The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1867-07-11
had neglected to take any acknowledge.

lh SOluO COuutluS IOou
Have you vacancy in yours, Bol.
ton ? asked Harcourt beginning to un-
derstand for the first time man who he
had feted and obliged.
Well, no. bald Bolton, but 1 may
hear of some place. =.
Il won't trouble you. Mason has Of
fered me a clerkship,'
Has he indeed. You had better
take it by all rneans.'
1 don't know /; 1 thought ! might
like to go into business for myself
But you need capital
Yes, l know. But 1 have provided
for all my debts, and have enough owing
to me to start me in small business -
Talbot owes me three thousand. Gray
one thousand and you two thousand,
then their are some smaller sums.
1 owe you two thousand dollars !!
surely you must be mistaken
mot at all A year since you bor'
rowed thousand
I repaid it. You have forgotten
And three months since you borrow
ed thousand. Both are still DUE
Then you have ny notes p
None were given
'Iregret to say you are under mis-
understanding, 1 owe you nothing /;
but if loan Of fifty dollars will be OF
service to you
1T will not said Harcourt, haugkti-
ly. Il bid you good morning, sir.
There has indeed been misunderstood
ing. I tho't you my friend but I now
discover my mistake
'Lordly airs for a bankrupt !! said
Bolton to himself. He can't prove
the debt, and I can't afford to let two
thousand dollars 60 when l can as we'll
retain them
Harcourt, indignant and disappointed
at Bottoms baseness, kept on his way
until he reached Tslbots store.
Is Mr.. Talbot in p he inquired of
one of the clerks.
Il will go and see.'
Who is it p asked Talbot, who was
reading ne:wSysPaper.
Tell him l am particularly engaged
was the reply.
This answer was carried to Lionel.
Does he know who it is !?
yes sir, he inquired
Lionel smiled slightly, turned and
left the store.
He caught sight Of his friend Gray,
OF the other side of the street.
ooh, Gray, good morning
Good morning, Harcourt, said
Gray, half cordially, curious to know
the particulars of his friends ruin
What is this 1 hear q? Are you really
bankrupt Shan't you save anything ?
sMy debts are all provided for lucki-
", and l shall have clear the money
Lavo lent out. believe you
Excuse me, Harcourt,' said Gray,
hurriedly. There is a man opposite |
wish particularly to speak to-
And he turned away fearful of wha'
was coming.
'All alike, said Harcourt bitterly
1 couldn't have believed it. And yet
these men have eaten at my table and
professed the greatest friendship for me
Ha, who comes here 1t is Miss Rid
gely. l wonder whether she will ac
the same way
Miss Ridgely was a fashionable
young lady, who for the last three
months had laid violent siege to Lion
els heart. He was not in love will
her, but might have been ffattered in
to offering himself if his prosperity hac
continued.
Miss Ridgely made very slight ant
cold inclination, ignoring LionePs evi
dent intention TO speak to her.
'She too he said to himself. 'Thi
repays me for all. l might have beel
fool enough to marry her and so wreck
cd my happiness
This was enough for one day. LionC
was convinced that his friend was right
but was resolved to carry out his origi
nal plan and keep up the show Of power
ty for u month.
On the next Monday he went int
Mason's office, a clerk on six hundre'
dollars salary, as he took care to hav
it understood. He obtained boardin
at cheap boarding. house, and entere
upon new life Every day he ne
his old friends in the street. They jus
acknowledged his bow and no more
Lionel looked after them with a quie
smile.
Il am glad he thought, that m
eyes are open at last
So things continued for a month. Br
one morning Bolton and Talbot, walk
ing arm in arm, were almost paralize
with astonishment at encountering Ha
: court driving up street in stylish tur
: out, behind a handsome pair of bay
Lionel was elegantly dressed and nevt
in his life had he looked handsome
Good Heavens Is that Harcourt ?
) asked Bolton.
t Let us speak to him., said Talbot