The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1878-01-24

1XeO ana relentless resolution 10 WIN
and marry the woman who is now
your wifel'
sWel!?'
The resolve was not prompted by
love, for in the fnlfillment of it you
deserted and thereby murdered the
girl you loved and who loved you
John Hathaway made an impatient
gesture, as if to check the recital, but
the other imperionsly motioned him
TO silence, and proceeded.
The girl you deserted was poor.
the one you chose was rich, and you
wanted her money, not herself, for
you had decided to get wealth at what
ever sacrifice, and to make the getting
of it your one aim and am mbition. Be-
fore that you had worked for It con
sclentiously and unsuccessfully, but on
that night, just twenty-five years ago.
you turned over q new leal, and bade
conscience and Its scruples FAREWELL
You are making much talk, and
with very little point said John, inn
patiently, 'Whst has all this to do
| with an account between you and me
This, you wanted q rich wife.
secured her for you, and so secured
your subsequent success and prosper
ity. come now for the amount due
me, according to agreement.
You? Yes; might have known.
1t must have been you and mono other
who gave me the wife l have. But
owe you nothing for it. And john
Hathaway laughed dis,nally.
Pardon me; let me refresh your
memory further The stranger un-
rolled his papers and spread them out
upon the table where he examined
them rapidly. =-f--..-
.Ah, remember he said. l have
only. a memorandum here in my own
hand writing. Your record of the
transaction was on the new leaf you
turned over on that New Year Eve,
and that is the only one that did Not
come into my possession. However.
my memorandum is perfectly valid.
On the night l speak Of you said
most emphstically, that you would
give your soul for the wife that could
make you rich. 1 accepted your pro-
posal aud delivered to you the wife.
You are indebted to me in the sum OF
one Soul. have come to close the
account.
The Creditor looked at John, aud
impatiently drummed with his finger
on the table. John losked at the
Creditor without any further show OF
| emotion than would have been evoked
by any other collector who had called
with an annoying bill. :.
you have allowed the account to
run long time he said at length.
Il have kept track Of it, and knew
that it was perfectly safe,' answered
the Creditor ~ 81, s.s5..-.
Aud those papers, said John with
listless wave of his hand toward the
table. Have they any bearing on
this account
Those are your annual vouchers, so
to speak, the Creditor responded.
They are the new leaves you turned
over at the beginning of every year.
You were not 40 bad that you couldn't
make good resolutions, and not SO
good that you couldn't break them at
the first opportunity. Every new leai
you turned over you tore out and
threw away very shortly. gathered
them all up. as do most loose things.
You see good resolution rcpudiated
is worth just twice as much az bad
resolution adhered to. Your throw
ing those away was an annual &C
acknowledgement of your indebtedness
to me, and my possession of them is
cumulative proof in support of my
claim
Il am not at all disposed to dispute
your claim said John. very much as
it his visitor were book agent who
had called with forgotten subscrip-
ton. sThc matter had escaped my
memory, but now that you have men,
toned it, VIC may as well arrange the
details Of payment without delay
The debtor drew his chair to tie
table, and sat close beside the Creditor.
The latter smiled cordially, aud rub.
| bed his hands, as being pleased that
settlement was to be made SO prompt
ly, and without any unnecessary fuss.
And the little lamp that John Hatha-
ways uuloycd daughter had lett with
him shed its light over the uncanny
group and their dread transaction, the
gentle influence Of the good aiding
tho evil purpose of the bad.
Now said the Debtor, if you will
take . pencil and paper and make a
memorandum OF the various items in
this business, mercy as matter Of form
we can close the account in short or
DER
With some slight signs of reluctance
and disappointment, the Creditor pre-
pared himself to do the work suggest
ed. When he was ready John Hath
away commenced 10 tell off the items.
Twenty-Five years ago l married q
woman 1 did not lOye, my only mo-
tive being to get her money. Put that
down. he said.
| Next item, said the Creditor, wri-
ting.
During all these years my only
conscience has been the daily market
report
4 have that down already said the
Creditor, sitting with his pencil sus-
pended.
MY home, the home Of my wife
aud child, has been only the waiting