The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1857-11-25


ashes.
"Ve.y well,p was the unyielding an
swer, "let it be protested them if you can
bear the operation, think | can"
Colby, almost sneeringly, were these
cruel words said. Mr.. Cartwright urged
his case no further, but turned away and
went from the store Of lis unyielding
creditor. Scarcely had he passed into the
street before the better nature of Mr..
Bancroft rose into the ascendancy, and he
repented of his unkindness.
William. p he called to clerk.
The young man came instantly.
Make this deposit William, and at the
same time withdraw Mr.. Cartwright's
note, due to-day. Money is hard to get
irlst now, and he is burdened with heavy
payments. We must give him a helping
hand" The merchant spoke kindly, not
fretfully. The clerk departed with the
bank book, and check of sufficient
amount to lift the notes that were due.
Mr.. Bancroft remained sitting at his desk,
and from his attitude and the aspect of
his. countenance, it was plain that self
approval was not the pleasant state Of
mind in which he was INDUCING. The
vail of a momentary angry excitement
was removed and how plainly before the
eyes of his mind stood his humbled and
distressed debtor, toward whom not a sin
gle impulse Of kind feeling had stirred.
He tried to find refuge from self-up-
braidings in the fact that he had done all
his debtor asked-the note was with
drawn.
"Yes,' said q voice within him, s'you
have cast q bone with curses, into the face
of a beggar."
Mr.. Bancroft started up hurriedy from
his desk, walked the length of his store,
returned, and sat down again. A long,
deep sigh parted his lips.
What could have possessed me thet
| so far forgot both duty and kindness I!
would give twice seven hundred dollars
to recall This act, were it possible to do
So"
= Drawing sheet OF paper before him,
Mr.. Bancroft took up pen and wrote =
"MR. EDWARD CARTwRrGHT-My
Dear Sir. | have withdrawn your note
Forgive my rough unkindncss. | was
worried about money matters, and had
Just made up my own bank account. We
are not aIwa~s proof against petty annoy
ances. They sometimes disturb more
than larger things. Come in tomorrow,
and we will arrange the renewal of the
note, if you desire it, making the time suit
yourself"
Mr.: Bancroft signed this apologize let
ter, and dispatched it forthwith. He felt
more comfortable after that Still he
suffered some pain from having given pain,
and no little humiliation for the unaimia-
bic weakness he had manifested
did you see Mr.. Cartwright" he
inquired of the lad who had taken the
note.
"No, sir, he was not there" was the
answer.
g GU left my note?"
Yes, sir" The boy looked agitated.
He stood for moment, as if waiting for
further questions, and then said:
They were just driving him away in
a carriage"
"What?" Mr.. Bancroft turned pale.
"They said he had broken a blood
vessel"
Mr.. Bancroft started to his feet with an
exclamation of mingled surprise and pain.
There was blood on the foor.'
Mr.. Bancroft groaned aloud. After
rejecting for a moment he took up his
hat and went out hsrricdly. A walk Of
five minutes brought him to the store of
Mr.. Cartwright.
What was the cause of this e. he
asked of one of the clerks. s'Did he fall {?
or was he lifting anything?"
No answered the clerk. He was
sitting al his desk resting his head upon
his hands, when | heard him call, in a
quick voice, and turning round, / saw the
blood flowing from his mouth.
Had anything disturbed him {" asked
Mr.. Bancroft.
"Money had been hard to get during
the past week. the clerk answered, ssand
Mr.. Cartwrights payments were unusu-
ally large. There is one note not lifted
vet. and it is few moments of three
o'clock. 700 ~
The clerk pointed to q bank notice
lying on Mr.. Cartwright's book.
Mr., Bancroft leaned over, and saw that
it was a note due to him.