The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1894-03-17
BEYOND DISPUTE.
How Midway Settled the Claims
of His Creditors

park. well, have played it pretty
evenly in most countries" He looked
up and q woman looked after him; sh,
remembered his face all that day, ant
he knew that she would. though he hat
never seen her before or wanted to SCI
her again.
Nothing definite was known about
Midway. Where he had come from OF
whether he had a relation in the WORLD
no one cared He appeared to be well
OF, and he was said to own vast prop
erty out in Australia, where his father
had been governor or something; that
was enough. He was tall, good look.
ing man Of about four-and-thirty, dark
and silent, with slow leisurely man.
ner that was magnetic. There was q
touch OF the uncanny about him now
and then; he appeared to have no sense
OF morality; but at the same time he
had an air of distinguished simplicity
that convinced most people of his ex.
treme truthfulness and honesty. Phys
ical fear was unknown to him. His
clothes were always well cut, he
smoked the very best cigars. and there
was generally a flower in his button
hole. Women loved him in no time,
not wisely and occasionally too we'll.
But they never blamed him; he al
ways seemed so sorry for them, and
called himself ruffian, and promised
all manner of things, and when noth-
ing came of his promises he had a way
OF saying: my dear, / couldn't help
It," In tone of such tender misery
that it finished them entirely. Then
they went away and silently broke
their hearts or drowned themselves, or
took an overdose of choral, did any
thing rather than worry him; and he
went on to the next woman and made
love with chastened air that had an
immense success. And he was 50 grave
and silent, and always said such kind
things OF everybody that they never
guessed he looked upon the world as a
place made for his especial comfort,
and the people in it as puppets with
wires stuck through them, which he
pulled to amuse himself. He took it
quite as a matter of course that trades
men should give him credit. If they
asked for a settlement he said he
wouldn't forget them when his remit
tances came from Australia, and he
was always so calm and assured, and
Immediately gave orders which in
creased the account so largely that
1t was impossible not to trust him. He
lived In Westbourne Terrace, locality
well suited to a man who was well-off.
but only with colonial money. He said
this to two or three of his creditors; it
treasured them immensely.
Still. things were becoming a little
complicated
My dear Mrs Berwick" he said to
the lady who kindly looked after his
household affairs-a widow, of course
II am extremely sorry that these fellows |
should bother you. When have time |
to look into their claims I'll send them |
about their business"
1t was the same thing with the sery-
ants. He expected everything done
faultlessly and with extreme punctual-
|ty. He ruled them completely with
his slow smile and pleasant voice, SO
that they would not have dared to dis
ooey him by hairs breadth; but not
one OF them had been paid for montha
fhey were glad of It They felt their
money was in excellent keeping: some
lay, when he remembered It, he would
pay them all, and the tradespeople.
TOO. probably, double as much as he
'wed them. They had the greatest
for the duns, and did not fail
@ show It.
he walked slowly along Westbourne
Terrace towards the park. Yes he
aid, 1.-THE game is nearly played out
Which way 1t ends depends upon Vic
oria and this afternoon. II she cares
he debts will be mere trifle to her
nd her half million, and we'll have a
lime together fit to make the arch ,
ngeis come tumbling through the
k'es with envy" He stopped before .
''g house near Connaught square. The ,
ervants-they appeared to hang about |.
n groups-evidently knew him; the
AL was lavishly furnished with pic
ures and palms and elaborate carvings.
Your colonial always does things by
wholesale. he thought; "there is moth
1g OF the retail dealer about him. III
xpect that accounts for my difficulties
the present time; ought to have
lied things up great deal higher" A
all, middle-aged woman received him
the drawing-room. She was dressed
a black, her face was worn, her smile c
right and unexpected. n
Victoria is not in, Mr.. Medway.~ .
be spoke with an American accent. {
That Is unfortunate" he said, after
moment; but it would have been G
7orse If had not seen YOU" IL
You always manage to say nice y
hings." Il
"fou have way of making me feel "
nem," he said, with an air Of conyic- Il
on and am sorry have only a few II
Iinutes to stay" II
Probably you have heard our news9 al
have done nothing all morning but Il
rite homer He looked at her in 81. n
nee II always thought it was going CT
be you, Mr.. Midway, but Won see t.