Sunday, July 28, 1889 A dull grey day, damp and almost rain. I wrote to Mrs. Darley and also to Miss Nesmith. Girard came over after dinner evidently to talk with me but said nothing until I asked him what he had done in his affair. Then he told me nothing was to be done unless I would endorse his note for $2000. This I declined to do and gave my reasons. He grew unreasonable and charged me with the responsibility of having to give up his business. I showed him how he has gradually got deeper and deeper into debt, that I would have to pay the note and that I could not now pay what I was called on to pay, but he dont seem to care about my burdens. I do not consider that he ought to drag me down with him and as I told him I could help him more by trying to save our property than I could by signing his notes. I feel sorry for him and do not know how he is to escape having his business broken up, but I cant do impossible things and I will not be drawn into doing what seems to me so hopeless as signing his notes. I feel sick and discouraged. If I had the money I would lend it to him but I cant lend what I do not possess. I suppose I might have been more gentle in my refusal but he was very aggravating and when he held me responsible for his ruin it was more than I could stand.
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