Ever since my brother and I commenced business together our reputation has been unspotted and I mean to keep it so, if I have to cut off my right hand." Mrs.Romaine gazed upon the stern sad face of her husband, and felt by the determination of his manner that it was useless to entreat or reason with him to change his purpose; and so with a heavy heart, and eyes drooping with unshed tears, she left the room.
"John," said Mr.Romaine to the waiter, "tell Charles I wish to see him before I go down to the office." Just then Charles entered the room and bade good morning to his father.
"Good morning," replied his father, rather coldly, and for a moment there was an awkward silence.
"Charles," said Mr.Romaine, "after having witnessed the scene of last night, I have come to the conclusion to dissolve the partnership between us." "Just as you please," said Charles in a tone of cold indifference that irritated his father; but he maintained his self-control.
"I am sorry that you will persist in your downward course; but if you are determined to throw yourself away I have made up my mind to cut loose from you.

I noticed last week when you were getting out the briefs in that Sumpter case, you were not yourself, and several times lately you have made me hang my head in the court room.

I am sorry, very sorry," and a touch of deep emotion gave a tone of tenderness to the closing sentence.

There was a slight huskiness in Charles' voice, as he replied, "Whenever the articles of dissolution are made out I am ready to sign." "They shall be ready by to-morrow." "All right, I will sign them." "And what then ?" "Set up for myself, the world is wide enough for us both." After Mr.Romaine had left the room, Charles sat, burying his head in his hands and indulging bitter thoughts toward his father.

"To-day," he said to himself, "he resolved to cut loose from me apparently forgetting that it was from his hands, and at his table I received my first glass of wine.