The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1879-01-30
E XVII. BELLEVUE IA JANUARY 20 1870


Yes" he said, in answer to the
question asked him, "I have called on
business. This is the end of the quar-
ter, and I have come for settlement of
my account"
"LI don't understand you. l have
no outstanding accounts" said John.
"Pardon me. You have this one. 1t
was opened twenty-five years ago to-
night. As said, this is the end Of the
quarter. l like system and promptness
in my settlements
twenty-five years ago? This is all a
mystery to me-" said John.
Perhaps the mention of your wife
will refresh your memory. Blythe way,
l was here and heard the conversation
you had with her and your daughter
this evening. was much pleased with
your words and your manner, as show
ing that you were still faithful to the
agreement made with me twenty-five
years ago."
You will excuse me from discussing
my wife and daughter with you," John
answered, somewhat tartly. "They
have nothing to do with this matter.h
Every thing" responded the visitor
"On the night speak of, you formed
fixed and relentless resolve to win and
marry the woman who is now your
wife,
Well?"
"The resolve was not prompted by
love, for in the fulfllment of it you de-
serted and thereby murdered the girl
whom you loved and who loved you"
John Hathaway made an impatient
gesture, as # to check the recital, but
the other imperiously motioned him to
silence, and proceeded.
"The girl you deserted was poor.
The girl you chose was rich, and you
wanted her money, not herself, for you
had decided to get wealth, at whatever
sacrifice, and to make the getting of it
your one aim and ambition. Before
that you had worked for it conscien-
tiously and unsuccessfully, but on that
night, just 25 years ago, you turned over
a new leaf, and bade conscience and its
scruples FAREWELL
"You are making much talk, and
with very little point" said John, i'm
patiently. "What has all this to do
with an account between you and me?''
"This; you wanted a rich wife.
secured her for you, and SO secured
your subsequent success and prosperity.
come now for the amount due me,
according to agreement.
"You? Yes; might have known.
1t must have been you and none other
who gave me the wife have. But I
owe you nothing for it, And John
laughed dismally.
"Pardon me; let nae refresh your
memory further.'' The stranger un-
rolled his papers and spread them out
upon the table, where he examined
them rapidly.
"Ah, / remember" he said. "I
have only memorandum here in my
own handwriting. Your record of the
transaction was on the new leaf you
turned over on that New Years Eve,
and that is the only one that did not
come into my possession. However,
my memorandum is perfectly valid. On
the night I speak Of, you said most en-
phatically that you would give your soul
to secure the wife who could make you
rich. l accepted your proposal and de-
livered to you the wife. You are in
debted to me in the sum of one soul.
[ have come to close the account
The creditor looked at John, and i'm
patiently drummed with his finger on
the table. John looked 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 q long time," he said at length.
"I have kept track of it, and knew
that it was perfectly safe," answered
the creditor.
"And those papers," said John, with
q 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 that you turn.
ed over at the beginning of every year
Y, were not SO bad that you couldn't
make good resolutions, and not so good
that you couldn't break them at the first
opportunity. Every new leaf you turn
ed over you tore out and threw away
very shortly. l gathered them up, as
do most loose things. You see good
resolution repudiated is worth jus1
twice as much to me as bad resolution
adhered to. Your throwing these away
was an annual acknowledgment of YOU
Indebtedness to me, and my possession
of them is cumulative proof in supper
of my claim"
81 am not at all disposed to disput,
your claim,'' said John, very much as j
his visitor were book agent who has
called with forgotten subscription
"The matter had escaped my memory
but now that you have mentioned it, W
may as well arrange the details of pay