River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1876-02-24

ioNNt ilS nVNf W ASCOi 10 make sure
there was no mistake in his information.
AT the very previous Derby my luck
had begun to turn. | had lost then
lost heavily for me, and he taxed me
with having done so.
I'm equity, and at law, he had then
the power Of iorccloSing on every house
and rood Of ground owned. | was in
his power in the power of Robert EIms.
dale. Think of it-But you never
knew him. Young man you ought to
kneel down and thank God you were new
er so placed as to be in the power Of such
devil
"lf ever you should get into the power
OF man like Robert Elnsdalc, don't Of.
lend him. 1t is bad enough to owe him
money but 1t is worse for him TO owe
you a grudge. had offended aim. lie
was always worrying me about his wife
lamenting her III health, extolliug her
beauty, clarifying himself on having mar
ried a woman Of birth and breeding Just
as If his we're the only wife in the world,
as if other men had not at home women
twice as good, il not as handsome as Miss
Blake's sister.
"Under Miss Blake's insolence had
writhed; and once, when my usual pru.
dence deserted me, told Mr.. Elmsdale |
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
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 his time. lie was man who
could wait for years before he struck, but
who would never strike till he could make
sure of inflictng mortal wound. lie 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
| with an ailing wife and large family
81 appealed to him. | don't remem-
Der now what said, but | do recoleCt
might as well have talked to stone.
"What endured during the time
which followed, ! 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 was al
most mad with anxiety, met Mr.. Films.
dale.
shall you be ready for me Harring.
ton - he asked
81 don't know i hope so 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, al
idea flashed INTO my mind. | had tried
all honest means Of raising the money
would try dishonest. My credit wa,
good. | had large transactions Will
first class houses. was in the habit O.
discounting largely and well, signcC
names TO papers that ! ought not e
have done. had the bills put through
| had four months and three days il
which to turn round, and might by that
time, be able to raise sufficient to retire
the scceDtsnces.
SIN the meantime, ! could face Mr..
Elmsdale, and SO | wrote, appointing an
evening when would call with the mon
ey, and take his release for all claim,
upon me.
when | arrived at River Hall he had
all the necessary documents ready, but
refused togive them up in exchange for
my check.
"IIe could not trust me, he said, aud
he had. moreover, no banking account.
IL liked to bring the amount in notes,
well and good; if not, he would instruct
his solicitors.
"The next day had important bust
ness to attend to, so a stormy interview
ended in my writing pay cash on the
check, and his con senting to take 1t to
my banker himself
"My business on the following day, which
happened TO be out Of town, which detaln.
ed me much longer than | anticipated,
and it was late before ! could reach River
Hall. Late though it was. however ! de
termined to go after my papers. | held
Mr.. Elmsdale's receipt for the check, Ger
tainly; but knew 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 /
was feverlshly anxious to hold my leases
and title-deeds once more.
IL 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 a little at the uncOnscionable hour
to which had elected to pay my visit,
he admitted me.
"lIe was out Of temper. lie had hoped
and expected, knew, TO find payment OF
the check refused, and he could not sub
NIT with squanimity to seeing me slip
out Of his hands.
Evidently he did not expect me 70
come that night, for his table was strew.
ed with deeds and notes, which he had
been reckoning up, no doubt, as a miser
counts his gold.
"a pair of pistols lay beside his desk..-
close to nay hand as took the seat he in
dicat9d.
ave talked long and bitterly. II docs
not matter now what he said or | said.
We fenced round and about quarrel
during the whole interview. ! was meek,
because | wanted him 70 let me have
part of the money at all events on loan
again; and be was blatant and nlsolent
because he fancied | cringed to bim.--and
| did crlnge.