Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-04-11
i. Alick had a delightful hour and

SAoVCAuA duu udppy Us COu1N UCs
Thenceforward life was q different
thing to the young country lad. Blan-
tyre, for some reason or other, kept
him constant company. He said che
liked Alick Mcleod" and we are only
too ready to believe that we are capable
of inspiring affection. He took Alick
! to his tailor; he took him to bootmakers
and matters and fashionable BARRIERS;
and though Alick WINGED at the price
he paid for these favors, he could not
but perceive that his personal appear
ance was much improved. Then Blan-
tyre began to show him ''life"-to take
him to clubs and theatres, and to intro
duce him to a lot of other good fellows.
OF course these events came gradual
~. Alick knew well that he was on
dangerous ground and in dangerous
company, and over and over again he
resolved to assert his own rights and
his w opinions. But n little weak
spot always betrayed him-he was
afraid Of what people would sag. Afraid
of the sneers of the inferior clerks, and
afraid of the taunts and smiles of the
men whom he called friends"
Thus matters went on for nearly a
year. He attended faithfully to his bust
ness, and he kept out of debt. About
these two things Rantyre found him in
pregnable, and so he made . point of
lattering him on them.
s'You are such a fellow to work, Nc
Leod. 1 was telling our manager to-
day that you are perfectly overwhelm-
ing. Will you come to my room to-
night? Lang and Brown will be there,
and we will have a quiet game of whist.
''Don't say NO now, Alick. I'm going
on my vacation next week.
So Alick hesitated and yielded, and
they had a very merry party, all of
them drinking more wine than was
usual. When Lang and Brown left
Blantyre urged Alick to stay all night,
and as his lodging was a mile away he
agreed. Then they sat down for a con-
fidential chat, and Blantyre asked Alick
to put his name on a little bill. Only
as a matter of FORM" he said, .sold fell
low"
"How much is the bill?"
"Only ESQ that l owe Scott and Trum-
bull. There is no risk"
'.No risk?"
"Not unless you consider me a thief
and a scoundrel," said Blantyre, a little
haughtily.
Of course Alick protested he had the
greatest confidence, etc., ETC., and Blan-
tyre grew cooler and cooler as Alick
protested. That only showed how we'll
he had studied his victims character.
"Don't do it if you suspect me, Nc
Leod. Of course l know I have tried
to be kind to you in various ways, but
don't do it from any sense of obligation.
Don't do it unless you can do it freely,
you know, and from friendship and that
sort of thing. I would not have it,
etc.
So the end of the matter was that
Alick himself pressed the matter, and
became security for his friends bill at
Scott & Trumbull's, fashionable tail
ors.
But in spite of Blantyre's assurances
that it was s'all right" Alick was un-
easy; especially so when he got a letter
the next day from his mother. saying
that his sister ''Marion had been so iii
that it was necessary to send her to the
seaside, and if he could spare a little
towards the unusual expense it would
prevent the necessity of stopping little
David's schooling" He showed Blan-
tyre this letter, and Blantyre said:
"Poor little girl! OF course you must
help her to the seaside. What do you
look at me in that way for Alickp
"That bill, Blantyre? Is there any
possible fear that I shall have to meet
it ?"
"What do you take me for, sir ?''
And Blantyre marched angrily away.
He did not speak again to Alick before
weeks wore On Alexis anxiety con.
stantly increased. The bill was due on
the fifth of August, but B~lantyre's leave
of absence expired with July. OF course,
all would be right when he got back.
But he did not return to his desk the
first of August, and before night there
was a whisper that he had gone abroad
! with a sick relative.
"But he'll write Oh surely, he'll
write!' But with this thought the poor
fellow comforted himself. The second,
third, fourth day of August passed;
there was only n more post. He
could neither eat nor sleep; he watched
for it with an indescribable heart-sick-
ness. It came-and passed.
No letter! 1t would not do to have
the tailor come or send to McTavish's
about it. He went to Scott & Trum-
bulls and explained that his friend was
on the continent. Mr.. Scott was excess
sively polite, he had really forgotten
the affair. lfMr. Mcleod would take a
seat he would see about the amount.
''It was fifty pounds" said Alick,
family.
"Quite right, sir; and yet quite wrong,
for the amount, I see, is one hundred
pounds"
Zone hundred pounds! 1 don't un-
derstand! How can that hep"
every clear, sir. The original bill
was fifty pounds. Your friend said he
wished to increase it to one hundred
pounds; and [ asked him, as a matter OF
form, for another name. He proposed
yours; and knowing your excellent
uncle, l was quite satisfied"
"And you say I am liable for one
hundred pounds? Why, I never had a
penny's worth of it."
Mr. Scott grimly bowed.
81 have not five pounds in the world"
''Ihat makes no matter. sir. You
can renew for three months.n