The Grange advance., 1876-02-23

I'm equity, and 1T law, he had then
the power of foreclosing on every house
and rood of ground + owned. / vas in
his power-iu the power Of Robert Elms.
dale. Think Of tt But you never
knew him. Young man you ought to
knecl down and thank God you were nev.
er so placed IS to be in the power Of such
devil
IF ever you should get into the power
Of man like Robert Elmsdale, dou't Of
fend him. It is bad enough to owe him
money but it is worse for him to owe
you grudge. had offended him. He
was always worrying me about his wife
lamenting her ill health. extollirg her
beauty, glorifying himself on having mar.
ried = woman Of birth and breeding; just
as If his were the only wife in the world,
As If other men had not at home women
twice as good, If not as handsome as Miss
Blake's sister. ....- .'.:. .o
"Under Miss Blake's insolence had
writhed; and once, when my usual pru.
dence deserted me, told Mr.. Elmsdale I
had been in Ireland and seen the paternal
Blake's ancestral cabin and ascertained
none of the family had ever mixed amongst
the upper thousand, or whatever the
number may be which goes to make up
society in the Isle of Saints.
1t was foolish and it was wrong; but I
could not help saying what did, and
from that hour he was my enemy. Hith-
erto he had merely been my creditor.
| My own imprudent speech transformed
him into man lying in wait to ruin me.
"He bid d his time. He was man who
could wait for years before he struck, but
! who would never strike till he could make
sure Of finaicting mortal wound. He drew
me into his power more and more, and
| then he told me he did not intend to con-
tinue trusting any one who had betted-
but he must have his money. II
he had not it by certain date, which
he named he would foreclose.
THAT meant he would beggar me, and
l with oil ailing wife and large family
II appealed to him. don't remem.
Der now what said, but do recollect
might as we'll have talked to stone.
'What endured during the time
| which followed, I could not describe,
were to talk forever. Till a man IN
extremity tries to raise money, he never
understands the difficulty of doing so.
had been short of money every hour since
| first engaged in business. and yet new
er comprehended the meaning OF dead.
lock till then.
"One day, in the city, when I was al.
most mad with anxiety, I met Mr.. Elms-
dale.
''Shall you be ready for me Harring-
ton % he asked.
"'I don't know--I hope So l an.
swered.
"'Well remember if you are not pre-
pared with the money, shall be pre-
pared to act. he said with an evil smile.
''As walked home that evening, an
idea flashed into nv mind. had tried
all honest means of raising the money;
l would try dishonest. My credit was
good. had large transactions with
hrst.class houses. was in the habit of
discounting largely and well, signed
names to papers that l ought not to
have done. I had the bills put through,
had four months and three days in
which to turn round, and might by that
time, bo able to raise sufficient to retire
the acceptances.
SIN the meantime, l could face Mr..
Elmsdale, and so wrote, appointing an
evening when would call with the mon
ey, and take his release for all claims
upon me.
"When I arrived at River Hall he had
all the necessary documents ready, but
| refused to give them up in exchange for
my check.
HE could not trust me, he said, aud
he had. moreover, no banking account.
If I liked to bring the amount in notes,
well and good; if not, he would instruct
his solicitors.
"The next day had important busi.
ness to attend to, so stormy interview
ended in my writing pay CASH on the
check, and his consenting to take 1T to
my banker himself.
"My business on the following day, which
happened to be out of town, which detain-
ed me much longer than anticipated,
Hall: Late though it was, however I de.
ternined to go after my papers. held
Mr.. Elmsdale's receipt for tho check, cer'
tainly; but knew I had not an hour to
lose in putting matters in train for anoth-
or loan, if was to retire the forged accept
ance. By experience, knew how the
months slipped away when money had to
be provided at the end of them, and I
was feverishly anxious to hold my leases
and title.deeds once more.
II arrived at the door leading to the
library. Mr.. Elmsdale opened it as wide
as the chain would permit. and then ask
who was there. told him, and grumb-
bling little at the unconscionable hour
to which had elected to Fay my visit,
he admitted me.