Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-06-17
CHATTER XIX.

"Ah. here Is Mr.. Denman. How do
you do and how is business just now2"
The old cashier smiled and shook hands
with the master of the shop with his wife
and his brother. and looked about Will.
some curiosity. It was shop for the sale
OF paper hangings in the City. They
were old customers Of the Speed manufac-
tory. They had begun III Il small way,
and been accommodated with long credits
by the firm. and were now indebted to thea
to Il very large amount; the Speeds neg
Letting to call in their money as they knew
it to be perfectly safe.
Job looked about with keen. inquisitive
eyes. The increasing business and pros
pelity of the establishment were plainly
to be seen. At the cashiers desk. behind
the grating. sat the wife of one of the sons
with an air Of authority ON her fair young
face. The old man ground his teeth VIII!
rage as he thought of the difference at tie
mauutactory; but what most troubled
him was. in what way he could ask for
the money they owed without hctraying
his masters pressing needs. BUSINESS was
good. he uegan. viii an ar oil IGtultrenCe.
but he liked to steal away sometimes and
see old frirni%. Then. catching Il glimpse
of concealed amusement in the faces of his
hearers. ne became confused. and took no
his hat to so away. On the threshold he
stopped.
''Sirce am here" he said. "you might
as well settle our old account"
The two brothers and the woman at the
desk exchanged a look.
What account?' And they laughed at
Jobs joke. as they considered it. He
laughed. too. but what a laugh was his
Then they explained to him that young
Mr. Speed had given them receipt in
full. and taken All the money they owed
the firm. six months before. Job had
hardly the strength to stammer:
ITO be sure-I had forgotten. good
friends. I'm growing old, and losing my
memory"
And with these words the old man de-
parted. The young people looked at each
other, and shook their heads sadly; for
they understood the affair perfectly.
Job walked down the street as if he
were in a dream. This then was the rea-
son why George never came 10 him now
for money. Evidently. wherever he might
go. he would find that George had proceed
Ell him. He would try. however. He went
TO another of their customers; he half
opened the door.
"A thousand parlons! he cried; ..but
| will you oblige me with the date of YOUR
last payment to our house, l forgot to
enter it in my books
They told him that FIVE months previ-
ously they had paid everything. He
closed the door and pelsned his weary
pilgrimage. AT that moment Mrs Speeds
carriage swiftly passed him; but Annie
busy with her own miserable thoughts
had no eyes for him.
The task she had undertaken was no
easy one; to ask for a large sum of mon
ey from man who boasted loudly that
never in his life had he borrowed penny.
and who declared that while he lived no
member of his family should receive any
thing from him. True to his nature he
had given his daughter no dowry on her
| marriage, and had always been more or
less annoyed that her husband had sue
ceeded in acquiring wealth without once
| coming to him for assistance.
When he used to see his son-in-law hap
| nv and successful. the old man would say
: with malicious smile. Wait awhile. We
have not seen the end!" and sometimes. al
| Oaklands, would look at the house. the
| stables, and Conservatives. and say. Il
am consoled. when | think of dying that
| no member of my family is rich enough to
keep up this establishment when l am
| gone"
Nevertheless, with a certain tenderness
| that is not uncommon in grandfather.
| who is hard to everyone else, old Gray
! wnrld have nstted Annie: but she, even