The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1870-08-12


9hc had TO borrow money, and a
dreadful man lent it her on very OK.
travagant terms, and it went on and
on, and now he claims it all, and it
will kill her, and bring poor papas
namc into Disgrace; and | cannot
bear TO think Of it, SO camo in dos.
pair to your
Tho rapid uttcranco, tho forced
composurc, tho crushed tears and
flushed checks, told even tho practi.
cal man Of tho world that there was
no effort at effect, but that all came
from the heart, true and simple. and
unvarnishcd; Still his tono was hard
and unmovcd, as he replied:
"Miss Do Courcy, l am very sorry
that tho wife Of an honorable man
should be unworthy Of him, and still
more so that you, as an innocent Der.
son, should suffer; but l assure YOU
that even my presumed wealth would
soon be exhausted, if l wcrc to listen
TO such painful appeals. I really
have not five thousand pounds to
throw away Oh such uncallcd- -forfol.
ly."
81 do not ask-I would not talo it,"
replied the girl proudly. "Mr. Brown
low, though | am unable to command
the sum, or the legal security for it, l
at least oiler you some pledge for it's
return. l have seven thousand
pounds left to mo by tho will of my
grandmother, Lady Rcdmync; and 1
am ready and willing to pay you
when como Of age, and tho interest
till then out Of my income"
at is illegal. You arc q minor ::
your future husband can claim it, and
it is not worth button-toss," ho an
swercd.
II know-I knowl'' she pleaded,
eagerly. "But can you not trust me 2
Will you not risk SO little to do so
much good, Mr.. Brownlow2 l will
sign any paper you draw up; sand
solcmn'y declare l would cut off my
hand that signs it rather than forfeit
the pledge; and," she added, with Il
flash Of the archncss Of other days,
':if I were to-to do what you sail,
my husband must take mo with all
my liabilities, INCLUDING poor mammals
and your claim"
"And if you do not marry, you can
not live Oh two thousand pounds
child" said the banker abruptly.
"1cs, l can; and besides, I can
teach. l know many things. I am
not afraid" she said simply. "But
cave poor mamma. She is 80 ncr-
vous and delicate, and needs so many
luxurics; and this man nearly kills
her.
"Pity lie does not outright" camc
between the bankers teeth but he
suppressed tho spontaneous cxclama-
tion, and said, in q kinder though
grave tone "Miss Dc Courcy,.I can
mako no promise until I have examin-
cd moro fully into this matter. In
the first place. l should need to be
assured of the title you possess to the
money you offer as security. In tho
next do not feel inclined to this ras
cally usurcr, or let you pay what is
his due; yet presume, there lis no
check on tho affair. Extravagapt
people like your mother seldom con-
descend to keep any accounts, or
know what they owe, or what they
pay"
Il think I could" replied tho girl
answering painfully.
"You! Why should not think that
you knew that there wcro debit and
credit sides 10 an account"
"Indccd do. l am very fond Of
arithmetic; and know there arc a lot
Of papers in mammals cabinet which
might do believe, show how much
she really has had Of this Mr.. Part
ridge, and what she"
"And whether she has ever paid
him anything" said the banker,
brusqucly. "Wcll 1 will go so fur as
this and no f.. Uher, young lady:
bring your mothers papers here tho
day after tomorrow, and if you can
make anything like satisfactory &C
count to show the real state of things,
and if I can satisfy myself that your
little fortune is really at your own
disposal when you arc of age, I may
then consider whether 1 Should be
fool enough to trust your bond
Mind, don't give you any promise.
If>you like to try what yon can do,
you may. I don't bind myself to any,
thing"
And Blanche, with q heart that
well-nigh choked her in it's tumultu-
GUS bcatings, and eyes that swan in
tears that threatened to become sobs,
pressed the bankers offered hand
gratefully in hers, and retired without
any further reply than her eloquent
features gavo to tho proposal.
CAT twelve, then," he said rs shc
gained the door; "and mind, be pune.
tual."
There was little danger of the girls
breaking the appointment.
"ReaIly, Blanche, you arc very
thoughtlcss to leave mo so long
alonc," said her mother, fretfully, as
tho girl entered the modest apart
ments which had been their sesidence
since Admiral De Courcy's death, 81
am quite i'll with a frightfuI, nervous
headache, and Rai1ine is so saucy
since we came hefe in these misera
bic lodgings, and said she had &c
much to do, she could not spare time
to bathe my head and fan me, as or
dcred her to do, for half an hour
And there is another letter from that
horrid Mr.. Partridge. / am sure
am the most ill-uscd creature, ant
your father so imprudent to leave me-
as he did, after scarcely allowing mt
| the nccessares of Iifan