The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-06-20

spent his time in good works. The life which he had renouncod still held his interests, however, and he constantly visited an old friend, also velvet maker who still retained his shop, and was glad enough to keep in touch with a rich man who had no pressing claims upon his wealth. Indeed, the fact that his old gossip had hardly any use for his money so impressed itself on this astute merchant that he began to pom der some scheme by which that money could be worthily employed; and nav ing at last thought the matter out, he assumed very mournful air whenever he was in his old friends society. The old man did not fail to notice this melancholy, and was made the more anxious by it, since all his questions as to it's cause were deftly turned aside,
 Days passed, and the merchants gloom increased; at last so deep did it become that the old man, who had a kindly heart and a very strong regard for his former felloW-tradesman. took him out to dinner at his house one day, and as they sat at table in the garden, pressed and even Coujured him to dis close it's cause, protesting himself ready to do anything in his power to remove the distress which was oppress- ing so good a man. The merchant had hooked his fish, but he was too clever to bring him to land at once. So he re- turned evasive answers, assumed a semblance of gayety, and even told his friend one or two pointless little stories which the old man knew quite well al ,,...l casional relapses into deep melancholy, he worked up his friends's curiosity to the highest pitch, and when he judged the proper moment to have come, he declared he was half dead with anxiety about his business, being afraid that he would have to close his shop and ac- cept disgrace. Some time ago, it ap- peared, he had bought stock worth eight hundred scudi. He had paid three hundred and fifty down at the time, and had left the remainder to stand over, relying on getting in mon- eys which were due to him. But he had not been paid these moneys-F'lor- cnce was full of dishonest fellows-the time was at hand when he must com plete the payment for his velvets, and he was at his wits'end. He would not have distressed his colleague by telling him this, he added, if he had not been so urgently pressed The good old man was greatly concerned.
 Don't despair. gossip" he said, "God will not desert you. Stay here until I return" He ran off to the house and came back with q bag, in which was the greater part of the money which he had obtained from the sale of his shop. There was a broken pillar standing near, and on it the old man counted out four hundred and fifty scudi, saying:
 Take them for six or eight months at your convenience" He knew his old friend too well to ask for a receipt; such formalities were not necessary where both parties trusted each other. The merchant overwhelmed his friend with thanks and went home gayly, pro- testing he had never until that moment known the worth of true affection. Time passed; the six months or eight months for which the money had been lent sped by but nothing was said about returning it. The old man won dered, but felt a delicacy in reminding his friend of the transaction. Eighteen
 months slipped away, hwev"r, and at last he reminded the other gently that the term for repaying the money was long past. "Money!" answered the merchant, with a puzzled expression,
 what money are you talking Of?'
 What money? Why the scudi which lent you in my garden Upon my word" the man of Velyets protested
 with every appearance of good faith,
 "I think you must be testing. I have
 not the least idea what you are speak ing of, nor did I ever accept money
 from you without failing to return it
 promptly" The old man continued with rising indignation to assert his
 claim but without tho least success,
 and finally the other pushed him out of
 his shop, saying peevishly: There, go
 away in Gods name, before I do or say anything I shall be sorry for"
 Thus insulted and swindled, the old man betook himself to the duke, in whose justice and resource he felt that his last hope lay of recovering his mon ey. The duke. after listening to his
 story, made inquiries of those who
 knew the other party to the transac- ton. Of the honest old man he had
 
 thoroughly satisfied himself from their antecedents which was likely to be the liar, he caused them to be confronted in his presence. When he saw the merchant enter, the old man, who had been instructed what to do, formally demanded his money, and was an swered exactly as before. On this the duke interposed, saying he knew the old man well, and was assured he would not claim a debt which was not due him. Pray. therefore" said he, in his most gracious manner pray, | therefore, let him have the money" 'l VOW I never had it." cried the mer-
 chant: and at this the old man lost pa tience and both adversaries forgetting the dukes presence. raised their voices at once and began to dispute loudly and angrily. Was there absolutely no one present when you lent the mon ey?" the duke asked. "No, sgnor, we were alone" the creditor answered;
 there was nothing near us except the 1 broken shaft of a pillar on which I told the money out" Excellent" cried the duke. "Fetch me that pillar I will get the truth out of it." Off ran the simple old man, while the duke. or dering the dishonest merchant to wait, turned to other business. After a little
 while. not looking up from the papers he was reading. he observed carelessly, ! What a long time our friend takes in fetching that pillar"