Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1878-11-20
HOW MR.. JEROME M0RDAUNT
SQUARED HIS ACCOUNTS.

cbAd -'AA d SboNANNAiibHNs
She was tall, portly, old lady
with false front of intensely
brown curls, a fresh compile xion,
and spectacles that seemed TO
CLEAN at you like twin moons every
time she looked your way-and
she always wore black satin, with
neckerchief of white tulle, and
heavy gold chain wound round
and round her neck and falling in
glittering festoons across her chest.
ayes, ma'am," said Mr.. Audrey,
her legal adviser, I'm afraid he
does"
"Then," said Mrs. Castlethrope,
"he's downright liar"
every likely" said Mr.. Audrey,
dryly. "Young men have misrep-
resented facts before now, and will
sgain, l am afraid"
.But be told me that the last
eight hundred dollars settled all his
debts-and here is washer
woman's bill, tailor's account, a
bootmaker's little memorandum,
and thirty dollars borrowed of
Higgins, the jeweler, on a set of
ruby shirt studs; to say moth
ing of these other bills" and
Mrs. Castlethrope nodded her
head toward a pile of slips of
paper that lay under an ivory
weight, at her left hand. "Why,
it's perfectly disgrac, full! He has
deceived me! He has perjured
himself out and out -
Mr.. Audrey looked wooden and
imperturbable. To him every
phase of human roguery and
duplicity seemed not only possible,
but probable.
"But / won't stand it," cried the
old lady, growing more and more
excited, 81 teach him lesson !"
"You will cut off supplies,
ms'am y said Mr.. Audrey, with a
twinkle Of his dark eyes.
"No-oh, no ~ said Mrs. Castle
thrope, scratching her nose with
the point. of her crochet needle.
"I'll let him have the five hundred
dollars promised him. | am a
person of my word, whatever he
is" with an accent of infinite scorn.
"But, Audrey, haven't told you
about the worst debt of all ~
"IDdeed, ma'aml"
"His landlady's daughter--a
poor, little, blue-eyed thing, with
her head hanging down, and the
prettiest yellow hair ever saw
came here yesterday. He owes
her heart ~
"Borrswed, ma'am p said Lawyer
Audrey, with twinkle of bis dark
eyes.
"Well, yes" assented Mrs.
Castlethrope, grimly. Engaged
himself to her willie he was board
ing there. Dropped her completely
when he was able to remove TO
more aristocratic quarters. Broke
her poor, little heart. Bien! be
shall mend it again"
"Do you think it is probable,
ma'am r asked Mr.. Audrey, rather
obviously.
II viii make il probable I" said
Mrs. Castletbrope, resolutely.
"You're not engaged to dinner for
tomorrow evening, are you, Mr..
Audrey p
al believe not"
"Pray, give US the pleasure Of
your company, then" said Mrs.
Castlethrope. "At six precisely.
To meet my nephew Jerome, and
. select few of his friends"
"FuIl dress r. asked the lawyer.
"Oh, Of course !" said Mrs.
Castletbrope, briskly.
Aud Jerome Mordaunt, louDg-
ing over . French novel in the
elegant seclusion of bis apartments,
was puzzled at the note he had re-
ceived from his aunt.
"Dear Jerome: Come 10 dinner ,
II six tomorrow night, aud we will
have q little talk over your affairs.
The five hundred dollars will be s
ready. Your afectionate aunt.
CONSOLATION CAsTLETHRoPE." q
"The old lady is coming TO her Q
enses, eh :" said he folding the
,illet into the shape Of q cigar &
- nuy~iI IL IL ~ - :.