The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1898-05-20

| stopped just inside the door and re-
garded me with such contempt that my
western ire rose.
'Ill not submit tamely," 1 said to
myself, as we faced each other in si-
| lence for some moments, but will
stand by the position we took in the
transaction until am ordered from the
house."
so you have had the impudence to
call in person, have you?' he began,
bitingly.
81 certainly am here in person." 1
answered, with equal scorn, "but was
not aware of my impudence."
"Well, am disagreeably aware of it.
1t is unparalleled impudence, young
man. But it is like westerner. Lac
tually believe it is in the air out there"
| Could the man be joking? / asked
myself this before / said anything l
| might regret in case he should be. But
| it was plain he was in earnest, and
had never heard father say that Abel
Brathwaite ever joked. did not reply,
and he went on:
81 haven't the slightest doubt that
your dSS tiIdlICc Is W
bring you all the way from the west
and into my very house to demand that
SIS ,O00."
1t was the misunderstanding, after
all. could not credit my own eyes
and ears, but l replied, seeing no reason
to hold myself in check:
"My assurance would be unbounded
7 oil hn f1.o1 ha To
demand money from notorious tight
fist like yourself"
This seemed to amuse him for some
nnaccountable reason. A smile glinted
through his anger, as if he suddenly
appreciated the opportunity to see just
how far western assurance would go.
read it thus, and determined that lie
should be fully satisfied.
"And have no doubt" he proceeded,
"that you have made yourself believe
that, upon your mere demand, would
count out SIS GOO and hand them to you"
81 did not come here to discuss that
matter at all, Mr.. Brathwaite, but now
that you have mentioned it, have no
hesitation in saying that I think my
father is absolutely right in his conten-
ton. If you ever owed dollar you
owe him that five thousand, and your
turning and quibbMng is little less than
common dishonesty"
young man." he laughed, "this is re-
freshing; absolutely invigorating. I
came down to turn you out of doors.
but won't do it. I need some one to
amuse me this evening, and you are
quite satisfactory. Proceed"
He sat down in the nearest chair, re-
adjusted his eyeglasses, and, placing
face with we'll simulated expectation
of enjoying a treat. 1 walked over to
him, looked him squarely in the eyes,
and said:
"You know as we'll as you are living,
Mr.. Bra thwaite, that you owe my IA
Their that $4,000; but I want to tell you
that we don't need it. We had forgot
ten all about having made you pres
ent of it. but it seems to be stupen
dous item to you. You are entirely well
come to it. But"
I was stopped by the rustic of a
dress upon the stairs. Amy had been
listening and was coming to interfere.
hoped she would not, for my regard
for her was genuinely tender, and I
feared that I could not hold my own
with her father if she were present. l
was greatly relieved when I heard the
rustic cease, as if she had paused UP
on the stairs to consider the wisdom
of appearing. l should have taken my
departure at that juncture, I suppose,
but I felt that had not told the old
gentleman quite enough, so I de-
cided to stay until I thought had
done him full justice.
81 want to tell you, SIR" went on,
"that we still have some regard for
friendship in the west"
He looked surprised at this, and I
paused doubtfully, but seeing his face
growing more contemptuous, I fin
ished:
'I didn't come here to demand or re-
quest or even mention that unfortunate
$4,000. My father is as sorry"
"Oh, bother your father! He isn't
sorry. A man who"
"Be careful, sir. 1 won't hear one
word said against him. I repeat that I
didn't come here to mention that $4,000,
but"
'Oh, suppose now you come in gen
uine western impertinence to ask me
for my daughter Amy?"
HeI was interrupted by the quick rus
tie of the dress as the young lady in
question rapidly retreated. I WINGED
as l recollected that such a request had
not been entirely foreign to my hopes.
"If you ever had any prospect of sue
cess in that matter" he continued,
"you have utterly ruined it by your
language here tonight. I think you
would have submitted to all | have said
if YOU are anxious to win her."
"No, would not" answered. "You
would not respect young man who
would weakly submit when he believes
you are wrong, as you certainly are"
according to your view of it. When
your father had the impudence to write
that he would say no more about that
matter of $4,000 if would permit you
to come east and try 10 win my daugh-
ter, I made up my mind that when you
came you would meet a"
"Stop right there, sir. My father
never wrote such thing"
He smiled in serene confidence as he
asked:
"Would you like to see his letter."
81 certainly would. I don't believe
ven can show any such document.