；
Ocean Cables； Diluted Telegraph； and all the rest； and winding
up with Klondike； De Beers； Tammany Graft； and Shady Privileges
in the Post…office Department。
Twenty…four hundred millions； and all safely planted in Good Things；
gilt…edged and interest…bearing。 Income； 120；000；000 a year。
Aleck fetched a long purr of soft delight； and said：
〃Is it enough？〃
〃It is； Aleck。〃
〃What shall we do？〃
〃Stand pat。〃
〃Retire from business？〃
〃That's it。〃
〃I am agreed。 The good work is finished； we will take a long rest
and enjoy the money。〃
〃Good！ Aleck！〃
〃Yes； dear？〃
〃How much of the income can we spend？〃
〃The whole of it。〃
It seemed to her husband that a ton of chains fell from his limbs。
He did not say a word； he was happy beyond the power of speech。
After that； they broke the Sabbaths right along as fast as they
turned up。 It is the first wrong step that counts。 Every Sunday
they put in the whole day； after morning service； on inventions
inventions of ways to spend the money。 They got to continuing this
delicious dissipation until past midnight； and at every s'eance Aleck
lavished millions upon great charities and religious enterprises；
and Sally lavished like sums upon matters to which （at first）
he gave definite names。 Only at first。 Later the names gradually
lost sharpness of outline； and eventually faded into 〃sundries；〃
thus becoming entirelybut safelyundescriptive。 For Sally
was crumbling。 The placing of these millions added seriously
and most uncomfortably to the family expensesin tallow candles。
For a while Aleck was worried。 Then； after a little； she ceased
to worry； for the occasion of it was gone。 She was pained；
she was grieved； she was ashamed； but she said nothing； and so became
an accessory。 Sally was taking candles； he was robbing the store。
It is ever thus。 Vast wealth； to the person unaccustomed to it；
is a bane； it eats into the flesh and bone of his morals。
When the Fosters were poor； they could have been trusted with
untold candles。 But now theybut let us not dwell upon it。
From candles to apples is but a step： Sally got to taking apples；
then soap； then maple…sugar； then canned goods； then crockery。
How easy it is to go from bad to worse； when once we have started upon a
downward course！
Meantime； other effects had been milestoning the course of the Fosters'
splendid financial march。 The fictitious brick dwelling had
given place to an imaginary granite one with a checker…board
mansard roof； in time this one disappeared and gave place to a
still grander homeand so on and so on。 Mans