Smyrna times., 1878-10-02
Squaring Up Accounts.

"And he really owes all this money!" |
said Mrs. Castlethorpe.
She was tall, pOrtly old lady, with a
false front of intensely brown curls, fresh |
complexion, and spectacles that seemed to |
gleam at you like twin moons every time |
she looked your way and she always wore |
black satin with a neckerchief of white |
tulle, and heavy gold chain wound round |
and round her neck and falling in glitter
ing festoons across her chest.
"Yes, maam," said Mr.. Audrey her
legal adviser, "I'm afraid he does"
"Then," said Mr.. Castlethorpe, "he is a
downright liar"
Very likely, ma'am," said Mr.. Audrey,
dryly. Young men have misrepresented
facts before now, and will yet, Pm afraid"
" But he told me that the last eight hun
dred dollars would settle all his debts
and here is a washerwoman's bill, tailor's
account, bootmaker's little memorandum,
and thirty dollars borrowed of Higgins, the
jeweler, on a set of ruby shirt-studs, to say
nothing of these other bills" and Mrs.
Castlethorpe nodded her head at pile of
slips of paper that lay under an ivory
weight at her left hand. "Why it's per-
fectly disgracefulI He has deceived me
| He has perjured himself out and out!''
Mr.. Audrey looked wooden and inn
peTluIdOl0. IL ulLu every pudS0 OI uu-
man roguery and duplicity seemed not
only possible but probable. But | won't
stand it l' cried the old lady, growing more
excited. I'll teach him lessonr'
You will cut off supplies, ma'am ?" said
Mr.. Audrey, interrogatively.
"Oh-oh, mol" said Mrs. Castlethorpe
scratching her nose with the point of her
crochet needle. "I'll let him have the
| five hundred dollars l promised him.
am a person of my word whatever he is"
she said, with an accent of infinite scorn.
" But, Audrey, haven't told you about the
worst debt of all''
Indeed, ma'am?"
His landlady's daughter-a poor little
blue-eyed thing, with her head hanging
down, and the prettiest yellow hair | ever
saw-came yesterday. He owes her a
heart"
Borrowed, ma'amP' said Lawyer An
drey, with twinkle of his dark eyes.
"Well, yes" asserted Mrs. Castlethorpe,
grimly. Engaged himself to her while
he boarded there. Dropped her completely
when he was able to remove to more
tie heart. Bien he shall mend it again.
"Do you think it is probable, ma'am p
asked Mrs. Audrey, rather obviously.
81 will make it probable" said Mrs
: Castlethorpe, resolutely. "You're not en-
gagged to dinner for tomorrow evening, are
you, Mr.; Andrey2"
:" Pray, give us the pleasure of you
company, then," said Mrs. Castlethorpe
cat six precisely. To meet my nephew
Jerome, and select few of his friends"
Full dress2 2" asked the lawyer.
"Oh, of course?" said Mrs. Castlethorpe
briskly.
And Mr.. Jerome Mordaunt, loungin
over French novel in the elegant seclu
sion of his apartments, was puzzled at tn
note he received from his aunt.
"DEAR JEROME Come to dinner at six tC
morrow night, and we will have little tai
over your affairs. The five hundred dollar
will be ready for you.
Your affectionate aunt
CONSOLATION CAsTLETHoRPE."
"The old lady is coming to her sense
~ said he, folding the billet into th
shape of cigar-lighter. "Well, Pm glad I
it. | couldn't have kept up the campaig
much longer without ammunition. | wi
If be there punctual to the minute, dear aul
Conny may be sureE
He was as good as his word. AT six
the second he bowed himself debonnair
into Mrs. Castlethorpe's old-fashioned di
~ ing-rOOm--Old-1aSnlOn Out eminent
he Is, comfortable. A fire of anthracite COT
ed. glowed and crackled in the crate, wi
"a candles shown with white lustra in silv
candelabra, and large centre-piece
flowers decked the middle Of the boar
s while solid silver, glass ornamented with
- monogram and painted china were arrang
to the best advantage. Mrs. Castlethor
was rich, and she liked to show it.
~ "Oh, it's you, Jerome, is it ?" said 81
10 Pray walk in. Take that seat at
head of the table. You are my guest
honor tonight. JONES'" to the old butl
"show in my other friends"
If And while Jerome Mordant was marv
nv ing what this unusual politeness cot
portend, old Jones threw open the 70
"a. ing doors, and in marched lawyer Andr
cut followed by Stichen, the tailor, in his 81
1se neI days best, Mrs. Riordan,, the wash
ted. ed woman, in a surprising mob cap, the c.
4 OF or sumptive little boot-maker, Higgins,
iY h1a' ieweler, Prickem, the cigar merchant, a